Note: You're not always going to encounter snow on your visit to Arches National Park in winter. Often, the snow will melt within 2-3 days or even within a few hours. But your best chance of photographing snowy arches is during December or January.
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Weather. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 F (-1 to 10 C), and lows averaging 0 to 20 F (-17 to -6 C). Though large snowfalls are uncommon (except in nearby mountains), even small amounts of snow or ice can make local trails and roads impassable.
The best time to visit Arches National Park is April through May and September through October, when daytime temperatures average about 60 to 80 degrees. In the summer, temperatures can exceed 100 degrees, which can make exploring the park's trails very uncomfortable.
Winter at Arches is a peaceful time, without the crowds or scorching heat that can plague summertime visits. Ice, snow, and reduced park operations, however, can provide their own challenges for winter visitors.
Avoid the CrowdsWhile the peak seasons of spring and summer see around 200,000 monthly visitors, winter only sees about 40,000 visitors per month. With fewer people visiting Arches, you won't have to worry about finding a parking spot or waiting in a long line to enter the park.
The snowy period of the year lasts for 1.4 months, from December 7 to January 20, with a sliding 31-day snowfall of at least 1.0 inches. The month with the most snow in Moab is December, with an average snowfall of 1.4 inches. The snowless period of the year lasts for 11 months, from January 20 to December 7.
Moab's weather is as varied as its landscape. The typically mild winters in the lower elevations provide perfect conditions for hiking, golfing and bicycling while the higher elevations offer skiing and snowmobiling. An occasional winter snowfall in the red rock valleys creates an awesome color contrast.
Arches National Park average temperatures in winter during the day are around 40°F (5°C) and down to around 17°F (-8°C) on a night. It can be sunny but you need to ensure that you have plenty of layers, a thick fleece, warm jacket, winter hat and gloves especially around sunset and early morning.
With one busy day you can see the highlights of Arches National Park. But if you want to take your time and explore a few hidden gems and off the beaten path places, plan on spending two days in Arches National Park.
Two days in Arches is ideal though and would give you enough time to explore the Fiery Furnace on the ranger-led hike and do a few more of the longer hikes. One day is really all you need at the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park if you're sticking to the overlooks and shorter trails.
Without a doubt, Delicate Arch is the most famous natural stone arch in the world. Referred to as The Arch by many arriving visitors for whom it is No. 1 on their must-see lists, Delicate has an allure that is hard to explain but impossible to deny. The light opening beneath Delicate Arch is 46 feet (14 m) high.
Vehicles must stay on established roads within Arches National Park. Some park roads are unpaved and require high-clearance 4X4 vehicles. These routes lead into parts of the park where there are few visitors and extraordinary scenery.
Climbing, scrambling, walking or standing upon, or rapelling off any named or unnamed arch with an opening greater than three feet is prohibited in the park. This is to promote visitor safety and the opportunity to view natural features undisturbed. Balanced Rock is also closed to climbing.
MOAB WEATHER IN DECEMBERDecember temperatures in Moab: highs 45 and lows 22 degrees Fahrenheit. Any time of year it's important to stay hydrated and use sun protection, even in the winter.
Winter in Moab can be an amazing time to explore the desert. The average high in December and January is about 44 degrees, which suits some hikers and mountain bikers just fine. Nights can be quite cold, however, dipping into the single digits — and of course, night falls earlier in winter.
Moab and the surrounding areas are incredible in the winter, so be sure to plan ahead to get the most out of your trip and have a safe journey. Be sure to check weather and road conditions before heading out (and avalanche conditions in the La Sals, if applicable).
Explore Arches National ParkOne of the main reasons people come to Moab is to visit one of the most beautiful National Parks of the United States – Arches NP. So if you only have one day in Moab, the best thing to do is to explore Arches National Park.
Best Time To Visit MoabPeak tourist season is March 15 through May Sept and Oct. still busy in the summer but not as crazy as spring and fall. The summer slows a bit because temperatures can easily average 105 degrees.
Moab is 4,025ft above sea level, with the nearby La Sal Mountains topping out at over 12,000ft above sea level. These higher altitudes may trigger mild altitude sickness in visitors, regardless of gender, age, or physical health. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath.
Explore the best of Arches National Park on this incredible two-day vacation. There's a lifetime's worth of exploration to be had in the red rock desert of southeastern Utah, but a fabulous place to start is by spending two days in Arches National Park.
You'd have commendable focus to get in and out of the Park in under two hours, but it can be done. Even if you don't plan to stray from your vehicle, we recommend you budget an extra hour to take in the magnificent scenery and snap a picture or two.
Winter in Moab can be an amazing time to explore the desert. The average high in December and January is about 44 degrees, which suits some hikers and mountain bikers just fine. Nights can be quite cold, however, dipping into the single digits — and of course, night falls earlier in winter.