Grand Canyon in January: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 62/100 · #8 of 12 months

January is a solid shoulder-season month to visit Grand Canyon National Park: crowds run 32% of the July peak (169,417 average visits). Weather: highs average 42°F and lows 26°F, with 1.8″ of precipitation and 10 hours of daylight. Roads and services are only partly open this month — see the access note below. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Bring for Grand Canyon in January

Insulated jacket, beanie and glovesSee it on AmazonWhy: nights average 26°F, below freezing.
HeadlampSee it on AmazonWhy: only 10 hours of daylight in mid-January.
Sturdy, broken-in hiking bootsSee it on AmazonWhy: every park, every month.

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Partial access: The North Rim is closed to vehicles roughly December–mid-May; the South Rim is open year-round. Current NPS conditions →

Grand Canyon in January: what the park service says

January is North Rim off-season at Grand Canyon: the park service opens the North Rim only through November 30 or the first big snowstorm, its campground's tentative reopening date is May 15, 2027, and there is no fuel on the rim. Separately, flash flooding on August 29, 2026 closed the whole North Kaibab Trail along with Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground and the Black and Silver Bridges, with no reopening estimate yet.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

At Sunset, swirling rain clouds above a vast canyon filled with colorful peaks and cliff walls. — Grand Canyon National Park — photo: NPS/M. Quinn (public-domain NPS media)

Crowds in January

Grand Canyon averages 169,417 recreation visits in January — 32% of what July, the peak month, draws — this is the quietest month of the year. Plan lodging and entries with that in mind.

Average visits (January)

169,417 (mean 2021–2025, NPS)

Share of the year

3.6% of annual visitation

vs. peak (July)

32%

Weather & daylight

Expect cold conditions (highs average 42°F), and nights drop below freezing (lows average 26°F). It is typically dry (1.8″ of precipitation). Mid-month daylight runs 10 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station GRAND CANYON VISITOR CTR, AZ US (1 mi from park coordinates, 7,083 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of January.

What to pack for Grand Canyon in January

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves — nights average 26°F, below freezing
Headlamp — only 10 hours of daylight in mid-January (compare other options)
Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month

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Looking for a better window? The computed best months for Grand Canyon are February and April.

Also at their best in January

Other parks whose computed January verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

Channel Islands in January — 35% of peak crowds, highs 66°F, score 76/100
Zion in January — 23% of peak crowds, highs 54°F, score 76/100
Carlsbad Caverns in January — 38% of peak crowds, highs 56°F, score 73/100
Big Bend in January — 50% of peak crowds, highs 69°F, score 71/100

Common questions

Is Grand Canyon crowded in January?

No — January is one of the quieter months: 32% of the July peak, averaging 169,417 visits (NPS, 2021–2025). See every month at Grand Canyon.

What is the weather like in Grand Canyon in January?

Average highs of 42°F, lows of 26°F, 1.8″ of precipitation (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, GRAND CANYON VISITOR CTR, AZ US station). Compare it with other national parks in January.

What should I pack for Grand Canyon in January?

Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves; Headlamp; Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — the full weather-computed list is on this page. Going in February instead? Grand Canyon in February has its own list.

Is everything open at Grand Canyon in January?

The North Rim is closed to vehicles roughly December–mid-May; the South Rim is open year-round. Always check the park's live NPS alerts for current conditions.

See also: the best national parks to visit in January · Last verified 2026-09-24