What's in Season in December: Where to See Fall foliage in the US

What's in season in December?

December is fall foliage season at the places we track. Fall foliage is in its usual window at Big Thicket National Preserve (Nov 21–Dec 10). Starting this month: memorial illumination at Antietam and coldest, snowiest months at Bryce Canyon. Coming in January: desert superbloom, from Joshua Tree (Jan 1–Apr 20).

Updated Sep 28. Sources: National Park Service, Big Thicket National Preserve ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Antietam National Battlefield hours and seasons ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Bryce Canyon weather ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Peaking in December

Each place's usual window, from its own sources

Fall foliage

1 place in December

1Dec 1–7

1Dec 8–14

0Dec 15–21

0Dec 22–31

Texas

Big Thicket National PreserveNov 21–Dec 10

Also in December

From our places' year strips, each with its source

Fall color

Still going at 2 places: fall color, fall color at canyon view.

Festivals and night skies

Starting in December

Memorial Illumination Antietam · Dec

Snow and winter

Starting in December

Coldest, snowiest months Bryce Canyon · Dec–Feb
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the Tsuga Trail Erie Refuge · Dec–Feb
Cross-country skiing on refuge trails Canaan Valley Refuge · Dec–Feb
Glacier Point Road plowed to Badger Pass Yosemite · Dec–Mar
La Plata Canyon Road winter gate San Juan Skyway · Dec–May
Leaf-off views Cumberland Gap · Dec–Feb
Light snow on the high peaks Pinnacles · Dec–Jan
Paved trails not plowed Cherry Valley Refuge · Dec–Feb

And 8 more.

Still going at 18 places: brainard lake ski and snowshoe season, groomed ski trails, snowshoers welcome, deep snow.

Out and about

Starting in December

Elephant seals at Drakes Beach Point Reyes · Dec–Mar
Gray whales pass the point Point Reyes · Dec–May
Owls: barred, snowy and short-eared Parker River Refuge · Dec–Feb
Visitor center open Carrizo Plain · Dec–May
Waterfowl gather Rachel Carson Refuge · Dec–Mar
Wide backchannel views with the trees bare Ohio River Islands Refuge · Dec–Feb
Wintering bald eagles Upper Delaware (New York side) · Dec–Mar
Wintering bald eagles (New Hampshire's largest concentration) Great Bay Refuge · Dec–Feb

Still going at 19 places: rimrock overlook open, campgrounds full every night, best hiking.

Know before you go

Starting in December

Forest roads closed Finger Lakes National Forest, New York · Dec–Apr
Forest roads closed Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont · Dec–Apr
Main campgrounds closed Mammoth Cave · Dec–Feb
North-zone forest roads gated Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee · Dec–Mar
Timon and Rod & Gun campgrounds closed Spearfish Canyon · Dec–May
Wayehutta off-road area closed Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina · Dec–Mar

Still going at 15 places: hunting season (use caution off the sandbars), dutch neck road and allee house area closed, rain, muddy roads.

Sources (12)

Questions people ask

Where is fall foliage in December?

At the places we track: Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas (usually Nov 21–Dec 10).

What festivals are in December?

Memorial Illumination at Antietam (Dec). Dates change each year; each place page links its source.

What should I know before a trip in December?

Finger Lakes National Forest, New York: forest roads closed; Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont: forest roads closed; Mammoth Cave: main campgrounds closed; Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee: north-zone forest roads gated; Spearfish Canyon: timon and rod & gun campgrounds closed.