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WhenToVisitParks

Valles Caldera National Preserve in September

Very busy1.7× average month · best-time score 30/100

September at Valles Caldera National Preserve averages a daytime high near 66°F and an overnight low around 36°F, with about 2.2" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.7× the park's average month, which makes September a very busy month here.

Average low
36°F
Average high
66°F

Range across the year: 9°F to 74°F

Crowds
1.7× averageVery busy
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Precipitation
2.2 in
Daylight
12.2 hours

Roughly 14% of the park's yearly visitors come in September: roughly 9,800 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2020 to 2025.

It is the single busiest month of the year at Valles Caldera; February, the quietest, runs only about 0.4× the average — a 4-to-1 swing between high and low season.

On our Best Time to Visit score September rates 30/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is May: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.

The daily average of about 51°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 4 miles from the park.

Because June, July and August together draw about 35% 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 9.6-hour midwinter low and the 14.4-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 84,952 recreation visits, up 3.5% from 82,111 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 152%, so a September visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.

How September compares with the months around it

MonthAvg high / lowCrowdsBest-time score
August71°F / 43°F1.5× Busy44 Poor
September66°F / 36°F1.7× Very busy30 Poor
October57°F / 26°F1.6× Very busy19 Poor

All twelve months at Valles Caldera, with the best time to visit.

Things to do at Valles Caldera in September

The National Park Service tags 43 Valles Caldera activities for fall. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.

Reviewed by WhenToVisitParks Editorial Team · Updated

Frequently Asked Questions

September averages a daytime high near 66°F and an overnight low around 36°F at Valles Caldera National Preserve, with about 2.2 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 4 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.

September is very busy at Valles Caldera National Preserve (about 1.7× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 30/100. Our recommended month is May.

The busiest month is September and the quietest is February. September sits at about 1.7× the park's average, or 14% of annual visitation.

A typical September sees about 10,000 recreation visits at Valles Caldera National Preserve, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2020–2025.

Where to stay near Valles Caldera in September

Booking a September trip to Valles Caldera National Preserve? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live September availability and prices.

Top-rated places to stay near Valles Caldera

Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Visiting Valles Caldera in September?

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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in September.

Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (2020–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.