If hiking is in your blood and Zion National Park is on your bucket list, the best time to visit will depend on your crowd and weather tolerance. The busiest months with the most facilities and trails open are between May and September, but there is much to enjoy in the spring, fall, and winter as well.
As Utah
’s first national park and the ancestral ground of Puebloan, Fremont, and Southern Paiute people, Zion is one of the most popular national parks in the U.S. With millions of people visiting the massive desert sanctuary each year, you’ll want to choose a time to explore Zion’s wondrous red walls and canyons that provides you the best experience. Here to give you the low down on visiting Zion National Park at different times of the year is the Jerry
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The best times of year to travel to Zion National Park
Depending on your activity of choice, weather preference, and tolerance for crowds, the best time of year to travel to Zion National Park will change. If you love the heat and making friends on the trail, the summer months may be the way to go. If you’d prefer more solitude and cooler temperatures, visit Zion during early spring or late fall.
Peak season: May to September
The good: Free and frequent shuttles, longer daylight, more open facilities
The bad: Crowded, limited parking
The weather: Highs in 100s degrees Fahrenheit
Zion National Park sees the most visitors between May and September each year. The summer typically means kids are out of school and families are planning vacations, so the park will have more crowded trails and busier facilities.
Although parking is limited and generally fills up by 9 a.m., the park has frequent shuttle buses that are free for visitors.
Off-season: December to February
The good: Less crowded, quality stargazing
The bad: Limited facilities, trails may be closed due to ice/snow
The weather: Highs of 50-60 degrees F, lows below freezing
Hiking in the winter sounds like a dream to some people—and a nightmare to others. Because of this, Zion is least busy between December and February, making it the ideal time for those who love a winter trek.
The weather is typically quite cold, which means you’ll need to have the appropriate gear and clothes for safety, but once you have that, you’re set to catch the incredible views of Zion in the snow.
The shorter days mean visitors won’t have to wake up as early or stay as late to catch the spectacular sunrise—the fiery walls of the canyons mixed with the soft glow of winter make the landscape a sight to behold and a favorite of top photographers.
However, the accumulation of snow and ice does mean that some of the trails may be closed, and the shuttle usually only runs during the holidays.
Pro Tip If you’re planning a winter hike, don’t forget sunscreen! It is sunny most of the year in Zion and despite the further distance from the sun, you’ll still need to protect yourself with SPF.
Shoulder season: October to November, April to March
The good: Thinner crowds, beautiful sightseeing
The bad: Shuttle runs less frequently, trails may be closed due to snow or melting snow
The weather: Fluctuating temperatures
The shoulder seasons of Zion National Park are in the late fall and early spring.
Most of the trails are still open, and the sightseeing is incredible. Catch the early budding of the landscape or the striking late-fall colors on your hikes. With temperate weather, the trails will be more comfortable than the heat of summer or cold of winter—just don’t forget to layer up. The temperatures can fluctuate a lot during the day, and nights are downright cold.
Transportation will be easier during the shoulder season because the crowds are thinner, but less frequent shuttle operations.
The cheapest time to travel to Zion National Park
To enter Zion National Park, visitors will need to purchase a park pass
. Prices for these passes don’t change based on the time of year you visit, so you can plan on a consistent charge throughout the year. However, lodging fees and prices, in general, will be higher during the peak season and lower during the off-season, so if you’re spending more than one day at the park, be sure to check out lodging price variations between those two times. It’s a good idea to visit during the off-season if your number one goal is saving money.
Find the best month for your visit to New Orleans
If you’re looking to base your Zion trip around your favorite activities, check out the table below to find the best time for your hike, bike, photography, or camping:
| | |
---|
| | More comfortable temperatures, beautiful scenery, and smaller crowds |
| | Most comfortable temperatures, most trails open |
| | Shuttles operating, less wet conditions |
| | 291 species are in the park throughout the year |
| March-April or October-November | Many campsites don’t have shaded areas, hard to stay cool in hot temperatures |
| | Not too hot, outside of flashflood season |
| March-May or September-November | Rock faces get very hot in the summer months |
| | Shorter days have a faster sunset and easier sunset viewing. Check the star viewing forecast |
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