Glacier in December: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 31/100 · #12 of 12 months

December is a quiet month with trade-offs at Glacier National Park: crowds run 2% of the July peak (18,684 average visits). Weather: highs average 31°F and lows 17°F, with 2.1″ of precipitation and 8.3 hours of daylight. Headline access is typically closed this month — see the access warning below. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Glacier in December: what the park service says

A December trip to Glacier is a ski-and-snowshoe trip from the west entrance. The stretch of Going-to-the-Sun Road past Lake McDonald Lodge is not plowed in winter, and the park calls it a popular route for skiing and snowshoeing; rangers also lead snowshoe walks on weekends. St. Mary and Logan Pass visitor centers are shut, while Apgar opens on weekends and keeps its restrooms and a water-bottle station going all winter. White-tailed deer are the large animal you are most likely to see, with ravens and waterfowl on Lake McDonald. Plan to sleep outside the park, and tune to 1610 AM near the entrances for current conditions.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-07.

Crowds in December

Glacier averages 18,684 recreation visits in December — 2% of what July, the peak month, draws — this is the third-quietest month of the year. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly — crowds are thin by this park's standards.

Weather & daylight

Days are cold (highs average 31°F), and nights are frigid (lows average 17°F). Average precipitation is 2.1″ for the month. Mid-month daylight runs 8.3 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station ST. MARY 1 SSW, MT US (17 mi from park coordinates, 4,555 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of December.

What to pack for Glacier in December

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Insulated parka + thermal base layers — average lows of 17°F
• Packable rain jacket — 2.1″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Headlamp — only 8.3 hours of daylight in mid-December (compare other options)
• Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month
• Bear spray — recommended by the park in grizzly country (check current park regulations before you carry)

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If your dates are flexible, consider shifting: The computed best months for Glacier are June and September.

Also at their best in December

Other parks whose computed December verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• American Samoa in December — 17% of peak crowds, highs 88°F, score 66/100
• Everglades in December — 72% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 64/100
• Biscayne in December — 77% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 62/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in December · Last verified 2026-09-24