When to Go

When to Go

Around Bryce Canyon National Park, elevations approach and surpass 9,000 feet, making for temperamental weather, intermittent and seasonal road closures due to snow, and downright cold nights well into June. At this altitude, the warm summer sun is perfectly balanced by the coolness of the alpine forests during the day.

If you choose to see Bryce Canyon in July, August, or September, you'll be visiting with the rest of the world. During these months, traffic on the main road can be crowded with cars following slow-moving RVs, so consider taking one of the park buses from the visitor center. Also in summer, lodging may be difficult to find.

If it's solitude you're looking for, come to Bryce any time between October and March. The snow may be flying, but imagine the multihued rocks under an icing of white. Strap on snowshoes or cross-country skis, and you might just have a trail all to yourself.