January

[steamboat52]

Does anyone have an educated opinion or experience with a trip the first week of January? Will the crowds be down the week of Jan 3?

[Strmchsr]

Well, by "down" do you mean less than the week before? If so, yes. They are not "gone" though by any means. The first week still has moderate crowds. It seems to be becoming more popular for folks to stay after New Year's whereas in the past folks disappeared by Jan 2 or 3. Also, South American tour groups are becoming very popular during that time and many folks try to come the first week or so of January to catch the Christmas lights before they go away. And then there's the marathon which takes place the first weekend. So, with all of that, crowds aren't bad by any stretch, but the park is far from empty. We've been down that week the last 2 years and found the crowds to be mostly tolerable but definitely existent.