Visiting the Grand Canyon in Winter: Guide + Tips
Visiting the Grand Canyon in winter, in my opinion, is one of the best times to visit.
Yes, it was a little chilly in the February morning that we drove out to the canyon – but it soon warmed up. It was also less busy, and we got so many amazing photos.
It could be that I’m acclimatized to Canadian weather, but I found winter to be the most comfortable time to experience the Grand Canyon because it wasn’t crazy hot.
So, if you’re thinking of heading to the Grand Canyon in winter, then you’re in the right place. I’m going to break down the useful things to know. So, let’s jump in!
Grand Canyon in Winter: Fast Facts + Tips
- The North Rim is closed during winter, so your options are visiting the West, South or East Rim
- The South Rim is the most popular choice for visitors, year-round. But it’s also the coldest during winter
- Check the Grand Canyon National Park website for updates or inclement weather closures (which can happen in summer due to wildfires and in winter due to snow.)
- Important tip: On the national park website, you may see that it says “south rim open only” in the winter, but keep in mind they are only talking about the rims that they manage, which is north, east and south (West is not managed by them and is also open year-round)
- Average winter temperatures in the Grand Canyon depend on which rim you’re at, as they vary in elevation. It generally falls somewhere between a low of 35ºF to a high of 65ºF
Average Temperatures of Each Rim of the Grand Canyon During Winter (December through March)
South Rim
High: 42-51°F (6-11°C) Low: 26-33°F (-3 to 1°C)
East Rim
High: 57-64°F (14°-18°C) Low: 33-39°F (1-4°C)
Grand Canyon West
High: 59-64°F (15°C-18°C) Low: 13-28°F (2-5°C)
Keep in mind that the ‘lows’ displayed above apply mostly to early morning and overnight but you should still prepare for the low temperatures to be safe. When we got to the Grand Canyon at 10am in February, it was still very cold and I was freezing. But, the sun came out and warmed up the afternoon.
Our Experience at Grand Canyon West in Winter
The morning was pretty cold, and I wished I had a coat on – but it got significantly warmer during the day, so I’m glad we didn’t bring coats.
There was no snow there when we went, but snow is possible in all rims during winter.
We loved visiting the Grand Canyon (specifically Grand Canyon West) in winter, and you can read more in-depth about Grand Canyon West here.
Overall, I’d recommend visiting the canyon in winter. There are far fewer tourists and no sweltering heat. Once the sun came out, I felt very comfortable in my hoodie and hat. (I took my scarf off in the afternoon as it got too warm.)
What to Bring to the Grand Canyon During Any Winter Months
- Scarf and hat (neither of us personally felt like we needed mitts, but you could bring them in case)
- Hoodie, with layers underneathe
- Waterproof hiking boots. I accidentally forgot mine, and just had regular runners, which wasn’t ideal because of the uneven terrain
- Reusable water bottle
- Sunglasses
Feel free to check out my video about visiting the Grand Canyon during winter here: