When to come, and what you trade
There is no single best month. There is a month that best fits what you actually want to do, and the differences are larger than most people expect.
- Best all round
- Late September to October
- Quietest
- December to February
- Highest flash flood risk
- Mid July to mid September
- Hardest to book
- April, May, September, October
If you can pick any week, pick early October
Stable weather after the monsoon breaks, low clear water in The Narrows, comfortable air temperatures, the cottonwoods turning gold on the canyon floor, and the shuttle still running a full schedule.
The catch is that everybody else has worked this out too. October is the hardest month of the year to book lodging late and one of the most contested for permits. If you want it, plan six to nine months ahead.
The genuinely underrated windows are early June and the second half of November. Both are pleasant, both have the shuttle running, and both are markedly quieter and cheaper than the shoulder peaks either side of them.
Month by month, with the tradeoffs
Temperatures are the park’s own published monthly averages, given as a range across each block. They swing hard: the park notes that day and night can differ by over 30 degrees Fahrenheit, so a comfortable afternoon does not mean a comfortable dawn start. All twelve months, including rainfall.
| Months | Average high and low | What it is like | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| December to February | 54 to 59°F / 30 to 34°F | Quiet, cold and genuinely beautiful. Cheapest lodging of the year by a wide margin. Scenic drive open to cars for most of it. | Ice on shaded trails, short days, some closures in town, and a full drysuit needed for The Narrows. |
| March | 66°F / 39°F | Shuttle starts up, town wakes up, temperatures become comfortable. | Snowmelt begins. The Narrows is unreliable and often closed above 150 cfs. |
| April to May | 75 to 86°F / 45 to 54°F | Peak. Everything open, wildflowers, comfortable hiking. | Busiest months of the year, hardest permits, highest rates, and the river still running high. |
| June to mid July | 95 to 100°F / 63 to 70°F | Flows drop, The Narrows comes good, the canyon stays shaded while the rim bakes. | Serious heat. Start at dawn and treat afternoon exposed trails with respect. |
| Mid July to mid Sept | 91 to 100°F / 61 to 70°F | Monsoon. Dramatic skies, waterfalls off the walls after rain, slightly fewer people than the shoulders. | The highest flash flood risk of the year. Slot canyons close on warning and afternoon plans get cancelled. |
| Late Sept to October | 79 to 91°F / 48 to 61°F | The best window. Stable weather, low water, gold cottonwoods, comfortable temperatures. | Everyone knows. Book six to nine months out or you will not get a room. |
| November | 64°F / 37°F | Quiet after the first week, still comfortable, shuttle running until Nov 28. | Shorter days and colder water. The second half is underrated and good value. |
The right month depends what you came for
These pull in different directions, which is why there is no single answer. Pick the row that matches your trip.
| If you came for | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| The Narrows | June to mid July, and late September to October | March to May, when snowmelt closes it regularly |
| Canyoneering | The first three weeks of October | Mid July to mid September, peak flash flood risk |
| Angels Landing | Early June, late November, or any weekday | Summer afternoons on the exposed chains |
| Long day hikes | October, April, and the second half of November | July and August afternoons |
| Cycling the scenic drive | March to May and September to November | Midsummer, unless you ride at dawn |
| Quiet and low cost | December to February | Any weekend in April, May, September or October |
What is actually open when
Season affects access as much as weather, and the shuttle calendar is the thing most trips are unknowingly built around.
The shuttle
Runs March 7 to November 28 in 2026, plus a holiday week from December 26. During those windows the scenic drive is closed to private vehicles and the shuttle is the only way into the canyon.
Outside them you can drive the scenic drive yourself, which is a real advantage of a winter trip. Full schedule on the shuttle page.
Roads and long term closures
Kolob Terrace Road and Lava Point Road close most years from autumn until spring for snow, and Kolob Canyons Road closes frequently in winter.
Separately, Hidden Canyon and Observation Point via the East Rim Trail are both under long term closure after rockfall, in every season.
Permit calendars do not follow the weather
The Angels Landing seasonal lottery closes months before the season it covers. Deciding in August to hike it in September is already too late for the seasonal draw, though the day before lottery is still open to you. Work backwards from the permit dates before booking anything.
Common questions about when to visit Zion
What is the best month to visit Zion?
Late September through October, for stable weather, low water in The Narrows and comfortable temperatures. It is also the hardest month to book, so early June and the second half of November are the best value alternatives.
When is Zion least crowded?
December through February by a wide margin. Among the milder months, early June and late November are noticeably quieter than April, May, September and October.
Is it worth visiting Zion in winter?
Yes, if you plan for it. The canyon is quiet, lodging is cheap, and the scenic drive is open to private vehicles for most of the winter. Expect ice on shaded trails and short days, and a drysuit is essential for The Narrows.
When is monsoon season in Zion?
Roughly mid July to mid September. Afternoon thunderstorms build quickly and the park closes slot canyons when the flash flood risk warrants it.
When does the Zion shuttle run?
In 2026, March 7 to November 28, plus a holiday week from December 26 to January 2. Outside those windows the scenic drive is open to private vehicles.
What month should I avoid?
None outright, but April, May, September and October combine the highest crowds, the highest prices and the hardest permits. If you have flexibility and no fixed reason to come then, you will have a better time either side.
How hot does it get in summer?
Hot enough that afternoon hiking on exposed trails is a genuine hazard. The canyon itself stays shaded and cooler. Start at dawn and plan the exposed sections for the morning.
Pick the month, then work backwards
Permit calendars and lodging both close months ahead. The month you choose sets everything else in motion.
Also useful: the Angels Landing lottery, Narrows conditions, and the shuttle schedule.
Lodging and permits both close months ahead. Pick the month first.
Plan your trip