When to Go

Summer is the busiest season, with July experiencing the greatest crowds. A spring or fall visit gives you two advantages: fewer people and cooler temperatures —in summer, especially in years with little rainfall, daytime temperatures can reach into the 90s. A winter visit to the park brings even more solitude, as all but one section of campsites are shut down and only about 2 mi of South Rim Road, the park's main road, are plowed.

November through February is when the snow hits, with 9 to 24 inches of it monthly on average. April and May, and September through November are the rainiest, with a monthly average of 1.7 to 2.2 inches of rain. June is generally the driest month, with only about 1 inch of rain on average.

Temperatures at the bottom of the canyon are about 8 degrees warmer than at the rim.