How Crowded Is Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site in May?

May runs about 1.4× Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 12% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.

In a typical May the park sees roughly 1,500 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes May the 4th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the June peak (3.6×) and the January low (0.1×).

On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 66/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated August at 71/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 69°F and an overnight low around 42°F, with about 2.1" 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 65% 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 15 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 8.2-hour midwinter low and the 15.8-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2024 drew 12,028 recreation visits, down 7.1% from 12,942 in 2023.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 23.2%, so May may feel a touch quieter than it once did.