What's the Best Month to Visit Bryce Canyon?

Email Facebook Tweet Pin LinkedIn Print

Lots of people commonly wonder this kind of question about any tourist destination. What’s the best time of year/month/week/day/etc. to visit X? It’s only natural to want the best possible experience you can get given your narrow window of time on vacation. So, today we tackle this question a bit more specifically. What’s the best month to visit Bryce Canyon? The answer is that it depends on what you’re going for. Let’s elaborate.

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of evergreen trees at the base of switchbacks in Bryce Canyon National Park Utah — Buy Prints

There are many factors which come into play when choosing when the “best” window of time is, in this case, the best month. Let’s start with some obvious ones: children in school/summer vacation, crowds, and weather. Each of these factors plays into the “best” month to visit Bryce Canyon and yields different results.

Deeper factors include what you want to do during your visit. While the park is open year-round, not every trail is open or safe to hike during certain times of year for example. You may find certain activities restricted by area. Also, depending upon the timing of your visit, certain activities may not be available at all. I’ll elaborate below.

So, with this preliminary explanation out of the way, let’s do it. Let’s dive into when the best month is to visit Bryce Canyon National Park.

Visiting Bryce Canyon Around a School Schedule

One of the biggest points people consider is the school schedule of their local school district, college, or university. If you or your child is supposed to attend classes, this is not an ideal time to go on vacation anywhere. Bryce Canyon has poor cell phone and data reception so it’s not like you could attend classes virtually that easily. No, it’s far better to wait for a break such as Christmas break, Spring/Easter break, or summer break to visit. Those more local might get away with Thanksgiving break or even a 3-day weekend if pursuing a day trip.

Back-to-school supplies with a pin in a calendar date

When working around a typical school schedule, you often have the last part of May, June, July, August, and the beginning of September to work with. Yes, I know that your individual school schedules may vary. I’m giving a general overview.

Since many people feel the desire to get out and vacation just after school releases for the year (late May/early June) and/or the desire to get in that last hurrah before school begins for the year (late August/early September), I actually recommend that you avoid those windows to visit Bryce Canyon in. For this very reason, many of the local hotels, motels, RV parks, cabins, and campgrounds fill up quickly. Things are especially difficult and expensive around times like Memorial weekend.

Instead, I recommend that you look at planning your visit to Bryce Canyon during the month of July. Things are still going strong for the season but you’re missing those overcrowded windows of time.

Visiting Bryce Canyon Around Crowds

Another issue people often consider in planning vacations is crowds. You don’t want to visit someplace only to face too many people and miss out on most of what you could have done thanks to the crowds. Instead, you want to consider the off-season if available. By utilizing the off-season, you maximize what you can do while minimizing the time you spend waiting. It’s a win-win for most people.

Photograph of a crowd of people gathered at Bryce Point in Bryce Canyon National Park Utah by Cramer Imaging

While open year-round, Bryce Canyon has an off-season too. It extends from about mid to late October through the beginning to mid April. During this window of time, many of the local hotels, motels, RV parks, cabins, campgrounds, and restaurants close down for the season. There’s simply not enough demand during the off-season to support them staying open over the winter. On the plus side, you’ll find those who do remain open often have cheap rates and very short lines.

Calendar of the month of November with 4 dates circled on a colored background

Calendar of the month of December with 4 dates circled on a colored background

Calendar of the month of January with 4 dates circled on a colored background

Calendar of the month of February with 4 dates circled on a colored background

Is there a particularly good month to visit Bryce Canyon during the off-season? No, not really. The entirety is about the same if you wish to avoid crowds.

Calendar of the month of March with 4 dates circled on a colored background

Calendar of the month of April with 4 dates circled on a colored background

Calendar of the month of October with 4 dates circled on a colored background

During the regular tourist season, I would advise you to avoid 3-day weekends and other local big events if you wish to avoid crowds. Events such as balloonfest (June) and the marathon (July) bring in lots of people who often decide to visit Bryce Canyon while in the area. Perhaps come during months like March, April, and October when the crowd hasn’t arrived yet or is dying off for the season.

Bryce Canyon Weather Concerns

If you want to visit an outdoor attraction, such as Bryce Canyon, then weather must factor into your decision-making process. The very reason why there is an off-season in the area is because of weather. Let me break down some factors which you may face depending upon weather conditions.

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a winter storm brewing over the Boat Mesa of Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

January

Cold weather with snow storms likely.

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a winter sunset at blue hour in Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

February

Cold weather with snow storms likely.

Fine art landscape photograph of Agua Canyon of Bryce Canyon National Park Utah with dark strormy clouds by Cramer Imaging

March

Slightly warmer with ground thaw possible towards the end of the month. Snow still possible.

Fine art landscape photograph by Cramer Imaging of Bryce Canyon's Paria Point framed by a pine tree

April

Still only slightly warmer with possible ground thaw during the month. Snow still possible but chance of sticking reducing as the month progresses.

Fine art landscape photograph of silky water in the Tropic ditch stream at Bryce Canyon National Park Utah by Cramer Imaging

May

Temperature finally becomes more temperate as the month progresses. Snow still possible but much more likely to rain instead.

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of fiery orange clouds lighting up Thor's Hammer in Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

June

Temperate to hot temperatures. Nights might still be chilly. Precipitation is often minimal. Fire season often begins during this month.

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape closeup photograph of a red moon rising over a rock formation of Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

July

Hot days and temperate nights. Mid month or month’s end may begin monsoon season with daily or almost daily afternoon rain showers and thunderstorms.

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of moody monsoon skies over the Bryce Canyon Utah desert and Tropic irrigation water canal

August

Hot days and temperate nights. Monsoon season continues with rain tapering off towards after the middle of the month.

Cramer Imaging's professional quality landscape and nature photograph of Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah at Sunset Point

September

Begins with hot days which cool off to more temperate conditions as the month progresses. Rain showers possible but monsoon season has concluded.

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of the sun rising over Bryce Canyon National Park Utah on the summer solstice

October

About half of the month is reasonably temperate and the rest is cold. One day, we wake up and it’s just cold with no warning. Rain possible but not likely. Early snow possible but not likely and not likely to stick.

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of the sun shining into a foggy snow-covered landscape at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

November

Cold weather with snow storms likely.

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of dawn rising over magical fog the landscape of Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

December

Cold weather with snow storms likely.

As you can see, Bryce Canyon features vastly different weather conditions depending upon time of year. It is located in the mountains, after all.

Calendar of the month of June with 4 dates circled on a colored background

Calendar of the month of July with 4 dates circled on a colored background

If you’re like me and hate the cold, then the off-season might not be the time you want to visit Bryce Canyon. If you don’t really know how to drive on snow and black ice, then winter visits probably aren’t for you. Again, if rain or snow might cancel your trip, then you know which months you should avoid. In fact, June or early July might be the best months to plan your trip if you want the best predictable weather.

What Do You Plan on Doing During Your Visit?

Bryce Canyon National Park offers several outdoor adventure activities and also many scenic views. However, your best month to visit might be limited by what you plan on doing while there. Most people come to see the vistas. You can see those any day of the week or month. Sill, many come with secondary plans which can include hiking, back-country, camping, horseback riding, cycling, photography/videography, astronomy, and geology study. I’ll break these down so you can see what’s generally available when.

Professional landscape photographer Audrey Cramer standing on the Navajo trail of Bryce Canyon Utah getting a shot of the scene

Keep in mind that certain activities are limited by cloudy skies, snow on the ground, and more. Some activities are run by private companies who determine when they will offer such. If you bring your own, then it’s available to you year-round. Also, certain activities technically available year-round might have seasonal limits placed upon them. Always follow current park ranger instructions and guidelines along with official posted signs.

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a snowy Natural Bridge in Bryce Canyon National Park Utah