How Crowded Is Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway in May?

May runs about 1.4× Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 12% of the park's yearly visitors come in May.

In a typical May the park sees about 90,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes May the 5th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (3.1×) and the December low (0×).

On our Best Time to Visit score May rates 61/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated June at 62/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

Typical May weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 68°F and an overnight low around 46°F, with about 4.2" of precipitation.

That average of about 57°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 66% 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 14.7 hours of daylight in May to explore — between the 8.5-hour midwinter low and the 15.5-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 852,296 recreation visits, down 5.4% from 900,828 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 20.9%, so a May visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.