When to Visit the Grand Canyon
My personal favourite time to visit the Grand canyon is either May / June or September / October, but the best time to visit depends on what you want to do.
The more visited South Rim of the Canyon is open all year and the winter landscapes are stunning, if a little chilly. The winter is the quietest time of the year to visit the Park but come prepared with a good quality jacket and warm clothing. You may find hiking activity restricted due to the cold.
The North Rim is 1000ft higher than the South and facilities are closed from mid-October until mid-May. The access road normally closes during November due to snowfall and does not reopen until May.
If you intend to either hike or take a mule ride to the bottom of the Canyon spring and autumn are the best times to visit as temperatures in the canyon bottom during high summer often exceed 40oC. If you intend on taking a raft trip through the Canyon the best time of year is April until October.
The most popular times of year to visit the canyon are July and August. If you are visiting during this time of year and want to avoid the crowds, your best bet is to either go to the North Rim or ensure your South Rim visit takes place during the week – weekends are the busiest time. We have found that no matter how busy the car parks and viewing areas on either rim, once you have walked a mile or so the crowds really thin out so it is almost always possible to find a peaceful spot to sit and enjoy the view.