Best Time to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park

Pick a month. Best months are in bold.

The best months to visit Bryce Canyon National Park are March, April and August — computed from official NPS visitation (2021–2025 average), NOAA weather normals and daylight. June is the crowd peak (330,635 monthly visits); January is quietest at 10% of peak.

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Best months for fewer crowds

The quietest months at Bryce Canyon, leaving out harsh weather and months when main access is typically closed.

Monthly crowd curve

Average monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). Amber bar = current month.

Bryce Canyon month by month

Crowds: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, mean of 2021–2025 (2020 excluded as a COVID-19 anomaly). Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station BRYCE CANYON NP HQRS, UT US (0 mi from park coordinates). Daylight: computed for the 15th of each month at the park's location. Methodology.

How many people visit Bryce Canyon each year

Bryce Canyon National Park had 1,967,367 recreation visits in 2025, 21% fewer than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2018, with 2,679,478. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 2,277,195 visits a year, which makes it the 15th most-visited of the 63 national parks.

Calendar-year recreation visits as published by NPS Visitor Use Statistics. 2020 is shown here but left out of the monthly averages above, because the COVID-19 pandemic makes it unrepresentative. See how every park compares: all 63 parks ranked by visits.

What to pack for Bryce Canyon in March

Computed from March's weather normals — Bryce Canyon's best month above. Visiting another month? Each month page has its own weather-computed list.

• Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves — nights average 23°F, below freezing
• Traction devices (microspikes) and gaiters — 13″ normal snowfall (compare other options)
• Insulated, waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 13″ of snow is normal this month

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Common questions

Bryce Canyon month by month: notes from the park service

• January: January sits in Bryce Canyon's coldest, snowiest stretch, which the park puts at December through February. Its climate table gives January an average high of 37°F and a low of 15°F, about 17 inches of normal snowfall and a record low of -26°F.
• February: February at Bryce Canyon is a winter visit: the shuttle only runs from April to October 20, and Sunset Campground is closed until mid-April, so North Campground, open all year, is the in-park option. No advance reservation is needed to enter the park.
• March: March can still bring heavy spring snow to Bryce Canyon that affects travel in the region, the park warns, and it averages about 17 inches of snow, a high of 45°F and a low of 23°F. In 2026 North Campground's Loop B and Sunset Campground's Loop A opened for the season on March 25.
• April: April is when Bryce Canyon's season starts up. The park shuttle begins running in April, and Sunset Campground opens in mid-April, joining North Campground, which is open all year.
• May: May at Bryce Canyon averages a high of 64°F and a low of 37°F, and the park notes temperatures fall below freezing nearly every night from October to May. The free park shuttle runs through the Bryce Amphitheater area from April through mid-October; it is not mandatory but is highly recommended because viewpoint parking is limited.
• June: June brings pleasant summer days to Bryce Canyon, with highs typically in the high 60s to low 70s°F, the park says, and lows around 45°F. The shuttle gives access to trailheads for almost all day hikes and suits one-way walks along the Rim Trail.
• July: July is Bryce Canyon's warmest month, averaging 80°F, and the start of its rainy season, with frequent, usually brief afternoon thunderstorms bringing heavy rain and lightning; the park counts about 11 thunderstorm days in July. Its advice is short: when thunder roars, go indoors.
• August: August averages a high of 77°F at Bryce Canyon and about 12 thunderstorm days, the most of any month, plus roughly 2 inches of rain. Bryce's skies are dark enough to show thousands of stars on a moonless night, and the park runs about 100 astronomy programs a year, best during or just before new-moon week.
• September: September at Bryce Canyon is similar to June, the park says, with an average high of 70°F and a low of 42°F, though summer monsoon storms can still occur until the end of the month. The shuttle season continues until mid-October, and North Campground's peak reservation season runs to October 4 in 2026.
• October: October is Bryce Canyon's last shuttle month: the park service runs the shuttle from April to October 20. Sunset Campground also closes in October, while North Campground stays open year-round, so a late-October camper has one park campground to choose from.
• November: By November, Bryce Canyon is in its quiet months: the park shuttle stopped on October 20 and Sunset Campground closed in October, leaving North Campground, which is open year-round. Entry needs no advance reservation.
• December: Visiting Bryce Canyon in December, you drive yourself: the park shuttle runs only from April to October 20. North Campground stays open year-round, while Sunset Campground is closed for the winter.

Each month page carries the full note and the NPS page it comes from.

Dive into a month

Comparing parks for the same trip? See how Bryce Canyon ranks against all 63 parks in March, April and August.

Last verified 2026-09-24 · all parks