Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River in August
August at Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River averages a daytime high near 96°F and an overnight low around 72°F, with about 1" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.2× the park's average month, which makes August a very quiet month here.
- Average low
- 72°F
- Average high
- 96°F
Range across the year: 37°F to 97°F
- Precipitation
- 1.0 in
- Daylight
- 13.1 hours
Roughly 2% of the park's yearly visitors come in August: about 20 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1985 to 2025.
It is the quietest month of the year at Rio Grande; by contrast March, the busiest, runs about 2.6× the average.
On our Best Time to Visit score August rates 11/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is February: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 84°F is hot, with afternoons near 96°F to plan the day around. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 13.2 miles from the park.
August falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 13% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 13.1 hours of daylight in August to explore — between the 10.1-hour midwinter low and the 13.9-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2013 drew 703 recreation visits, down 25.8% from 947 in 2009.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 37.1%, so a August visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
How August compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July | 97°F / 72°F | 1.1× Average | 35 Poor |
| August | 96°F / 72°F | 0.2× Very quiet | 11 Poor |
| September | 89°F / 67°F | 0.2× Very quiet | 71 Good |
All twelve months at Rio Grande, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Rio Grande in August
The National Park Service tags 7 Rio Grande activities for summer. Each links to the park's own page for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
August averages a daytime high near 96°F and an overnight low around 72°F at Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River, with about 1 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 13.2 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
August is very quiet at Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River (about 0.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 11/100. Our recommended month is February. August draws about 19% of the visits Rio Grande sees in an average month. Numbers that low usually mean limited access: closed roads, closed facilities or deep-winter conditions. The count alone does not say which, so check the park's current conditions before planning around August.
The busiest month is March and the quietest is August. August sits at about 0.2× the park's average, or 2% of annual visitation.
A typical August sees about 0,000 recreation visits at Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1985–2025.
Where to stay near Rio Grande in August
Booking a August trip to Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live August availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Rio Grande
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in August.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1985–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.