What Is the Best Time to Travel to Zion National Park?

The summer months in Zion National Park see the most visitors, but the spring and fall months have the best conditions.
Written by Abbey Orzech
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
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
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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:
Activity
Best month to visit
Why?
Hiking
September or October
More comfortable temperatures, beautiful scenery, and smaller crowds
Backpacking
September
Most comfortable temperatures, most trails open
Biking
May or October
Shuttles operating, less wet conditions
Bird watching
Year-round
291 species are in the park throughout the year
Camping
March-April or October-November
Many campsites don’t have shaded areas, hard to stay cool in hot temperatures
Canyoneering
May or October
Not too hot, outside of flashflood season
Climbing
March-May or September-November
Rock faces get very hot in the summer months
Sunset and stargazing
November or December
Shorter days have a faster sunset and easier sunset viewing. Check the
star viewing forecast
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How to find savings on car and rental insurance

Before you head out on your road trip to Zion, make sure your
car insurance
policy has the best coverage to keep you safe on your way. 
If you want to save money on car insurance while keeping your coverage high, the
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FAQs

This will depend on your preferences! Zion is an awesome place to visit with things to do year-round. Choose the weather and activities you like and plan your trip around that!
Flashflood season in Zion is between mid-July and mid-September when rain is the heaviest.
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