Best time to visit Zion National Park

Planning on visiting Zion National Park but are unsure about the best time to visit Zion National Park? In this post we will be breaking down the pro’s and con’s of visiting Zion each month and each season, so that you can decide which month is best for you to visit Zion.

We will go through the number of visitors you can expect to see in the park each month, to determine if you want to visit in a quieter month, the temperatures to expect in the park each month, to determine whether you want to visit in Summer when the temperatures are the highest.

We will also look at whether the hikes are open or not, with generally the highest possibility of the Narrows being closed in April/May.

the river is close with the zion canyon cliffs on the other side, the grass is covered in snow and there are some trees on the canyon floor

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Table of Contents

Zion National Park in Spring

Spring can be a great time to visit Zion National Park, in March we can see snow in the park at higher altitudes, though generally by April the snow has gone and the water levels in the river can increase due to the melting snow.

As we reach May the temperatures in the park have certainly increased and May can be a good time to visit before the higher temperatures of summer.

There are around the same amount of visitors in Spring to the park as in the Fall, though the largest month in Spring is certainly May, when the days are longer and the temperatures are much more pleasant.

Make sure to have applied for your Angels Landing Permit before your trip if you are wanting to hike Angels Landing.

Zion National Park in March

Zion National Park in March, can still be quite a cold month, it is starting to get warmer as we see Spring start on March 19th. The average temperature in Zion National Park in March is 55°F (13°C), though as the month advances the temperature normally increases.

Many people want to know is there snow in Zion in March, and yes it is possible as March is generally the wettest month of the year, with either 8 days of rain or snow, depending on the temperatures in the park.

In March 2023 there was snow at the top of Angels Landing and it would not have been possible to do the hike without shoe spikes, though down on the valley floor there wasn’t any snow. When there is snow, the roads are plowed, though you may find some trails closed for safety reasons.

In March the number of people visiting Zion National Park starts to increase, with nearly triple the number of visitors compared to January and February and in 2023 there were 338,000 visitors to Zion.

The Zion Park Shuttle starts to operate again at the beginning of March, meaning that the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to cars and you must park in one of the car parks close to the visitor center and get the park shuttle to do any of the hikes in Zion Canyon.

You will find that most of the hikes in Zion National Park are open, though it is possible that some of the them can be closed due to snow, especially the hikes at a higher altitude.

It is possible to hike the Narrows in March, though you will need to rent a dry suit in Springdale and check with the rangers in the visitors center that it is safe to hike, especially if it has been raining in the area closeby.

Zion National Park in April

In April in Zion the number of people visiting the park has increased again significantly compared to March, with 452,000 visitors to Zion National Park in April.

The weather is starting to get better with temperatures of 59°f (16°c) during the day and lows of 35°f (2°c) during the night, making it a little cold to camp, but fine if you have the right equipment.

There are around 6 days of rain in Zion in April, though you may find the Narrows is closed due to heavy rain or higher water levels due to melting snow, further upstream.

April is a great time to visit Zion as generally there is no snow in the park, even at higher altitudes and the valley is alive with new growth and starting to look very green with leaves on the trees.

In April, you will find that most of the trails are open as they aren’t closed to snow, though you can notice more visitors to the park.

Zion National Park in May

The third highest number of visitors to Zion is in May, when in 2023 there were 516,000 visitors to Zion National Park in May. May is a great time to visit as the days are longer and it isn’t too hot yet.

There have been a few years where it hasn’t been possible to hike the Narrows in May as the water levels have been too high, but make sure to check at the visitors center beforehand to confirm the situation.

The weather is much better in May with temperatures of 70°f (21°c) during the day and lows of 43°f (6°c) during the night, though it has got up to as high as 83°f (28°c). On average there are around 5 days of rain in May.

Make sure to take plenty of water into the park with you and sun block.

Zion National Park in Summer

The summer is great time to visit Zion National Park, though you will find the park must busier than the other seasons of the year. June is the busiest month of the year, with July slightly fewer visitors and August there being much fewer people in the park.

The temperatures in the summer are hot and it can even get up to higher of 100°f (37°c), so make sure that you take plenty of water with you and fill up at the filling stations around the park.

In some years and at certain times of the years there are warnings about Toxic Cyanobacteria in the rivers and streams around the park, so make sure not to fill up any type of water bottle, even ones with filters.

All the hikes are normally open during summer, though in recent years, 2019 & 2023, the Narrows were closed until June 22nd and June 19th due to increased snowfall in winter and the flow in the river being too high.

the canyon from above, showing the orange steep cliffs of the canyon and the river winding through it, with trees and grass on the canyon floor

Zion National Park in June

The largest month for visitors to Zion, was in June 2023 with 565,000 visitors visiting Zion National Park in June, though this number is only just a few thousand more than the number of visitors in July.

In recent years the Narrows has been closed well into June as it closes when the flow rate of the river is more than 150 cubic feet per second or when there is a flash flood warning, this is because of the increased snowfall in the area in Winter and the snow still melting late into the season.

In June we see the temperatures rise, with an average temperature during the day of 82°f (28°c) and an average temperature during the night of 50°f (10°c). There is just a 4% chance of rain in June and you can expect 14 hours of sunshine during the day.

Make sure to take plenty of water on your hike and fill up at the water stations around the park, have a hat with you and plenty of sun block.

Zion National Park in July

The second most popular month to visit Zion is in July, when there were 562,000 visitors in 2023, though in 2022 there were around 20,000 less visitors in July compared to June.

July is the hottest month of the year with average temperatures during the day of 88°f (31°c), though it has been known to reach as high as 100°f (37°c) during some days in summer.

Normally all hikes are open in July, though there have been years where the Narrows has been closed for the first 2 weeks of July still, this has been due to a lot more snow than normal in Winter and into Spring and the water levels and speed are just too dangerous to allow people to enter the river!!

Zion National Park in August

In August in Zion the number of visitors has reduced from the numbers in May, June and July to 460,000 visitors in August 2023 and 438,000 in August 2022. This is most likely because children start back at school and summer holidays has finished for many people.

In August the temperature in Zion National Park are lower than in July, though still high at 84°f (29°c) during the day, though it is still possible to get days as high as 97°f (36°c) in August!!

In August all the hikes are open, though the chance of rain has increased to 14%, meaning that it is possible for flash floods in the canyons, so if you are planning on hiking the Narrows, make sure to check the forecast with the park rangers before starting your hike.

Zion National Park in Fall

Fall is a popular time to visit Zion National Park, as the high summer temperatures have gone, making way for a more pleasant temperature for hiking. September and October are busy times in the park, though not as busy as June and July and by November the number of visitors to the park has nearly halved.

All the hikes are generally open in these months, though it is possible for a flash flood to close the park, so make sure to check for flood warnings from the park rangers before you start to hike, even on a beautiful day.

Zion National Park in September

In September 2023 in Zion there were 493,000 visitors to the park, more than in August 2023, though in 2022, there were more visitors in August than in September.

September is a popular month to visit the park as the temperatures have reduced to an average of 77°f (25°c) during the day and 48°f (9°c) during the night. This can make it much more pleasant to be hiking around the park, as on many of the hikes there is not much shade.

Normally in September all the hikes are open as there is only an 11% chance of rain and it is a good time to hike Angels Landing and The Narrows.

a view of zion canyon with the orange canyon sides and in the middle the floor of the canyon covered in grass and trees

Zion National Park in October

October is a popular month to visit Zion, with 506,000 visitors in 2023 and 461,000 in 2022, due to the temperatures being lower than in the summer months. On average it is 66°f (19°c) during the day, with it dropping cooler on an evening. The highest ever recorded temperature for October was 99°f (37°c) in 1999.

On an average day in Zion National Park in October you can expect a 10% chance of rain, but normally all the hikes are open throughout October.

Make sure to take layers with you as the early mornings and late evenings can be cool.

Zion National Park in November

The number of visitors to Zion significantly reduces in November and in 2023 there were 286,000 visitors to the park, with around the same amount in 2022 too.

The temperatures have now reduced and the days are shorter, with an 11% chance of rain on average during the day in Zion National Park in November. It normally does not snow in Zion National Park in November, though temperatures during the night can reach as low as 30°f (-1°c).

If you are planning on hiking the Narrows, then you will need to rent a drysuit as the water temperature is from 41°f to 53°f (5°c to 12°c).

Zion National Park in Winter

If you like to visit a National Park when there are fewer people then Zion National Park in Winter can be a great option, as the 3 quietest months in the park are December, January and February.

Zion in winter though does have the worst weather of the year, with the coldest months and the possibility of snow, meaning that some of the trails in the park can be closed.

In Winter you will need to be prepared with a drysuit to hike the Narrows, though this can be rented in Springdale. If you plan on hiking Angels Landing and there is snow, then make sure to have shoe spikes with you, otherwise it will be impossible to hike in snow.

Zion National Park in December

December in Zion, is the third quietest month of the year, with most people choosing to visit the park around Holidays, boosting the numbers up from an otherwise quiet month.

Temperatures in December can be the coldest temperatures of the year, though very similar to the temperatures in January, with an average temperature of 48°f (9°c) during the day and 23°f (-5c) during the night.

On average there are around 6 days of rain or snow if you visit Zion National Park in December and whether trails are open or not, are dependent on the weather.

Make sure to wrap up warm in the park and be prepared for cold hiking conditions.

Zion National Park in January

January in Zion is the quietest month of the year to visit, with 122,000 people choosing to visit the park in January 2024, much lower than the busiest month of the year June, when 565,000 people visited the park in June 2023.

It is the quietest month of the year as it is one of the coldest and wettest months of the year with an average of 7 days of rain or snow. On average the temperate during the day is 50°f (10°c) and on an evening 25°f (-4°c), though it has been known to drop to 17°f (-8°c) overnight.

It is possible to hike both Angels Landing and The Narrows in January, though you will need to make sure that you have the correct equipment, with a drysuit needed to enter the river and shoe spikes needed to hike the last part of Angels Landing if there is snow.

Zion National Park in January, is beautiful if you are prepared for the weather with the appropriate clothing and knowing that it may not be possible to hike some of the trails, but it is amazing to see the park at this time of the year.

the cliffs of the zion canyon covered in a sprinkling of snow with trees on the canyon floor

Zion National Park in February

By February in Zion, it is starting to warm up a little in the park, compared to December and January, though on an evening it can drop as low as 23°f (-5°c).

In February 2023 in Zion, there were 132,000 visitors to the park, though in 2024 this has increased to 145,000 visitors in February, making it the second lowest month for visitors.

On average there are around 8 days of rain or snow in Zion National Park in February and it is generally overcast for about 50% of the month.

Hikes in the park are open dependent on the weather, as if there is snow or ice, then it can close some of the trails.

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