How Crowded Is El Malpais National Monument in November?

November runs about 0.8× El Malpais National Monument's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 6% of the park's yearly visitors come in November.

In a typical November the park sees about 10,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1988 to 2025.

That makes November the 9th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the May peak (1.4×) and the January low (0.5×).

On our Best Time to Visit score November rates 45/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated August at 69/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical November weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 57°F and an overnight low around 21°F.

That average of about 39°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

Because June, July and August together draw about 30% of annual visitors, choosing November instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 10.1 hours of daylight in November to explore — between the 9.7-hour midwinter low and the 14.3-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 151,998 recreation visits, down 7.1% from 163,679 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 7.2%, so a November visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.