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

September runs about 0.2× Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 2% of the park's yearly visitors come in September.

In a typical September the park sees about 20 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1985 to 2025.

That makes September the 10th-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 September rates 80/100 ("Excellent") — the single best-rated month at Rio Grande, balancing crowds against weather and daylight.

Typical September weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 89°F and an overnight low around 67°F, with about 1.1" 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 September instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 12.2 hours of daylight in September 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 September visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.