If you’ve ever seen the Grand Canyon, then you know that it is one of the most beautiful sites in all of America. It is also one of the most iconic tourist destinations in the world. But when do you go? What should you see? And how can I save money on my trip to this majestic beauty? This article will answer these questions and more!
Best time of year to visit Grand Canyon:
Summer months like June can be scorching hot. The summer heat and the high elevation lead to temperatures as much as 110 degrees Fahrenheit, so you’ll need lots of water if traveling in Arizona during this time of year.
Sunscreen is also a must for those planning on spending any significant amount of time outdoors: hiking trails like Bright Angel Trail are exposed to direct sunlight up until about 11 am, making them very dangerous without protection from UV rays. Spring and autumn offer pleasant weather; average highs range between 70-80 °F (21-27 °C), while lows are usually around 50–60 °F (11–16 °C). However, beware that sudden changes in temperature or winds can occur anytime. Winters are cold, with highs only reaching the 50s°F (11–14 °C), and lows dropping below freezing, at around 20-30 °F (-12 to -11.
The best month to visit Grand Canyon:
The best time to visit Grand Canyon is in the autumn, when temperatures are still mild and crowds thin. This is also great to spend time with family and friends.
Less crowded, but also less scenic than in the summer or winter months, spring is a good option if you want to avoid large crowds and still enjoy mild temperatures.
High tourist season:
The high tourist season in Grand Canyon is from May to September. However, if you book your trip in advance and use a tour operator like Hicke: Tours & Expeditions, then you will be able to enjoy the Park during off-season months as well.
Low tourist season:
Winters are cold, with highs only reaching the 50s°F (11–14 °C), and lows dropping below freezing, at around 20-30 °F (-12 to -11. If you plan on visiting Grand Canyon during these months then be prepared for very extreme weather conditions.
The park is so expansive that it’s easy to escape the crowds even in the summertime by seeking out uncrowded viewpoints or exploring lesser-known trails and areas of forest.
That said there will still be significant foot traffic along the more popular routes like Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail; if solitude is your priority, then avoid those two trails until after 11 am when hikers start coming down from their overnight stays inside the canyon back to the rim.
Grand Canyon is open year-round. However, most visitor facilities are only accessible from about mid-May to early October. Visitor centers and lodges within Grand Canyon National Park operate on a seasonal schedule; many of them begin closing in late September for winter shutdown before reopening during springtime starting around mid-March each year.
Visit Grand Canyon in Fall:
The best time to visit the Grand Canyon is autumn, when temperatures are still mild and crowds thin. This is also great for spending time with family and friends.
Less crowded, but also less scenic than in summer or winter months, springtime offers pleasant weather; average highs range between 70-80 °F (21-27 °C), while lows are usually around 50–60°F (11–16°C). However, beware that sudden changes in temperature or winds can occur any time of year.
Visit Grand Canyon in winter:
Grand Canyon is open year-round. However, most visitor facilities are only accessible from about mid-May to early October. Visitor centers and lodges within Grand Canyon National Park operate on a seasonal schedule; many of them begin closing in late September for winter shutdown before reopening during springtime starting around mid-March each year.
Visiting Grand Canyon in the summer:
The high tourist season in Grand Canyon is from May to September. However, if you book your trip in advance and use a tour operator like Hicke: Tours & Expeditions, then you will be able to enjoy the park during off-season months as well.
Grand Canyon is so expansive that it’s easy to escape the crowds even in the summertime by seeking out uncrowded viewpoints or exploring lesser-known trails and areas of forest. That said, there will still be significant foot traffic along more popular routes such as Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab trail; if solitude is your priority, then avoid those two trails until after 11 am when hikers start coming down from their overnight stays inside the canyon back up on the rim.
Visit Grand Canyon in spring:
Less crowded, but also less scenic than in summer or winter months, springtime offers pleasant weather; average highs range between 70-80 °F (21-27 °C), while lows are usually around 50–60°F (11–16°C). However, beware that sudden changes in temperature or winds can occur any time of year.
That said, there will still be significant foot traffic along more popular routes such as Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab trail; if solitude is your priority, then avoid those two trails until after 11 am when hikers start coming down from their overnight stays inside the canyon back up on the rim.
If you book your trip in advance and use a tour operator like Hke: Tours & Expeditions, then you will be able to enjoy the park during off-season months as well.
Weather in Grand Canyon:
Grand Canyon is open year-round. However, most visitor facilities are only accessible from about mid-May to early October. Visitor centers and lodges within Grand Canyon National Park operate on a seasonal schedule; many of them begin closing in late September for winter shutdown before reopening during springtime starting around mid-March each year.
Average highs range between 70-80 °F (21–27°C), while lows are usually around 50–60°F (11–16°C). However, beware that sudden changes in temperature or winds can occur any time of year. Most of the time, you won’t find yourself in a situation where it is too hot or cold to hike. You will likely want to stay aware of how much sun exposure you have been getting and your hydration levels and salt intake. If hiking during the winter months, be prepared for snow conditions on trails above 7500 feet!
FAQ:
How do I get to Grand Canyon?
Visitors typically leave from the South Rim of the canyon and drive about three hours north on Highway 89/64, crossing over Glen Canyon Dam into Page, AZ (which lies in between two different but equally impressive natural landmarks:
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend), then turn south onto U.S 97 for another hour or so until reaching Cameron Trading Post; a sizeable Indian reservation trading post that serves both Native Americans and visitors alike with lodging options like hotel rooms, single bedroom cabins with shared bathrooms (private showers) also available for an additional fee. There are other lodges outside of this reservation along Highway 89/64, such as Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Suites.
How long does it take to hike Grand Canyon?
Grand Canyon is a vast park that spans much of the northern part of Arizona near Flagstaff; around four hours from Sedona via I-17 Northbound to Valle where you merge onto AZ Route 64 Eastbound towards Cameron, which takes about an hour or so until reaching the South Rim Entrance Station.
From there, it’s another two miles by car to Mather Point, one of the most popular spots for viewing spectacular views into Bright Angel canyon with iconic landmarks like The Watchtower visible in your direct line of sight across the canyon. It would be hard to reach every single place of interest on foot in one day, even more so if you’re not used to hiking long distances at high elevations.
Which trail should I hike inside Grand Canyon?
There are trails for all experience levels inside Grand Canyon, from easy day-hikes like Rim Trail or even shorter routes such as River Trail that can be completed in a few hours. There’s also an excellent shuttle service available called the “Hiker Shuttle,” which takes hikers to and from popular destinations on both North & South rims of the canyon, including stops at Phantom Ranch where you can take mules down into Bright Angel Creek. If going alone is your preferred method, then start early before heatwaves become unbearable during the summer months; there are many different options when deciding how long of an outing you’d like outside of the rim trails mentioned above.
When is it too hot to hike Grand Canyon?
Limit your hikes from May through September unless you’re an experienced hiker in good physical shape and used to cardiovascular exercise at high elevations; average daytime highs range between 90-100°F (32–38°C) depending on the time of year, so plan accordingly for proper hydration levels and clothing choices before setting out onto trails like Bright Angel Trail located along the inner gorge rim, which has much steeper inclines/declines than river trails such as Hermits Rest Route or even Desert View Drive that hugs canyon rims towards east near Yaki Point.
What time of day is best to visit Grand Canyon?
The best day is the early morning before the sun rises into a clear sky, which can happen as early as March and last through October, depending on weather patterns. Visiting during the winter months from November to February will have clearer skies and colder temperatures, so be prepared with warm clothing if hiking trails along rim rims or even down toward inner gorge areas where snow is possible in higher elevations around Kaibab Plateau & North Rim regions of the park.
How do I get my backpack permit for Grand Canyon?
Visitors who want to hike overnight below canyon rims must obtain an overnight backpacking permit online at recreation.gov or inside Grand Canyon National Park at Backcountry Information Center located near Maswik Lodge; these permits are free and available year-round. Backpackers must carry a bear canister or hang food from trees as black bears have been known to wander into campgrounds, especially those not occupied by other hikers during late evening hours.
