How Crowded Is Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park in May?
May runs about 1.4× Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 12% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.
In a typical May the park sees about 38,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes May the 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.8×) and the December low (0.2×).
On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 47/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated April at 56/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.
Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 66°F and an overnight low around 38°F, with about 1.6" of precipitation.
That average of about 52°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.
Because June, July and August together draw about 45% of annual visitors, choosing May instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.
You'll have about 14.1 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.3-hour midwinter low and the 14.7-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 250,086 recreation visits, down 25.5% from 335,862 in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
May is busy at Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park (about 1.4× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair". The single best month overall is April.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is December. May sits at about 1.4× the park's average, or 12% of annual visitation.
A typical May sees about 38,000 recreation visits at Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Black Canyon Of The Gunnison in May
Booking a May trip to Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live May availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Black Canyon Of The Gunnison
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Visiting Black Canyon Of The Gunnison in May?
Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Black Canyon Of The Gunnison by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in May.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-07-14.