How Crowded Is Bluestone National Scenic River in October?

October runs about 1.5× Bluestone National Scenic River's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 12% of the park's yearly visitors come in October.

In a typical October the park sees roughly 3,500 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1993 to 2025.

That makes October the 5th-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 October rates 53/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated May at 68/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical October weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 68°F and an overnight low around 45°F, with about 2.7" of precipitation.

That average of about 56°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 October instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 11 hours of daylight in October 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 October may feel a touch quieter than it once did.