When to Go

When to Go

The busiest times of year for the park are spring and fall. Compared to most national parks, Canyonlands is seldom crowded, but in spring backpackers and four-wheelers populate the trails and roads. During Easter week, some of the four-wheel-drive trails in the park are used for Jeep Safari, an annual event drawing some 15,000 visitors to town.

The crowds thin out in summer as the thermostat approaches 100°F in July and then soars beyond that for about four weeks. It's a great time to get out on the Green or Colorado rivers as they wind through Canyonlands. October can be rainy season, but the region only receives an annual rainfall of 8 inches.

The well-kept secret is that winter is the best time in the park. Crowds are gone, roads are good, and snowcapped mountains stand in the background. Winter at Canyonlands is one of nature's most memorable shows, with red rock dusted white and low-floating clouds partially obscuring canyons and towers.