How Crowded Is Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River in May?

May runs about 0.4× Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 3% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.

In a typical May the park sees about 30 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1985 to 2025.

That makes May the 9th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the March peak (2.6×) and the August low (0.2×).

On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 80/100 ("Excellent"), versus the top-rated September at 80/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 91°F and an overnight low around 64°F, with about 1.3" of precipitation.

That average of about 78°F is warm enough that midday heat is worth planning around.

Because June, July and August together draw about 13% of annual visitors, choosing May instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 13.5 hours of daylight in May 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 May visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.