Hi!

My husband and I are looking to spend 7-10 days in the Utah parks. We are debating the best time to go in terms of weather and crowds.

Times under discussion are the first week in Sept, the last week of Sept and the first week of Oct.

Thank you in advance.

#1 - First week in October
#2 - Last week of Sept
#3 - First week in Sept

ditto

As late in your window as possible. Early Sept can still be quite hot.

double ditto

We went to Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, and Dead Horse Point SP the first week of October a couple of years ago. The weather was great and the crowds weren't bad. We stayed in Moab. I agree with the above-mentioned order.

If you go the last week of Sept or especially the first week of Oct, you will have the wonderful bonus of the aspens at the golden peak of fall color! Bryce, Boulder Mt. The La Sals above Moab will all be in gold!

Zion doesn't get fall color in the canyon until November due to lower altitude. But fall colors in Zion are glorious! Think back to those river scenes in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

For this year, as long as you don't go the weekend of October 20-23 you will be fine as far as crowds. I would definitely go the first weekend in October just because it is cooler.

I agree with DebitNM on
#1 - First week in October
#2 - Last week of Sept

but I would NOT go the First week in Sept. because of the Labor Day Weekend. You DO NOT...I repeat....you DO NOT want to be in the Utah National Parks over a holiday weekend!!!!

Utahtea

Agree 100% with what has been said above. Rule out the first week in September entirely due to the holiday weekend and likelihood of high temperatures.

The first week in October is a great time to be in the parks.

I was there last fall the second week of October and it was a school holiday break. Lots of people and youngsters throughout the Utah parks.