Redwood in December.

Crowd snapshot.

December runs about 22,600 recreation visits in the five-year mean, roughly 24% of the June peak and the quietest month of the year. The visitor mix is thin and local: coast residents, storm-watchers, holiday-week travelers, and a few photographers. The days around Christmas and New Year produce a small lift, but otherwise the groves and beaches are close to empty, especially midweek. Even the marquee stops along the Drury Parkway and at Lady Bird Johnson Grove feel private on a rainy December day. Parking is never an issue, and the trails are yours. December is the deepest solitude the calendar offers, weather permitting.

Weather snapshot.

The Klamath station averages a December high near 54.3°F and a low near 37.9°F, the coolest and wettest of the year, with rainfall peaking near 15.3 inches. Storms arrive in near-continuous series off the Pacific, separated by short clear windows. Daylight is at its minimum, with sunset before 5 p.m. around the solstice, so plan hikes early. Rivers run high and fast. Snow is essentially unheard of at the coast. As throughout the wet season, the old-growth canopy shelters the forest floor better than any exposed beach or overlook. December weather demands full rain gear and flexibility, but a clear break between storms can bring a strikingly beautiful, washed-clean day.

Access snapshot.

Roads stay open year-round, but December is the peak of the storm season and the unpaved drives are the most likely to close. Check Howland Hill, Bald Hills, and Davison roads against the NPS Redwood conditions page before driving them, and expect flooding, mud, and downed-tree closures after big storms. The paved U.S. 101 corridor and Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway stay drivable. The Fern Canyon summer permit is not required, and Mill Creek Campground is closed; other campgrounds reserve through ReserveCalifornia. Free Tall Trees permits remain on the permits page. Redwood National Park charges no entrance fee.

Seasonal events.

December is prime southbound gray whale season, with whales moving steadily down the coast toward their Baja calving lagoons; the Klamath River Overlook is the best place to watch on a clear break between storms (NPS). Roosevelt elk graze the winter prairies at Elk Meadow and Prairie Creek, unbothered by the rain; keep 25 yards back (NPS). Fall and early-winter salmon still move up the swollen coastal rivers, drawing bald eagles. The forest is at its saturated, deep-green best, with mosses and ferns fully rehydrated. Winter low tides expose rich tidepools on calm days. December wraps the wildlife year in the quietest, greenest, and wettest package on the calendar.

Audience verdict.

December serves the solitude seeker, the storm-watcher, the winter whale-watcher, and the photographer chasing saturated green and misty light. It is not a beach or dry-hiking month, and short daylight limits how much ground a visitor can cover; families should plan grove walks, visitor centers, and wildlife viewing between showers. RV travelers should base in a gateway town, since Mill Creek is closed and the unpaved roads are no place for a big rig in the wet. The payoff is the emptiest, greenest park of the year, with gray whales offshore and no entrance fee. Come prepared for rain, and December rewards you with the redwoods nearly to yourself.

Common questions.

Is December a good time to visit Redwood?

December runs quiet at Redwood, about 24% of the June peak, with cold weather (average highs near 54°F). If thinner crowds are the goal, it is one of the easier months to pick.

How crowded is Redwood in December?

December averages about 22,579 recreation visits, roughly 24% of Redwood's busiest month (June). That puts it among Redwood's quietest months.

How much of Redwood is open in December?

In a typical December, about 80% of Redwood's road network (weighted by how important each route is) is open to wheeled vehicles. Road-opening dates shift year to year, so check the official NPS page for current conditions before you go.

Methodology

Monthly recreation visits come from the official NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package, 2025 on NPS IRMA Stats; the statistic shown is Recreation Visits (Redwood National Park), the 5-year mean across 1979-2025. These counts cover Redwood National Park (the NPS-administered lands); the three cooperatively managed California state parks are counted separately, and the 2024-2025 totals reflect an improved NPS counting method rather than real growth, so the reliable timing signal is the month-to-month share of the peak. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Klamath, CA (station USC00044577, 28 ft elevation, coastal lowland). The access score weights how much of the road network is typically drivable that month; Redwood's roads are open year-round, so the winter dip reflects storm closures on the unpaved drives. Year-variable specifics (the Gold Bluffs Beach / Fern Canyon permit window, Mill Creek Campground season, elk rut and calving, gray whale windows) drift year to year and are hedged above; confirm current details on the official NPS Redwood page before booking. Independent site, not affiliated with the National Park Service.