Is Zion better in summer or winter?

Zion National Park At-A-Glance Before diving in, here are a few highlights to help you plan your trip: Best Time to Visit: Spring or Fall are the best times to visit thanks to mild weather, perfect for hiking. Avoid crowds by visiting in March or November, on either end of peak season.



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In the winter months, Zion is often a place of solitude and beauty with less visitors resulting in quieter trails and less expensive accommodation. The trade-off is cooler temperatures and the prospect of weather-related trail closures.

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A good rule of thumb is to check Zion's current conditions, no matter the season. Summer in Zion is hard to beat. This is when you'll get the most time to explore because of long summer days and extended park hours. July is the hottest time to visit, with daily highs averaging 100 degrees.

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Summer in Zion National Park is typically a very hot and dry season. Daytime temperatures usually sit in the 90s and can often even reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit on some especially hot days.

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Zion National Park is open year-round, but about 70 percent of visitors come between April and September. If you have the flexibility, making the trip during the park's off-peak months of October through March means less crowded hiking trails and fewer view-blocking selfie sticks.

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Best Time to Go to Zion National Park to Avoid Crowds The least crowded months in Zion are December to February when the weather is cold. If you're looking for warmer weather with fewer crowds, consider visiting from March to April or October to November instead.

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The park shuttle bus is required to access the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and most of the hikes in Zion Canyon. Summer is the busiest time to visit Zion. Be prepared to share the park with around a half million other people each month.

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While June can be very hot during midday, the heat is better than the closed trails due to the ice and snow you would find earlier in the year. Even trails at very high elevations are open in June, including famous options like Angels Landing via Scout Lookout.

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August is typically very hot in Zion National Park. The average temperature for Zion Canyon in August is a high of 97 and a low of 66 degrees Fahrenheit (36/19 degrees Celsius). In Kolob Canyons, the average temperature is a high of 87 and a low of 57 degrees Fahrenheit (30/13 degrees Celsius).

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This trail is extremely dangerous during icy or snowy conditions. Check conditions before you hike and prepare accordingly. If parking at the Grotto and along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is full you may need to park at a nearby trailhead, or return later when parking is available.

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Winter (December to February) Winter is a quieter time to visit Zion National Park with fewer visitors and the opportunity to see the park covered in snow. However, some areas of the park may be closed or inaccessible due to snow and ice.

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July in Bryce Canyon is typically very pleasant with the exception of possible afternoon thunderstorms. The average high is 80 and the average low is 53 degrees Fahrenheit (27/12 degrees Celsius).

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The hottest month of the year in Zion National Park is July, with an average high of 97°F and low of 69°F. The cold season lasts for 3.1 months, from November 20 to February 25, with an average daily high temperature below 58°F.

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Take a dip For outdoor water recreation, consider exploring local state parks like Sand Hollow, Quail Creek, or Gunlock. When it's so hot that it feels like everything is on fire, water is the best thing to put it out with. Luckily, Greater Zion has plenty of options to choose from.

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Ideally, you need two to three days to really explore Zion National Park. This will give you enough time to hike one of the longer trails such as Angels Landing or the Narrows and enjoy all the major viewpoints.

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Zion's popularity rests partly on its stunning landscape, including some of the tallest sandstone cliffs in the world, and its tapering wild canyon you can hike through.

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In many national parks, staying inside the park is important. At Zion, staying outside the park might actually be a little better. Don't worry too much. This is one of those happy situations where both choices are very good.

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We think 2 days in Zion National Park is a perfect baseline. With 2 days, you'll be able to plan a Zion National Park itinerary that fits in one of the longer hikes in Zion (like Angels Landing), the scenic drive between the East Entrance and Zion – Mt. Carmel tunnel, and some of the shorter hikes in the canyon.

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5 Tips to Avoid the Crowds in Zion National Park – Best Time to Visit
  1. Hike as early as possible. Our guides have a saying–”an hour earlier, a mile farther”. ...
  2. Head to Kolob Canyons. ...
  3. Hike Observation Point. ...
  4. Go In Winter. ...
  5. Last: Embrace the humanity.


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Crowds and wildlife at Bryce Canyon National Park Crowds are common at most scenic overlooks and a number of trails, especially in summer, but the atmosphere is quieter than at Zion.

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