How Crowded Is Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in September?

September runs about 1.6× Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 13% of the park's yearly visitors come in September.

In a typical September the park sees roughly 1,600 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2015 to 2025.

It is the single busiest month of the year at Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers; October, the quietest, runs only about 0.3× the average — a 5-to-1 swing between high and low season.

On our Best Time to Visit score September rates 48/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated October at 72/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical September weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 77°F and an overnight low around 56°F, with about 2.7" of precipitation.

That average of about 67°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 26% 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 12.2 hours of daylight in September to explore — between the 9.2-hour midwinter low and the 14.8-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2022 drew 3,518 recreation visits, down 56.6% from 8,110 in 2021.