How Crowded Is Gauley River in September?
September is a very busy month at Gauley River National Recreation Area, running about 3.6× the park's average month — roughly 30% of the year's visitors come in September. It is in fact the busiest month of the year here, so expect full parking lots, busy trails and booked-out campgrounds. If crowds bother you, January (the quietest month) or the recommended May are easier. Typical September weather averages a high near 76°F and a low around 53°F, with about 3.8" of precipitation. You'll get about 12.2 hours of daylight to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
September is very busy at Gauley River National Recreation Area (about 3.6× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor". The single best month overall is May.
The busiest month is September and the quietest is January. September sits at about 3.6× the park's average, or 30% of annual visitation.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1993–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-06-20.