Great Basin in December: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 65/100 · #10 of 12 months

December is a quiet month with trade-offs at Great Basin National Park: crowds run 7% of the July peak (1,787 average visits). Weather: highs average 40°F and lows 20°F, with 1.0″ of precipitation and 9.5 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Great Basin in December: what the park service says

December brings snow and silence to Great Basin's high peaks. Lehman Caves tours continue in winter but are not offered on Christmas Day (or Thanksgiving and New Year's Day), and every visitor, toddlers included, needs a ticket. Tours involve regular crouching but no crawling, and handrails line the stairs. Look for animal tracks in fresh snow on the trails; rangers at the visitor center can help you identify them.

Source: NPS 1, NPS 2, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in December

Great Basin averages 1,787 recreation visits in December — 7% of what July, the peak month, draws — this is the quietest month of the year. That crowd level sets the tone for parking, permits and lodging — crowds are thin by this park's standards.

Weather & daylight

It is properly cold (highs average 40°F), and nights are frigid (lows average 20°F). It is typically dry (1.0″ of precipitation). Normal snowfall is 10″ — expect snow on the ground. Mid-month daylight runs 9.5 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station GREAT BASIN NP, NV US (0 mi from park coordinates, 6,850 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of December.

What to pack for Great Basin in December

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

• Insulated parka + thermal base layers — average lows of 20°F
• Traction devices (microspikes) and gaiters — 10″ normal snowfall (compare other options)
• Headlamp — only 9.5 hours of daylight in mid-December (compare other options)
• Insulated, waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 10″ of snow is normal this month

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Want quieter or kinder conditions? The computed best months for Great Basin are March and April.

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