How Crowded Is El Malpais in September?
September is an average month at El Malpais National Monument, running about 1.1× the park's average month — roughly 9% of the year's visitors come in September. That puts it between the May peak and the January low. Overall our best-time score rates September as "Fair" for a visit. Typical September weather averages a high near 80°F and a low around 44°F. You'll get about 12.2 hours of daylight to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
September is average at El Malpais National Monument (about 1.1× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair". The single best month overall is August.
The busiest month is May and the quietest is January. September sits at about 1.1× the park's average, or 9% of annual visitation.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1988–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-06-20.