Why winter is a great time to visit the Grand Canyon
Smaller crowds, clearer air, and cheaper rates greet visitors at the Grand Canyon during the winter months.
Around the Grand Canyon, daily temperature highs (entering December) can still in the 70s, but will more likely be in the 60s for at least the first few weeks of the month.
Still, as November comes to a close, normal operations at the Grand Canyon shift into “winter mode.”
It’s still a great time for a visit, and one of these years I hope to be there to see snow on the canyon cliffs.
Smaller crowds!
The South Rim remains open to the public (weather permitting).
You can expect shorter days, but clearer air and far less-crowded trails.
The most popular trail, the Bright Angel Trail, is still hike-able (weather permitting) and you’ll encounter far fewer people.
The shuttle buses still operate from 6:00am to an hour after sunset. A full description of the lines operating in the winter is toward the end of the blog.
It’s cheaper!
Check out the lodges inside the park.
While the lodges are largely booked for next summer already (for. as much as $700+ a night in some cases)… they have rooms available in December.
El Tovar and Bright Angel are among the most popular, and they have nights in the $250-$260 range. It’s still New York City pricing, but you can’t beat the location or the view!
The historic El Tovar touts itself as “the crown jewel of Grand Canyon National Park,” with 78 rooms and suites.
Prices come “down’ to the $250 range in parts of December and January.
The lodge website offers a calendar of available dates, lodges, and prices.
Full details on a winter visit:
The following are specifics from the National Parks Service:
Shuttle Bus Operations
The Hermit Road will open to private vehicles; the Hermit Road Shuttle (Red) Route will be suspended for the season.
The Village (Blue) Route and the entire Kaibab (Orange) Route will begin service at 6 a.m. each day and stop every 15-30 minutes at designated shuttle bus stops. The Kaibab (Orange) Route will run until one hour after sunset each day and the Village (Blue) Route will run until 9 p.m. each day.
The Hikers' Express Buses will operate at 8 and 9 a.m. The express buses will stop at the Bright Angel Lodge, Backcountry Office, and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center on their way to the South Kaibab Trailhead.
All shuttle bus services are subject to change and may be suspended on short notice due to public health concerns or inclement weather. Visitors should anticipate alternative means of transportation if traveling to the South Rim during the winter months.
More information on shuttle bus operations can be found by visiting:https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/shuttle-buses.htm
For current road and weather information in Grand Canyon National Park, please call 928-638-7496. For road conditions across Arizona, visit http://www.az511.gov or dial 511.
Visitors and residents are encouraged to visit the National Weather Service Flagstaff website http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/fgz/ for up-to-date weather forecasts and snow fall predictions. For information about Grand Canyon National Park road closures and conditions call 928-638-7496 or visit https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/weather-condition.htm.
For additional information on visiting Grand Canyon National Park during the winter season visit: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/winter-visits.htm
You can still visit the North Rim… if you’re willing to work for it.
Here’s the exact explainer from the National Park:
The North Rim will be closed to all vehicle traffic for the winter. State Route 67 and all services on the North Rim are expected to re-open for the 2022 season on May 15, 2022 (subject to change).
The North Rim campground will be available for winter camping and is accessible via hiking inner canyon trails from the South Rim or by hiking, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing 45 miles from Jacob Lake. To camp at the North Rim during the winter months, visitors need a backcountry permit, which can be obtained in advance through fax, mail request, or in person by following instructions posted outside of the South Rim Backcountry Information Center.
More information on obtaining a backcountry permit can be found by visiting:https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/backcountry-permit.htm