How Crowded Is Navajo National Monument in October?

October runs about 1.2× Navajo 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 6,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes October the 7th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the September peak (1.5×) and the January low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score October rates 41/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated June at 64/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

Typical October weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 64°F and an overnight low around 41°F, with about 1" of precipitation.

That average of about 53°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 34% 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 11 hours of daylight in October to explore — between the 9.5-hour midwinter low and the 14.5-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2024 drew 58,442 recreation visits, up 32.3% from 44,180 in 2023.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 21.8%, so October may feel a touch quieter than it once did.