How Crowded Is Bluestone National Scenic River in May?

May runs about 1.2× Bluestone National Scenic River's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.

In a typical May the park sees roughly 2,900 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1993 to 2025.

That makes May the 6th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2.8×) and the January low (0.1×).

On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 68/100 ("Good") — the single best-rated month at Bluestone, balancing crowds against weather and daylight.

Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 76°F and an overnight low around 51°F, with about 4.6" of precipitation.

That average of about 64°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 60% 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 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 9.4-hour midwinter low and the 14.6-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 12,446 recreation visits, up 69.9% from 7,327 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 42.6%, so May may feel a touch quieter than it once did.