How Crowded Is Appalachian National Scenic Trail in September?

September runs about 1× Appalachian National Scenic Trail's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 8% of the park's yearly visitors come in September.

In a typical September the park sees about 511,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2025 to 2025.

That makes September the 6th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.4×) and the February low (0.6×).

On our Best Time to Visit score September rates 62/100 ("Good") — the single best-rated month at Appalachian, balancing crowds against weather and daylight.

Typical September weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 76°F and an overnight low around 55°F, with about 4.6" of precipitation.

That average of about 66°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 33% of annual visitors, choosing September instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 12.3 hours of daylight in September to explore — between the 9.1-hour midwinter low and the 14.9-hour summer high.