should i visit in april or in summer ?
 

I am planning a trip to Utah + Arizona next year with family (2 adults, 2 kids 11 & 8). Given kids school, I have to go either in early April (spring break) or in summer (late June or early July). I want to visit Zion + Bryce + Grand Canyon (2 days each, plus 1 day in Vegas on the way out).

I know that summer will be HOT. But the North Rim will not be open in April, which means I will have to drive all the way around the Grand Canyon if I go at that time. SO which one would you recommend ?

a. Go in April, risk the spring weather, and live with the longer drive OR

b. Go in summer, and live with the HOT weather ??

In the June/July time frame, Zion and Vegas will be hot. But Bryce and Grand Canyon should be warm and pleasant (cool nights I think). I would opt for that time myself as I've always wanted to go to the North Rim. And April could be cold & raining at the GC and Bryce.

If the North Rim won't be accessible yet, are you sure that the other two will be in April? Might be worth a look.

Wally,

Bryce and Zion Natl Parks are open and accessible year round. Zion will get a rare snow, but not much and not in April (in the canyon anyway). Bryce does get a lot of snow in normal years, it's at 8,000 ft. Trails might be icy for hiking in April, but you could still enjoy all the viewpoints looking down into the canyon.

I would go in June as soon as you can. June is hot, but not nearly as hot as August. Also, in August you have high chance of afternoon thunderstorms. They don't last long, but you don't want to be caught out in the lightening. Watch the sky!

If you go as early as you can in June, it shouldn't be scorchingly hot (esp. at BC and the GC North Rim-it could be quite cool at those places). There will be fewer crowds in April of course (then again, there would be more people at the south rim if you went in April, than at the North Rim in June), but June will be better in that regard than later in summer.

Thanks for all the responses. I agree - it will be late June / or early July for this trip...

Be sure you research whether you should do North over South Rim. We did South and loved it and were still able to get all of the parks in--took 11 nights in late August two years ago and didn't find it unbearably hot (although it WAS 103 in Zion when we arrived.

This is a FABULOUS trip. We did it when our kids were 8 and 10. LOVED it. Feel free to ask questions if that's helpful.