Best time to visit Zion
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Zion
30 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Zion).
- 1
Zion National Park- Private Angels Landing Hike Permit Included - 2
Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon Tour UTV Adventure (Private) - 3
Zion Narrows: Private Guided Hike + Picnic (Gear Included) - 4
Peek-a-boo Slot Canyon Tour and Sandboarding UTV Adventure - 5
Slot Canyon Tour & Sandboarding UTV Adventure - 6
Sunset Sandboarding Peekaboo Slot Canyon UTV Adventure (Private) - 7Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon Adventure (Private)
- 8
Private Peek-A-Boo slot canyon guided tours - 9
Zion National Park: Private Guided Hike & Picnic - 10
Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon Small Group Tour from Kanab, Utah! - 11
Peekaboo Slot Canyon Tour UTV and Hiking Adventure (Private) - 12
UTV Dune Cruise and Surf at Coral Pink Sand Dunes - 13
Award Winning UTV Slot Canyon Tour - 14
East Zion Crimson Canyon Hike & UTV Adventure - 15
East Zion 4 Hour Slot Canyon Canyoneering UTV Tour - 16
Peekaboo Slot Canyon UTV and Hiking Adventure - 17
Zion National Park/Kolob Terrace Private 1/2 Day Sightseeing Tour - 18
Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon Guided Hike (Small Group) - 19
East Zion Canyoneering: Elkheart Canyon & UTV Tour - 20
2 Hours Double Slot Canyon UTV Tour - 21
East Zion 2.5 Hour Slot Canyon Canyoneering UTV Tour - 22
Great Chamber/Peekaboo Slot Canyon UTV Tour 4hrs - 23
Red Rock Slot Canyon - 24
YOU DRIVE!! 4 Hr Peek-a-Boo & Hog Canyon Tour-Starting at $175 pp - 25
Slot Canyon & Native American site UTV Adventure (Private) - 26
Explore Zion National Park & Beyond on a Private Jeep Adventure - 27
Angels Landing Small Group Hiking Tour in Zion National Park - 28
Shuttle Between Las Vegas, St George, Kanab and Page - 29
Harry Potter's Zion Ghost Tour - 30
Zion National Park: Private Narrows Hike (gear Included)
Last refreshed 2026-08-13.
Similar climatesGrand Canyon95% · Arches National Park92% · Monument Valley92%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Zion (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Zion's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -6–4 | 0 | 6 | 79 | 13.2 | 58% | 12 | 183 | 3 | Quiet | 5 |
| Feb | -6–5 | 1 | 5 | 76 | 15.2 | 50% | 15 | 194 | 4 | Moderate | 5 |
| Mar | -3–8 | 4 | 10 | 135 | 13.5 | 51% | 16 | 222 | 6 | Peak | 5 |
| Apr | 2–16 | 12 | 4 | 41 | 10.3 | 29% | 19 | 276 | 8 | Busy | 8 |
| May | 8–22 | 17 | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 20% | 21 | 307 | 9 | Peak | 8 |
| Jun | 14–28 | 24 | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 17% | 20 | 313 | 10 | Peak | 9 |
| Jul | 17–32 | 29 | 5 | 25 | 5.0 | 22% | 19 | 309 | 11 | Moderate | 8 |
| Aug | 16–29 | 27 | 6 | 51 | 8.5 | 29% | 17 | 289 | 10 | Moderate | 9 |
| Sep | 12–26 | 23 | 3 | 32 | 10.7 | 26% | 16 | 264 | 8 | Moderate | 9 |
| Oct | 6–19 | 15 | 4 | 30 | 7.5 | 30% | 15 | 242 | 6 | Quiet | 8 |
| Nov | -1–11 | 7 | 3 | 42 | 14.0 | 35% | 14 | 203 | 3 | Quiet | 7 |
| Dec | -4–6 | 2 | 6 | 81 | 13.5 | 46% | 12 | 180 | 2 | Quiet | 5 |
UV Index in Zion by Month
UV index in Zion peaks at 11 (very high) in July, dropping to 2 (low) in December. May, June, July, August reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
Best months in detail
September
9/1012–26°C (feels 23°C) · 3 rain days (32h) · 264 sun hours · 26% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 8 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
August
9/1016–29°C (feels 27°C) · 6 rain days (51h) · 289 sun hours · 29% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 10 (very high)
June
9/1014–28°C (feels 24°C) · 1 rain days (12h) · 313 sun hours · 17% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 10 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
5/10-6–4°C (feels 0°C) · 6 rain days (79h) · 183 sun hours · 58% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)
February
5/10-6–5°C (feels 1°C) · 5 rain days (76h) · 194 sun hours · 50% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 4 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (moderate)
March
5/10-3–8°C (feels 4°C) · 10 rain days (135h) · 222 sun hours · 51% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (high)
April
8/102–16°C (feels 12°C) · 4 rain days (41h) · 276 sun hours · 29% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 8 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
May
8/108–22°C (feels 17°C) · 3 rain days (20h) · 307 sun hours · 20% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 9 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 10 (very high)
July
8/1017–32°C (feels 29°C) · 5 rain days (25h) · 309 sun hours · 22% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 11 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
October
8/106–19°C (feels 15°C) · 4 rain days (30h) · 242 sun hours · 30% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
November
7/10-1–11°C (feels 7°C) · 3 rain days (42h) · 203 sun hours · 35% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate)
December
5/10-4–6°C (feels 2°C) · 6 rain days (81h) · 180 sun hours · 46% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
For nine months of the year you cannot drive the main canyon at all
Zion's central experience is the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, and for most of the year your own car is not allowed on it. From March through November the canyon runs on a mandatory shuttle: during the shuttle season visitors cannot drive private vehicles on the Scenic Drive, and the National Park Service is explicit that this includes before the shuttles start in the morning and after they stop at night. There is no early-bird workaround.
The exception is winter. Through roughly December to February the shuttle stops and private cars are allowed up the canyon, apart from a short holiday-season service around 26 December to 2 January.
So Zion has a genuinely different mode of visit in winter, and it is not the one the climate score would nominate.
Sources: NPS — Zion Canyon shuttle system , NPS — Zion National Park, operating hours and seasons
How many days do you need at Zion National Park?
Two full days covers the canyon: one for the shuttle stops and a headline hike, one for the Watchman or Pa'rus trails and the Kolob Canyons section. Three days lets you add a longer route without rushing the shuttle timetable, which adds real time to every trailhead transfer.
Is 3 days in Zion too much?
No, particularly between March and November when the shuttle adds waiting to every move between trailheads. Three days also gives you a weather buffer — flash-flood risk can close The Narrows at short notice, and a spare day is the difference between doing it and missing it.
Which is better, Bryce Canyon or Zion?
Zion is a canyon you walk along the bottom of, with big vertical walls and river hikes. Bryce is a rim you look down from, into hoodoos, and sits about 1,200 m higher — so it is markedly colder and holds snow far longer. Many visitors do both; they are around two hours apart.
Can you drive your own car in Zion?
Not on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive during shuttle season, roughly March to November — including before and after shuttle hours. You can drive it in winter, typically December to February, when the shuttle is not running. The Zion–Mount Carmel Highway stays open to private vehicles year-round.
What are the best months to visit Zion National Park?
April to May and September to October. Daytime temperatures are comfortable for hiking — July peaks near 30C in the canyon — and the shuttle is running, so the trailheads are reachable. These shoulder months also avoid the worst of both the summer crowds and the winter cold at the higher Kolob Canyons section.
Which month is the rainiest in Zion National Park?
February, at around 57 mm, though the number understates the risk. The dangerous rain is the summer monsoon in July and August, when short intense storms can trigger flash floods in slot canyons. The Narrows and other slot routes are closed at short notice on flood risk, so always check the park's forecast before setting out.
Is Zion too cold in October?
No, October is one of the best months. Daytime temperatures are mild and pleasant for hiking, the summer crowds have eased and the cottonwoods along the Virgin River turn gold. Nights get cold — the canyon drops toward freezing by late in the month — so pack layers, but the daytime conditions are excellent.
Are there bears in Zion?
Black bears exist in the wider region but sightings inside Zion are rare, and the park does not advise carrying bear spray for day hiking. The genuine hazards here are heat, dehydration, flash floods in slot canyons and the exposure on Angels Landing — all of which cause far more incidents than wildlife does.
How many days in Zion is enough?
Two full days covers the canyon properly: one for the shuttle stops and a headline hike, one for the Watchman or Pa'rus trails plus the separate Kolob Canyons section. Build in a spare day if The Narrows matters to you, because flash-flood risk can close it without warning and a buffer is the difference between doing it and missing it.
Are there venomous snakes in Zion?
Yes — the Great Basin rattlesnake lives in the park, though encounters are uncommon and bites are rare. They are most active in warm months and tend to be found on sunny rock and near water. Watch where you place hands and feet when scrambling, keep to trails, and give any snake you see a wide berth rather than trying to move it.
What not to miss in Zion National Park?
The Narrows, wading up the Virgin River between canyon walls, is the experience most people remember — check flash-flood risk before going, since the park closes it at short notice. Angels Landing needs a permit won by lottery. For a shorter option, the Riverside Walk and Canyon Overlook Trail give a lot of the scenery for far less effort and no permit.
Is Zion worth visiting?
Yes, and it is unusual among the Utah parks in being a place you walk into rather than look down at. The trade-off is management: for nine months of the year you cannot drive the main canyon at all and must use the mandatory shuttle, and the headline hike requires a permit lottery. Plan around those two constraints and it delivers.
Which is better to see, Bryce Canyon or Zion?
Zion for hiking, river canyons and vertical scale; Bryce for the hoodoo amphitheatre viewed from a rim walk, which needs less time and less effort. The practical difference is temperature — Bryce sits around 1,200 m higher, with January lows near −12C against Zion's −7C, so it holds snow far longer. They are about two hours apart and pair well.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Zion
When is the best time to visit Zion?
September is the highest-scoring month (9/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 12–26°C (3 rainy days). The top three months by score are September, August, June.
What is the worst time to visit Zion?
March is the lowest-scoring month (5/10). Typical conditions: -3–8°C (10 rainy days).
When are crowds lowest in Zion?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in December and peaks in June. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Zion have good weather but fewer tourists?
October (climate 8/10, crowd index 27) and November (climate 7/10, crowd index 1) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Zion by month?
UV peaks at 11 (very high) in July and is lowest in December at 2 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 3, Feb 4, Mar 6, Apr 8, May 9, Jun 10, Jul 11, Aug 10, Sep 8, Oct 6, Nov 3, Dec 2. May, June, July, August reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
What is the UV index in Zion in July?
July is the peak UV month in Zion, with a daily-peak UV index of 11 (very high). At this level, sunburn can occur in under 20 minutes on unprotected fair skin. Apply SPF 50+, wear protective clothing and a hat, and avoid direct midday sun (11:00–17:00).
How high can UV get in Zion on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. July is the worst case: typical days average UV 11 (very high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 12 (extreme) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.