United States, North America
The best time to visit Zion
A slot-canyon park where the river, the heat, and the permit calendar decide your trip.
- Best months
- Apr to May and Sep to Oct
- Think twice
- Jul
- Quietest
- January
- Cheapest
- January
The straight answer
The best time to visit Zion is mid April through May or mid September through October, when canyon temperatures are comfortable, The Narrows is usually open, and summer's 100F heat and monsoon flash floods are behind or ahead of you.
Go in late spring or in fall. Mid April through May brings highs in the 70s and 80s F (about 21C to 29C), cottonwoods leafing out along the Virgin River, and seeps running down the sandstone walls. Mid September through October is even better for many regulars: warm days, cool nights, and the river low and clear enough for The Narrows, with fall color arriving in the canyon from late October into November.
Summer is the busiest and the hardest season. Highs in Zion Canyon regularly pass 100F (38C) in July, and the monsoon, roughly July through mid September, brings afternoon thunderstorms that can send flash floods through The Narrows and slot canyons with little warning. The park also closes The Narrows when the river runs high, which often happens during spring snowmelt, so an April or May Narrows hike is never guaranteed.
Two systems shape every visit. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private cars for most of the year, roughly March through November, and you ride the free park shuttle instead. And Angels Landing requires a permit, awarded by seasonal and day-before lotteries. Winter trades those rules for quiet trails, cold mornings, and the occasional snow on red rock.
Zion, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryQuiet valueCold, highs near 52F (11C), nights below freezingThe quietest Zion. You can usually drive the Scenic Drive yourself; upper trails can be icy and The Narrows is frigid.CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryQuiet valueCool, highs near 57F (14C)Still quiet and cheap. Snow on the red cliffs is a real possibility and a real highlight.CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchGoodMild, highs near 63F (17C), changeableShuttle season typically starts and spring break crowds arrive. Snowmelt often keeps The Narrows closed.Hotels for March →CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilBestWarm, highs near 72F (22C)Waterfalls and seeps running, cottonwoods greening. The Narrows may be closed for high flow; the rest of the park is superb.Hotels for April →CrowdsPrice
- 05MayBestWarm, highs near 82F (28C)Excellent weather and very busy, especially Memorial Day weekend. The Narrows often reopens as runoff drops.Hotels for May →CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneTradeoffsHot, highs near 93F (34C), very dryThe Narrows is usually open and wading is a relief from the heat, but the canyon is hot and packed. Hike at dawn.CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyThink twiceVery hot, highs near 100F (38C), monsoon stormsPeak heat, peak crowds, and flash flood risk in The Narrows from monsoon storms. Heat illness is a real danger on exposed trails.CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustTradeoffsVery hot, highs near 97F (36C), afternoon stormsStill hot and stormy. Check the flash flood forecast every day; The Narrows can close on short notice.CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberBestHot to warm, highs near 90F (32C), coolingHeat breaks during the month and the monsoon fades. The second half is the start of Zion's best stretch.Hotels for September →CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberBestPleasant, highs near 77F (25C), cool nightsMany regulars' favorite month. Comfortable hiking, low clear river, and fall color beginning late in the month.Hotels for October →CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberGoodCool, highs near 63F (17C)Cottonwoods turn gold in the canyon early in the month. The shuttle usually runs until late November.Hotels for November →CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberQuiet valueCold, highs near 53F (12C)Quiet and cold. Shuttles often run briefly over the holidays, then stop until spring.CrowdsPrice
Book Zion for April.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for April
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in ZionOpens a hotel search for Zion in April, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in ZionWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in ZionTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Zion for April. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to Zion
The Narrows
Wading up the Virgin River between walls that rise up to 1,000 feet and pinch in to about 20 to 30 feet apart is one of the great hikes in North America.
Angels Landing
A steep, chain-assisted ridge with drop-offs on both sides and a view straight down Zion Canyon. Permits keep it from becoming a traffic jam.
A canyon you can reach
Unlike the Grand Canyon, you enter Zion at the bottom, walking among the walls rather than looking down on them.
The Southwest road trip hub
Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon's North Rim, and Las Vegas are all within a few hours, which makes Zion the anchor of many Utah and Arizona trips.
Things to do, and when to do them
The Narrows from the bottom
No permit is needed to hike upstream from the Temple of Sinawava. Rent canyoneering shoes and a pole in Springdale; check the flash flood forecast first.
Angels Landing
Permits are required, through seasonal lotteries and a day-before lottery on Recreation.gov. Without one, hike to Scout Lookout for a strong consolation view.
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive by shuttle
The free shuttle runs most of the year; get on at the visitor center early to beat the lines.
Canyon Overlook Trail
A short hike off the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway with a big view. Parking is tiny, so go early or late.
Kolob Canyons
The park's quieter northwest section, with its own entrance off Interstate 15 and a scenic drive to red finger canyons.
Emerald Pools
An easy family trail to pools and seasonal waterfalls, best in spring.
Watchman Trail at sunset
A moderate hike near the visitor center with no shuttle needed and big views over Springdale.
Events and seasons worth planning around
Spring snowmelt and high water
Roughly March to June, varies with snowpack
The Narrows closes when the river flow is too high; big snow years can keep it closed into June.
Monsoon season
Roughly July to mid September
Afternoon storms can cause flash floods in The Narrows and slot canyons. Heed the daily flash flood forecast.
Fall color in Zion Canyon
Late October into mid November
Cottonwoods, maples, and oaks turn along the river and in side canyons.
Beat the crowds
- Ride the first shuttles of the morning. By mid morning in spring, summer, and fall, lines at the visitor center shuttle stop can run long.
- Stay in Springdale and walk or take the town shuttle to the park entrance; the park lots often fill by 8am in busy seasons.
- Hike The Narrows at first light and turn around before midday, when the crowds peak.
- Head to Kolob Canyons or Kolob Terrace Road for the same red rock with a fraction of the visitors.
- Apply early for Angels Landing permits; seasonal lotteries run months ahead of each season.
Open or closed
- Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles during shuttle season, which typically runs from about March through late November and briefly over the winter holidays. Outside those periods, you can usually drive it.
- The Narrows closes when the Virgin River flow is too high or flash floods threaten; spring snowmelt and summer monsoon storms both cause closures.
- Angels Landing requires a permit year-round through seasonal and day-before lotteries. The rules and application windows can change, so check the park's current permit page.
- Large vehicles need a paid tunnel escort through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, and some oversized vehicles are not allowed at all. Check size limits before towing or driving an RV.
With kids in tow
- The Riverside Walk, Pa'rus Trail, and Lower Emerald Pool are the best easy trails for young kids, and the Junior Ranger program runs year-round.
- The first mile or so of The Narrows is a great family outing when the water is low and warm, typically late June through September, as long as there is no flash flood risk.
- Skip Angels Landing with young children. The chain section has serious drop-offs, and the permit system does not change the risk.
- For homeschool families, late April and October weekdays bring comfortable weather, fewer crowds, and a landscape that teaches erosion, geology, and desert ecology.
Getting there
- Las Vegas (LAS) is about two and a half to three hours away and has the most flights. St. George (SGU), about an hour away, has limited service; Salt Lake City is about four and a half hours north.
- From Texas, fly nonstop to Las Vegas from Dallas, Houston, or Austin and drive through St. George.
- Springdale, the town at the south entrance, runs a free shuttle that links hotels to the park's pedestrian entrance during shuttle season.
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
Zion for the holidays
Holiday and school-break weeks where Zion makes our ranked list.
Spring Break
March, April
The week the whole country goes somewhere warm at the same time. Pick the right warm, or pick a different week.
Easter Week
March, April
The week half of Europe and all of Latin America goes on holiday. Go where Easter is the show, or go where it is not a holiday at all.
Fall Break
October
The best-weather week of the school year, if you pick the right place. Leaf peepers, desert hikers, and the smart European shoulder season.
Zion timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit Zion?
October. Comfortable temperatures, a low and clear river for The Narrows, fall color late in the month, and no monsoon. Late April and May are close behind, though The Narrows may be closed for high water.
When is The Narrows open?
The Narrows is open when the river flow is low enough and flash floods are not a threat. Typically that is from late spring or early summer through fall, but spring snowmelt and summer monsoon storms can close it.
Do you need a permit for Angels Landing?
Yes. Permits are awarded through seasonal lotteries and a day-before lottery on Recreation.gov. No permit is needed to hike to Scout Lookout.
Can you drive through Zion Canyon?
Only outside shuttle season. From about March through late November, and briefly over the winter holidays, the Scenic Drive is shuttle-only. The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway is open to cars year-round.
How hot is Zion in summer?
Very. Canyon highs regularly pass 100F (38C) in July, and exposed trails like Angels Landing are dangerous in afternoon heat. Hike at dawn and carry more water than you think you need.
What is the cheapest time to visit Zion?
December through February, outside holiday weeks. Springdale lodging drops sharply, you can often drive the Scenic Drive, and the trails are quiet.
Weighing alternatives
Similar trips, with their best months.
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