How to Visit the Grand Canyon in Winter (Weather, Hiking, & More!)

Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most magical places to visit. It’s one of the seven wonders of the world and is an unbelievable sight on most people’s bucket lists.

The canyon is a 217-mile slash in the earth cut by the Colorado River. It is over a mile deep and up to 18 miles wide at some points!

Because of this, it’s no surprise that the Grand Canyon is insanely popular and crowded. GCNP gets between 4 and 5 million visitors a year, making it the second most visited National Park in the US (after Great Smoky Mountains).

If you’re looking to ditch the crowds and have a more unique experience, visiting the Grand Canyon in winter might be for you. Seeing the canyon covered in a light dusting of snow is truly amazing!

I visited the Grand Canyon in early January 2019 with a couple of friends. It snowed 2 days before our visit, but we were #blessed with beautiful sunny weather as we explored the South Rim.

Is it possible to visit the Grand Canyon in winter? Which parts are open and is it possible to hike? Is it worth braving the unpredictable winter weather?

This post will cover everything you need to know about visiting the Grand Canyon in the winter, including the best things to do, hiking info, pros and cons, and more!

(And if you’re looking for an overall guide & itinerary for the Grand Canyon South Rim, check out this post as well!)

Is the Grand Canyon Open in the Winter?

The Grand Canyon South Rim is open in the winter, but the North Rim is closed. The South Rim sits at a lower elevation than the North Rim (7000 feet vs. 8000 feet), so it is possible to visit in the winter.

Most amenities on the South Rim are open year-round (lodging, camping, restaurants, shuttles, etc) so you won’t have any issues finding a bite to eat or a place to stay.

Hermit Road is also open to private vehicles from December – February (access by shuttle only March – November).

Since the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is closed in the winter, the information in this post will be focused on the South Rim only.

Weather at the Grand Canyon in Winter

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon sits at an elevation of 7000 feet, so winters are cold and the weather can be unpredictable. 

When I visited in early January, we had a gorgeous sunny day with a dusting of snow over the canyon. However, I have also seen photos where snow causes a whiteout condition and blocks your view of the canyon!

The first snowfall usually happens in November and January is typically the snowiest month. Snowstorms that result in over 5 inches of snow in a day happen 2-3 times a year, but heavy blizzards (10+ inches in a day) are uncommon.

My recommendation is to keep your plans flexible and give yourself a few days during your visit to increase your chances of catching a sunny day. 

Some roads in the park may close temporarily during snowstorms, which could severely affect your itinerary. Always check the weather forecast and NPS website for the latest conditions before planning your trip!

How to Get to the Grand Canyon

The most convenient airports for getting to the Grand Canyon are Phoenix and Las Vegas. Phoenix is 3.5 hours from the South Rim and Vegas is just over 4 hours.

From Phoenix, you’ll take I-17 north to Flagstaff and then head west on I-40 until you reach Arizona Highway 64. Take this road north until you reach the Grand Canyon South Entrance.

From Vegas, you’ll head south on US-93 until you reach Kingman, AZ. You have 2 options from here: Historic Route 66 to Seligman until you reach I-40 (highly recommended for a fun, retro detour) or just taking I-40 the whole way (the fastest route). 

Route 66 will add about 20 minutes to your drive, not including stops at some of the restaurants and shops along the way. This part of Arizona does get some snow (only about 6 inches per year though), so it is unlikely that winter weather would affect your route, but it’s always a good idea to check the weather before you make the call!

You’ll then head north on AZ Highway 64 until you reach the Grand Canyon South Entrance. 

Related: How to See Bryce Canyon in a Day

What to Wear for Visiting the Grand Canyon in Winter

You will want to pack layers for visiting the Grand Canyon in the winter. If it’s cloudy or windy, it will feel COLD! However, if it’s sunny, you might get too warm with a coat on.

I recommend layering like this: a long sleeve, dry-fit layer first, a warm fleece, sweatshirt, or jacket next, and then a windproof/waterproof coat last. 

Make sure your base layer is dry-fit and not cotton so it will wick the moisture away from your body!

When we visited in January, we got so lucky with the 35-degree sunny weather. I was down to my base long sleeve layer until sunset!

Hiking at the Grand Canyon in Winter

It is possible to hike the Grand Canyon in the winter, but you will want to be prepared. 

If you plan to hike down into the canyon (via the Bright Angel Trail or South Kaibab Trail), you will need waterproof shoes, crampons, and hiking poles.

You can purchase hiking poles and crampons at the gift shops at the Grand Canyon, but the popular sizes tend to sell out fast so I’d recommend just bringing your own.

There will be ice and snow at the beginning of the trail, but it slowly disappears as you hike down into the canyon where there are warmer temperatures. Since the sun is lower in the winter, the snow at the rim never fully melts in the shadows and just refreezes overnight. The snow melts inside the canyon due to lower elevation and getting more sun. 

It just so happens that the steepest part of these trails are at the beginning where it is icy!

Icy conditions will persist into the spring season as well. When we visited at the beginning of April and tried to hike the Bright Angel Trail (without crampons, a rookie mistake), the beginning stretches were very icy and slippery. The large drop-off from the side of the trail combined with the icy conditions make it extremely trecherous to attempt without the proper gear. We made it down the first switchback and decided against hiking further because of this.

Alternatively, you can also hike along a portion of the Rim Trail. It’s a flat walk along the South Rim with fantastic views of the canyon. You won’t need crampons or hiking poles for this hike and there is parking along multiple points along the trail.

I hiked the Rim Trail both times I visited and it was a fantastic experience both times!

Best Things to Do at the Grand Canyon in the Winter

1. Walk the South Rim Trail

By far the best thing to do at the Grand Canyon in winter is to walk along the Rim Trail. I mentioned this a bit above, but this is an easy, flat walk along the rim of the canyon.

Take in the jaw-dropping views of the canyon while walking along the rim. This trail is paved and well marked but will probably be snow-packed in some places in the winter. I walked this trail in tennis shoes and was totally fine (this was before I really got into hiking!).

There are visitor’s centers, restrooms, gift shops, restrooms, etc all along the Rim Trail. This brochure on the NPS website has a ton of great info on points of interest and amenities along the trail.

The entire trail is 13 miles long and connects the South Kaibab Trailhead to Hermit’s Rest. You can hike as much or as little of it as you wish. 

My Experience: We hiked from Yavapai Point to the Bright Angel Trailhead, which is about 2 miles one-way. In hindsight, I wish we would have hiked just a bit past Yavapai Point to Mather Point as well.

2. Visit the Viewpoints Around Grand Canyon Village

There are 3 main areas to explore on the Grand Canyon South Rim: The Village Area, Hermit Road, and Desert View Drive. 

I have more information on Hermit Road and Desert View Drive below, so this section will be dedicated to the viewpoints near Grand Canyon Village.

Grand Canyon Village will be the busiest area of the park. You can drive to each of the viewpoint parking areas, take the free park shuttle, or hike along the Rim Trail to each viewpoint. 

The 2 shuttle lines near Grand Canyon Village run year-round every 10-15 minutes starting an hour before sunrise and ending an hour after sunset. 

To visit the viewpoints near Grand Canyon Village, you’ll want to take either the Village Route (blue line) or Kaibab/Rim Route (orange line). More info on shuttles can be found here. 

In my opinion, I would skip the shuttles and just drive to each point if it isn’t super crowded. Waiting for shuttles can add a lot of time to your day and isn’t very exciting.

Here are the can’t-miss spots:

• Bright Angel Viewpoint
• Yavapai Point
• Mather Point
• Yaki Point
• Ooh Aah Point

All of these viewpoints have parking lots and don’t require a hike except for Ooh Aah Point. You’ll actually have to hike about a mile on the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point, (short, but strenuous trail with 790 feet of elevation gain).

3. Desert View Drive

Desert View Drive is the only scenic drive on the South Rim that is open to private vehicles year-round. It’s a 23-mile scenic drive that connects Grand Canyon Village with the east entrance to the park.

There are some fantastic viewpoints along this drive. Take your time and soak in the view at each one:

• Pipe Creek Vista
• Duck on a Rock
• Grandview Point
• Moran Point
• Lipan Point
• Navajo Point
• Desert View

More info on the Desert View Drive can be found on the NPS website here.

4. Hike into the Canyon

As mentioned in my hiking section above, you can also hike down into the Grand Canyon. 

It might sound counterintuitive to do this during the winter with the beginning of the trails covered in ice, but the temperatures in the canyon are quite pleasant as you descend down. Summer is a brutal time to do a hike like this because it’s so hot!

The two most popular trails that lead down into the Grand Canyon are the South Kaibab Trail and the Bright Angel Trail. 

You can hike both of these trails as a loop (South Kaibab down and Bright Angel up or vice versa), but this entire loop is over 16 miles and is really tough to complete in a day, especially in the winter with less daylight.

Doing a portion of one of the trails as an out-and-back hike is still strenuous, but more realistic to complete in a day. There are multiple landmarks along each trail, so you can hike as far as you’d like and then make the trek back up.

Here are the landmarks and round trip distances for landmarks on the Bright Angel Trail:

• 1.5 Mile Resthouse: 3 miles, 1120 feet of elevation gain
• 3 Mile Resthouse: 6 miles, 2120 feet of elevation gain
• Havasupai Garden Campground: 9 miles, 3040 feet of elevation gain
• Plateau Point: 12 miles, 3080 feet of elevation gain

And the landmarks and round trip distances along the South Kaibab Trail:

• Ooh Aah Point: 1.8 miles, 790 feet of elevation gain
• Cedar Ridge: 3 miles, 1120 feet of elevation gain
• Skeleton Point: 6 miles, 2040 feet of elevation gain
• The Tipoff: 9 miles, 3280 feet of elevation gain

At the time of writing, the Bright Angel Trail is temporarily closed for waterline maintenance, so check the NPS website for the most up-to-date information before planning your trip.

Both of these trails are very strenuous, so make sure to assess your fitness level and consult with a park ranger before attempting these trails. 

The Bright Angel Trail is slightly longer so you won’t have as extreme of an elevation gain and there are water and restrooms along this trail. 

South Kaibab has no water or amenities and is steeper, but the views are better.

Make sure you have crampons, hiking poles, waterproof shoes, and plenty of food and water if you plan to hike either of these trails into the Grand Canyon in winter! 

We unfortunately did not have the time or gear required to hike into the canyon, so it is still on my bucket list to experience!

Related: 5 Best Day Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park

5. Hermit Road

One of the best things about visiting the Grand Canyon in winter is that Hermit Road is open for private vehicles, so you can explore at your own pace. From March – November, this area of the park is accessible by shuttle only (or hiking via the Rim Trail).

Don’t waste time waiting for shuttles and explore the viewpoints by car!

We did Hermit Road via shuttle during our early April visit and it took us almost an hour to get from Hermit’s Rest back to Grand Canyon Village (the lines for the shuttle get really long, especially toward the end of the day), so make sure to build that time into your visit if you plan to take the shuttle.

Visiting the Grand Canyon in the winter will 1) result in lower crowds and 2) allow you to drive instead of take the shuttle which will save time.

This road follows the North Rim for 7 miles, ending at Hermit’s Rest.

Here are the points of interest along Hermit Road: 

• Trailview Overlook
• Maricopa Point
• Powell Point
• Hopi Point
• Mohave Point
• The Abyss
• Monument Creek Vista
• Pima Point
• Hermit’s Rest

The Rim Trail also follows along Hermit Road so you can either drive or walk to the viewpoints (just remember that the road is 7 miles one-way if hiking!).

6. Watch the Sunrise and Sunset

Another great thing about visiting the Grand Canyon in the winter is that the sunrise is later and the sunset is earlier. You won’t have to wake up at 4 am to catch a gorgeous sunrise or stay out super late to see the sunset. 

Daylight hours in the winter are roughly 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. Literally any of the viewpoints on the South Rim make excellent sunrise and sunset locations!

7. Go on a Helicopter Tour

Going on a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon is still on my bucket list. 

There are a ton of different tour options that depart from Las Vegas, Grand Canyon West, or the South Rim. These can be quite pricey, but it’s a once in a lifetime experience so it would be worth it in my opinion (especially seeing a dusting of snow over the canyon from a birds’ eye view!).

More information on helicopter tours can be found here. 

Where to Stay Near the Grand Canyon in Winter

The Grand Canyon has 6 in-park lodges you can stay at. While the location is super convenient, these lodges are expensive and don’t have many included amenities. 

Sometimes it’s worth paying a premium for the location during the busy seasons, but you won’t need to when visiting the Grand Canyon in winter. Unless you can get a deal on one of the in-park lodges (info on the park lodges here), I’d recommend staying in Tusayan.

Tusayan is just 5 minutes from Grand Canyon Village and has a good selection of hotels and restaurants.

Related: Grand Canyon South Rim Itinerary: How to Spend 1, 2, or 3 Days at the Grand Canyon

Pros and Cons of Visiting the Grand Canyon in Winter

Here are the pros of visiting the Grand Canyon in winter:

• Lower crowds
• Cheaper flight and lodging prices
• Seeing the canyon covered in snow
• Late sunrise/early sunset times
• Hermit Road is open to private vehicles
• Comfortable temperatures for hiking into the canyon

Here are the cons of visiting the Grand Canyon in winter:

• Unpredictable weather (risk of a snowstorm the day(s) of your visit)
• Cold temperatures
• Ice at the beginning of the Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails
• Less daylight for a long day hike
• The North Rim is closed

Is It Worth Visiting the Grand Canyon in Winter?

So, is it actually worth visiting the Grand Canyon in the winter? In my opinion, yes, definitely!

Seeing the snow covering the canyon is an unreal experience, plus you will experience much lower crowds and lodging prices. Being one of the most-visited National Parks in the US, the crowds can become almost unbearable during peak season.

It is also much easier to find parking at the popular viewpoints in the winter, so you can avoid the hassle of taking the park shuttle around.

Yes, the weather can be a bit unpredictable and it will probably be cold, but layer up and leave some time in your schedule to change plans if needed. 

Visiting the Grand Canyon in winter is an unforgettable experience and it’s a convenient stop on any Arizona road trip!

Grand Canyon in Winter FAQs

Can You Drive Your Own Car to the Grand Canyon in Winter?

Yes, you can drive your own car into the Grand Canyon in winter. You don’t need any permits or reservations to access the roads on the South Rim. 

Snow and winter weather may temporarily close roads, so make sure to check the NPS website for the current weather and road conditions before traveling.

Do You Need an SUV in the Grand Canyon in Winter?

No, you don’t need an SUV at the Grand Canyon in the winter. While 4×4 can be helpful during snowy conditions, the roads at the Grand Canyon are maintained well enough that it isn’t necessary.

Is the Grand Canyon Busy in the Winter?

The Grand Canyon is the second most visited National Park in the US, so you can definitely expect some crowds. The winter is the off-season, so crowds will be much lower than spring through fall. 

Expect large crowds near Christmas and New Year, but they will be gone in early January!

The Rim Trail near Grand Canyon Village will be busy year-round, but it isn’t hard to find solitude in the winter, especially near sunrise and sunset times!

Did this post help you feel confident planning a trip to the Grand Canyon in winter? Let me know in the comments below!

-Megan

More Information on Northern Arizona

ARIZONA ROAD TRIP: This 9-day northern Arizona road trip that starts and ends in Phoenix takes you to Sedona, The Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest National Park, Flagstaff, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and more!

FLAGSTAFF, AZ: Located in the heart of northern Arizona, Flagstaff is a neat little town that makes a great home base for exploring the nearby attractions such as the Grand Canyon. There are 3 incredible National Monuments within an hour drive, Lowell Observatory, and plenty of other things to do. Make sure to check out the brewery trail while you’re in town!

SEDONA, AZ: Sedona has some of the best hiking trails I’ve ever seen. It makes a great stop on your way to or from the Phoenix airport or a day trip from Flagstaff. Check out my list of the top 10 hikes in Sedona to inspire your visit, hike the Devil’s Bridge Trail or the Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop.

PAGE, AZ: Page makes a perfect long weekend destination and is packed with famous attractions like Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and more. Check out the top 12 things to do in Page to help you plan your visit!

PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK: Petrified Forest is a highly underrated National Park that you can visit in one day with fascinating geology and unreal scenery. It’s a 3-hour drive from the Grand Canyon and makes a great road trip stop. Check out my guide to Petrified Forest here.

SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK: Located in Tucson, walk among the nation’s largest cacti. It is a 5 hour drive south from the Grand Canyon.

MONUMENT VALLEY: Incredible scenic drive full of sandstone buttes where many famous movies were filmed. It’s located 3 hours northeast of the South Rim and will be on your way to Moab, Utah. Check out my guide to Monument Valley for more details on how to visit!