Are you planning a trip to Bryce Canyon but not sure when is the best time to go to Bryce Canyon?
With its high elevation and dramatic weather shifts, figuring out the right season to visit can be confusing – especially if you’re trying to avoid crowds, extreme temps, or closed roads.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Bryce Canyon and in this guide, I’ll help you figure out when is the best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park based on what you want out of your trip.
‼️ While this is my choice for the best time to go to Bryce Canyon National Park, the park is great throughout the year. I’ve provided a detailed breakdown by season and every month so you can easily see what to expect and then make your own choice.
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Table of Contents
Best Time to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park in a Nutshell
When to visit Bryce Canyon National Park depends in part on what you want to do. Although the park is open year-round, not all services and trails are accessible all year. The temperature at Bryce Canyon National Park also varies a lot throughout the year. The park lies at a fairly high elevation of 8,000 to 9,000 feet. This makes winters much more noticeable here than at the other national parks in Utah. Crowd levels also vary widely depending on the season.
So, there is no one best time to visit Utah National Parks for everyone.
However, in general, the best time to visit Bryce National Park is May through September. This when the weather is warmest, all the trails are accessible, the scenic drive is not usually closed due to weather, all the accommodations and other services are open, and there is a full program of ranger-led activities.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t cons to these times. Summer is also by far the most crowded time of year.
My personal favorite is September.
When is the best time of year to visit Bryce Canyon (for different interests)?
The best temperatures
Because Bruce canyon sits at a high elevation, it can get very chilly. The best temperatures are in July and August, when it’s warm but not too hot.
The best time to avoid the crowds when everything is still open
My favorite month is September because facilities and accommodations are still open, but it’s not too crowded.
The best time to travel in summer
If you have to travel in summer, June has fewer people.
The best time to travel on a budget
The best times to travel on a budget are mid-late May, September, October
The best time to have a winter adventure in Bryce Canyon National Park
Winter in Bryce Canyon National Park is magical. The best months are December – March.
The worst time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park
I think that April is the worst month to visit Bryce Canyon National Park. The magic of winter is over, trails an still be icy or muddy and a lot of facilities aren’t open yet.
The best time to go backpacking
July, August, or September are the best months for backpacking in Bryce Canyon.
The best time for star gazing
June is a great month for star gazing in Bruce Canyon National Park. Pick a clear night when the moon is not full, so the sky is dark.
➡️ Check my detailed breakdown of what to expect every month in the year for much more detailed information.
Deciding when to go to Bryce Canyon National Park for is a very important step in planning your trip, and I hope this guide is helping.
However, as I’m sure you’re very aware, this is just one thing of many to decide. Once you’ve decided the timing of your trip, you still need to make an actual plan.
In fact, the thing that most people ask me about is how to put it all together into an itinerary that makes sense. They decide when they’ll go and maybe even book their flights, but still worry about how to minimize the crowds, what to do – and when – and how to coordinate it all.
To help take away the overwhelm of planning a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park, I’ve created several super detailed itineraries.
Without them, people often feel stressed about planning their trip. With them, they have the confidence of getting all the info they need in one spot. Plus, there’s flexibility built in, so they can easily adapt them to their own interests and activity levels.
There are 1-day and 2-day options: all with detailed hour-by-hour schedules, including alternatives for different activity and fitness levels, plus trail maps and descriptions, driving instructions, important information, essential tips, and everything else you need to make the most of your time in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Travel Insurance for Bryce Canyon National Park
No matter when you go to Bryce Canyon National Park, you should definitely get travel insurance. This can protect you not only against medical and emergency repatriation, but can also cover things like trip cancellation, loss and/ or theft of property, etc.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
Enjoy Bryce Canyon National Park whenever you go!
Additional Planning Resources for Bryce Canyon National Park
⭐ Planning a Trip to Bryce Canyon National Park: 7 Mistakes to Avoid
⭐ Best Things To Do In Bryce Canyon National Park
⭐ 10 Tips for Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park
⭐ The Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive: A Complete Guide
⭐ The 10 Best Bryce Canyon Viewpoints
⭐ How Long Do You Need in Bryce Canyon?
⭐ How To Get To Bryce Canyon National Park
⭐ What’s the Closest Airport To Bryce Canyon National Park
⭐ The Airports Near Bryce Canyon National Park
⭐ Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park: What To Expect Throughout the Year
⭐ 10 Fun Facts About Bryce Canyon National Park
⭐ The 5 Best Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park
⭐ Navajo Loop Trail Bryce Canyon
⭐ The Best Hikes In Bryce Canyon National Park
⭐ Bryce Canyon Itinerary
What do you think is the best time of year to visit Bryce and Zion? Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know (you can also pick up extra planning tips, share your photos and stories with other national park lovers and more).
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Best Time to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park
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📋 Do you want a ready-made super detailed plan for your trip to Bryce Canyon? Get a detailed 1 – 3-day Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary
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About the author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
I’m a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.