How Crowded Is Fossil Butte National Monument in September?

September runs about 1.8× Fossil Butte National Monument's average month, which makes it a very busy month here — roughly 15% of the park's yearly visitors come in September.

In a typical September the park sees roughly 3,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes September the 4th-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 September rates 48/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated August at 56/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

Typical September weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 72°F and an overnight low around 32°F, with about 1.1" of precipitation.

That average of about 52°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 61% 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 12.3 hours of daylight in September to explore — between the 9-hour midwinter low and the 15-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 20,626 recreation visits, down 4% from 21,491 in 2024.