How Crowded Is Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in October?

October runs about 1.2× Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 10% of the park's yearly visitors come in October.

In a typical October the park sees roughly 3,900 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2020 to 2025.

That makes October the 6th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the February peak (2.6×) and the April low (0.1×).

On our Best Time to Visit score October rates 45/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated June at 79/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical October weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 54°F and an overnight low around 35°F.

That average of about 44°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

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

You'll have about 10.7 hours of daylight in October to explore — between the 8.5-hour midwinter low and the 15.5-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 33,835 recreation visits, down 3.8% from 35,173 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 8.2%, so October may feel a touch quieter than it once did.