Best Time to Visit the Grand Canyon: Every Month, Weather & What’s Open (2026)
Grand Canyon National Park · every month
Pick a month. Stand on the rim in it.
Average temperatures from NOAA's South Rim station, daylight from the sun's math, rim seasons and fees from the park's own dates. Choose a month and the page changes to what the Grand Canyon is actually like then.
average highaverage lowprecipitationsnowhours across the top = daylight
South Rim, 6,790 ft (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, station USC00023596). Tap a column or pick a month below.
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Showing all twelve months. Pick one and the page becomes that month.
Last updated September 3, 2026 How we research
The Grand Canyon is really two parks with very different calendars. The South Rim sits at 6,790 feet and stays open year-round, 24 hours a day, which means real winter: NOAA's normals put nearly 13 inches of snow on the rim in January and lows in the teens from December through February. The North Rim is a summer place only, accessible from mid-May through mid-October. In between, the year swings from a dry, warm spring through the driest month of all in June, into a July and August monsoon that drops more rain than any winter month, and back out into a golden, thinning fall.
The chart shows the whole year. Below it, every month has the same five answers: what the weather feels like on the rim, how much daylight you get, which rims and campgrounds are open, how busy it is, and what to do. The rim-level numbers are the rim-level numbers; the inner canyon runs far hotter in summer, so the page says so wherever a hike drops below the rim.
When does it first snow?
On the South Rim, NOAA's normals show the first measurable snow in October (about 1 inch), building through November (2 inches) and December (8 inches) to a January peak of nearly 13 inches. February and March each average around 8 inches, April still averages close to 3 inches early in the month, and May shows only a trace. From June through September there is no snow in the normals at all. The park's own guidance agrees: snow is possible at the rim into early April, which is why an April hiking trip still packs a jacket.
Grand Canyon National Park in January
January: the snowiest month on the rim, and the quietest
Snow on the junipers, red rock walls dusted white, and under ten hours of daylight. With lows near 19°F the upper switchbacks hold ice, but the sunrise arrives at a civilized 7:39 am and the viewpoints are close to empty.
- 44° / 19°avg high / low
- 9.9 hdaylight, 7:39 am to 5:35 pm
- 1.8 inprecipitation, 13 in snow
What’s open
- South Rim open year-round with 24/7 entrance access at both the South Entrance near Tusayan and the Desert View Entrance; $35 per vehicle or an America the Beautiful pass.
- North Rim closed; it is accessible only from mid-May through mid-October.
- Snow is the rule, not the exception: NOAA's normals show nearly 13 inches on the South Rim in January.
How busy
Estimate: the least-visited stretch of the year outside the holiday week.
Best for
- snow on the rim
- solitude
- winter sunrise
What to do
- Sunrise from Mather Point without a pre-dawn alarm, then walk the Rim Trail while the snow is still untracked.
- Hike the top stretch of Bright Angel Trail with traction on your boots and turn around when the ice says so.
- Drive out to Hopi Point for a sunset that lands before 5:35 pm.
Pack
- Microspikes or other traction for icy trail and pavement
- Insulated layers for teens at dawn and 40s by afternoon
- A headlamp: dark before 6
Grand Canyon National Park in February
February: still winter, with almost an hour more light
Highs in the mid-40s, lows around 21°F, and nearly 8 inches of snow on average. Storms come and go, and the days after them are the clearest of the year over the canyon.
- 46° / 21°avg high / low
- 10.8 hdaylight, 7:18 am to 6:08 pm
- 1.2 inprecipitation, 8 in snow
What’s open
- South Rim open year-round, 24/7, from both the South and Desert View entrances.
- North Rim closed until mid-May.
- Entrance is $35 per vehicle; America the Beautiful passes are accepted at both South Rim entrances.
How busy
Estimate: quiet weekdays, busier holiday weekends.
Best for
- clear post-storm views
- quiet
What to do
- Sunset from Mohave Point, where the light hits the inner gorge last.
- Walk the Tusayan Pueblo self-guiding trail near Desert View on a clear afternoon.
- Grandview Trail's first switchbacks for a snow-and-canyon view, with traction.
Pack
- Traction for ice
- A warm hat and gloves for viewpoints in the wind
- Sunglasses for snow glare
Grand Canyon National Park in March
March: spring break shows up before spring does
Highs climb into the low 50s but lows stay at 25°F and the rim still averages 8 inches of snow. The daylight is back to nearly twelve hours, and the first spring-break crowds arrive while the trails are still icy up top.
- 54° / 25°avg high / low
- 11.9 hdaylight, 6:41 am to 6:35 pm
- 1.9 inprecipitation, 8 in snow
What’s open
- South Rim open year-round, 24/7. North Rim closed until mid-May, so this is a South Rim-only month.
- Spring requires advance reservations for lodging and camping; Mather Campground and South Rim lodging fill rapidly for spring break.
- $35 per vehicle at the South and Desert View entrances.
How busy
Spring break runs mid-March through mid-April and fills South Rim lodging and camping.
Best for
- first real hikes
- long light
What to do
- South Kaibab Trail to its first viewpoints, starting early, with traction for the top and layers for the swing.
- Bright Angel Trail as far as conditions allow; the lower you go, the more spring you find.
- Lipan Point at sunrise, now at 6:41 am, for the widest view of the river.
Pack
- Traction for icy upper switchbacks
- Layers for a 30-degree daily swing
- Reservations made weeks ahead if you are here on a school holiday
Grand Canyon National Park in April
April: the site's number-one pick, with 60-degree days and moderate crowds
Highs near 61°F, lows near 29°F, and only 0.64 inches of precipitation: comfortable full-day hiking without summer heat. Mornings and evenings want a jacket, midday sun feels warm, and the spring skies are clear across the canyon.
- 61° / 29°avg high / low
- 13.1 hdaylight, 5:56 am to 7:01 pm
- 0.6 inprecipitation, 3 in snow
What’s open
- South Rim fully accessible 24/7 at both entrances, $35 per vehicle or a pass. North Rim still closed until mid-May.
- Desert View Campground opens for the season in April (reservations required).
- Mather Campground and South Rim lodging fill rapidly; reserve well ahead for Easter week and spring break (mid-March through mid-April). Gateway lodging in Tusayan and Williams has availability, but weekends and school holidays book weeks ahead.
How busy
Moderate: lighter than summer, building toward Easter and spring break.
Best for
- hiking temperatures
- photography
- moderate crowds
What to do
- A full day below the rim on Bright Angel or Hermit Trail while the heat is still months away.
- Photography from the viewpoints: clear spring air makes April the best month for panoramas.
- Arrive before 9:30 am to skip the midday parking scramble at popular viewpoints.
Pack
- A jacket for mornings and evenings
- Sun protection for the midday exposure
- Reservations: this month sells out on holiday weekends
Grand Canyon National Park in May
May: the North Rim opens and the desert dries out
Highs near 70°F, lows still in the mid-30s, and under half an inch of rain. Fourteen hours of daylight, and from mid-month the other rim finally joins the map.
- 70° / 36°avg high / low
- 14.1 hdaylight, 5:23 am to 7:27 pm
- 0.4 inprecipitation
What’s open
- North Rim accessible from mid-May; this is the first month you can visit both rims.
- South Rim open 24/7 at both entrances; $35 per vehicle.
- Reserve lodging and camping ahead: spring bookings fill on both rims.
How busy
Estimate: builds through the month once school ends and the North Rim opens.
Best for
- both rims
- dry skies
- long days
What to do
- First North Rim walks of the year: the Transept Trail from Grand Canyon Lodge and the short Point Imperial Trail.
- Grandview Trail on the South Rim before the summer heat settles in below the rim.
- Sunrise at 5:23 am from any South Rim viewpoint, then breakfast in Grand Canyon Village.
Pack
- Sun hat and sunscreen
- Layers for 35-degree dawns
- More water than you think for any hike below the rim
Grand Canyon National Park in June
June: the driest month, the longest days, and real heat below the rim
Highs of 82°F on the rim with only 0.22 inches of rain, the driest month of the year, and 14.6 hours of daylight. The rim is pleasant; the inner canyon is not, so every hike starts at sunrise.
- 82° / 43°avg high / low
- 14.6 hdaylight, 5:10 am to 7:47 pm
- 0.2 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Both rims open: South Rim 24/7, North Rim in season from mid-May to mid-October.
- Entrance is $35 per vehicle or an America the Beautiful pass.
- Lodging and camping on both rims book ahead; Trailer Village handles RVs on the South Rim.
How busy
Estimate: summer peak begins; arrive before 9:30 am for parking.
Best for
- longest days
- driest skies
- North Rim forest
What to do
- South Kaibab Trail at sunrise, 5:10 am, and back on the rim before the heat.
- North Rim forest trails like Cape Final and Cliff Spring, which stay in the trees.
- Rim Trail from Mather Point in the evening light that lasts until 7:47 pm.
Pack
- Salty snacks and far more water than a rim walk needs
- A wide-brim hat
- A 4 am alarm for anything below the rim
Grand Canyon National Park in July
July: monsoon afternoons and the year's busiest rims
Highs near 85°F and 2.33 inches of rain, the wettest month of the year, delivered as afternoon monsoon storms that build over the canyon almost daily. Mornings are hot and clear; afternoons bring lightning, downpours, and the best skies of the year.
- 85° / 50°avg high / low
- 14.4 hdaylight, 5:22 am to 7:47 pm
- 2.3 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Both rims open. South Rim entrances run 24/7 at $35 per vehicle.
- Monsoon rains (2+ inches) mean afternoon lightning on exposed viewpoints and trails; plan hikes for the morning.
- Peak-season lodging and camping on both rims are booked far ahead.
How busy
Peak visitation. Arrive before 9:30 am or plan on full lots.
Best for
- storm skies
- both rims
- green North Rim meadows
What to do
- Bright Angel Trail from first light, back on the rim by late morning before the heat and the storms.
- Watch a storm cross the canyon from Hopi Point, from the car when the lightning is close.
- North Rim: Ken Patrick Trail toward Point Imperial in the cool of the morning.
Pack
- A rain shell you will actually use
- Electrolytes and 3 liters of water for any descent
- A morning-only hiking plan
Grand Canyon National Park in August
August: the monsoon continues and the crowds hold until school starts
Highs around 82°F, lows near 50°F, and 2.19 inches of rain in afternoon bursts. The canyon is at its most dramatic, with rainbows, cloud shadows and waterfalls that exist for an hour, and the lots are full until the last week of the month.
- 82° / 50°avg high / low
- 13.6 hdaylight, 5:46 am to 7:21 pm
- 2.2 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Both rims open; the North Rim's season runs to mid-October.
- Afternoon monsoon storms continue: exposed rim trails and viewpoints are lightning hazards after midday.
- $35 per vehicle at the South Rim entrances; reservations essential for in-park lodging and camping.
How busy
Peak, easing late in the month as schools reopen.
Best for
- dramatic skies
- both rims
- late-month thinning
What to do
- Lipan Point and Mohave Point after a storm for rainbows over the inner gorge.
- North Kaibab Trail's upper section early, before the heat and the clouds build.
- The Tusayan Pueblo site and Desert View when the South Rim village lots are full.
Pack
- Rain shell and a dry bag for the camera
- Sun protection for the mornings
- Patience for parking
Grand Canyon National Park in September
September: summer weather, fewer people, both rims still open
Highs in the mid-70s, lows in the low 40s, and the monsoon fading to 1.5 inches. Twelve and a half hours of daylight, a sharp drop in visitors after the school year starts, and the North Rim still has a month to go.
- 76° / 44°avg high / low
- 12.5 hdaylight, 6:10 am to 6:38 pm
- 1.5 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Both rims open: South Rim year-round, North Rim through mid-October.
- Fall requires advance reservations for lodging and camping on both rims.
- $35 per vehicle at the South and Desert View entrances.
How busy
Fewer crowds than summer, per the park's seasonal pattern; weekends still fill.
Best for
- hiking
- fewer crowds
- both rims
What to do
- Long hikes below the rim return: South Kaibab and Grandview with a dawn start.
- Cape Final on the North Rim for a long, quiet rim-edge walk before the season ends.
- Camp at Mather Campground on a weeknight and walk to the rim for sunrise at 6:10 am.
Pack
- Layers for 40s at dawn and 70s by noon
- A rain shell for the last monsoon cells
- Reservations, still
Grand Canyon National Park in October
October: the sweet spot, and the last North Rim window
Highs in the mid-60s, lows in the low 30s, and the first measurable snow of the year, about an inch. The North Rim's aspens turn, the crowds thin week by week, and mid-month the North Rim season ends.
- 65° / 33°avg high / low
- 11.3 hdaylight, 6:34 am to 5:54 pm
- 1.2 inprecipitation, 1 in snow
What’s open
- North Rim accessible only through mid-October; after that, the South Rim is the park until mid-May.
- South Rim open 24/7 year-round, $35 per vehicle.
- Fall reservations for lodging and camping are still needed, especially early in the month.
How busy
Fewer crowds than summer; the first half of the month is busier than the second.
Best for
- fall color
- hiking
- quiet
What to do
- Point Imperial and the Transept Trail on the North Rim in the first half of the month, in fall color.
- Hermit Trail on the South Rim in the coolest daytime hiking temperatures since April.
- Sunrise from Hopi Point at 6:34 am, then a night at Desert View Campground while it is still in season.
Pack
- A warm layer for 33-degree dawns
- Sun protection: the light is still strong
- A South Rim backup plan if the North Rim closes early for weather
Grand Canyon National Park in November
November: the South Rim goes quiet
Highs in the low 50s, lows in the mid-20s, and about 2 inches of snow on average. The North Rim is closed, the days are down to ten hours, and the village feels like a small town again.
- 53° / 25°avg high / low
- 10.3 hdaylight, 7:05 am to 5:22 pm
- 0.8 inprecipitation, 2 in snow
What’s open
- North Rim closed for the season; South Rim open year-round, 24/7, at both entrances.
- $35 per vehicle or an America the Beautiful pass.
- In-park lodging is easier to book than in spring or fall, but the holiday week fills.
How busy
Estimate: quiet outside the Thanksgiving week.
Best for
- quiet
- easy bookings
- low sun on the walls
What to do
- The Bridle Path from either end for a flat, quiet walk through the rim forest.
- Rim Trail from Mather Point at sunset, 5:22 pm, with the canyon walls going orange.
- Bright Angel Trail's upper switchbacks on a dry afternoon before the deep snow arrives.
Pack
- Warm layers for 25-degree mornings
- Traction in case the first snow sticks
- A headlamp for early dark
Grand Canyon National Park in December
December: the shortest days and the first deep snow
Highs around 43°F, lows near 18°F, the coldest of the year, and 8 inches of snow on average. Only 9.7 hours of daylight, but the sunrise at 7:33 am comes with snow on every ledge.
- 43° / 18°avg high / low
- 9.7 hdaylight, 7:33 am to 5:15 pm
- 1.2 inprecipitation, 8 in snow
What’s open
- South Rim open 24/7 year-round from the South Entrance near Tusayan and the Desert View Entrance; North Rim closed until mid-May.
- $35 per vehicle; passes accepted.
- Expect snow and ice on rim walkways and trail tops; NOAA's normals show 8 inches this month.
How busy
Estimate: quiet until the holiday week, which fills South Rim lodging.
Best for
- snow on the rim
- winter sunrise
- solitude
What to do
- Sunrise from Mather Point at 7:33 am, snow on the rim and light pouring into the canyon.
- Walk down to the Pictograph Panel on Bright Angel Trail with traction on.
- Warm up at Maswik Lodge Pizza Pub after a sunset that ends at 5:15 pm.
Pack
- Full winter kit: insulated boots, hat, gloves
- Traction for ice
- Holiday-week reservations made months ahead
Which month is yours?
Questions people ask about Grand Canyon’s seasons
What is the best time to visit the Grand Canyon?
April and September through October. April brings highs near 61°F, minimal precipitation and moderate crowds before summer; September and October keep both rims open with far fewer visitors than July and August. July and August are hot on the rim, hotter below it, and carry monsoon rain of 2 or more inches along with peak visitation.
When is the Grand Canyon off season?
November through February on the South Rim, when the North Rim is closed, daylight drops to around ten hours, and NOAA's normals show 2 to 13 inches of snow a month. It is the quietest stretch of the year outside the holiday week, and the South Rim stays open 24/7 the whole time.
Is the Grand Canyon South Rim open in winter?
Yes. The South Rim is open year-round with 24/7 entrance access at both the South Entrance near Tusayan and the Desert View Entrance, $35 per vehicle or an America the Beautiful pass. Expect snow: January averages nearly 13 inches on the rim, with December, February and March around 8 inches each.
When is the North Rim open?
The North Rim is accessible from mid-May through mid-October only. Every other month is a South Rim-only trip.
What is it like to visit the Grand Canyon in December or January?
Cold, snowy and quiet. December highs average 43°F with lows near 18°F; January is 44°F and 19°F with the year's most snow. Sunrise is late, 7:33 am in December and 7:39 am in January, so winter sunrise at the rim needs no pre-dawn start, and sunset lands before 5:40 pm. Pack traction for icy walkways and trail tops.
When does it snow at the Grand Canyon?
On the South Rim, measurable snow runs October through April in NOAA's normals: about an inch in October, 2 in November, 8 in December, nearly 13 in January, roughly 8 in February and March, and close to 3 in April. There is no snow in the normals from June through September.
Every month is built from NOAA normals for the South Rim station, the sun's position, and the park's published rim seasons and fees, not from a visit, and the page says so where it matters. Temperatures: South Rim, 6,790 ft (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, station USC00023596).
