Good morning travelers. This is one of those rare occasions in which GrandCanyon.com will actually advise you NOT to come to the Grand Canyon. Yesterday Northern Arizona was walloped by a major snowstorm that dropped about two feet of new snow in the higher elevations of the area. Winter storm watches and warnings remain in place for most of the state’s Northern half, including the Grand Canyon. Even the state newspaper, the Arizona Republic, is advising everyone to stay off the roads.
Grand Canyon weather is supposed to settle down this week, but scattered showers and wind will still come into play. Next week we might have another go-’round of wintry weather. All that said, this is only the second time this winter that the weather has been bad enough to warrant warning against travel. The first major storm of the season came around Christmastime. Many would-be winter visitors to the Grand Canyon are often apprehensive about the prospect of driving in the snow, having to deal with snow chains, road closures, etc., and post their concerns regularly on TripAdvisor. Statistically, though, instances such as this really are few and far between. With a little flexibility to your trip schedule and a good warm coat, a winter visit to the Grand Canyon can be quite nice.
In wintertime, the Grand Canyon almost becomes a different world. The time period from November 
through February is unquestionably the quietest time of year at the park, with only 15% of its annual visitation occurring then. Since Grand Canyon North Rim closes from mid-October to mid-May, you would want to choose between Grand Canyon West and Grand Canyon South Rim for a wintertime visit. Winter, as you can imagine, is very cold, with average daytime highs ranging from 35-50°F. Grand Canyon West will be slightly warmer. Nights are even chillier, typically getting down to the teens and even below zero on occasion. And of course, snow is a contingency one always has to plan for. But, if you’re seeking peace and solitude, and a photo opportunity like no other (see photo on right), winter is a wonderful time to visit the Grand Canyon. Most of the popular Grand Canyon tours are still operating, including those that go to the bottom, such as the Inner Canyon Jeep Tour or the Las Vegas Grand Voyager Tour. That’s weather permitting, of course, and today, weather is NOT permitting!
Here’s another very cool thing about visiting the Grand Canyon in the winter: you can save money by scheduling your trip between November and March, when Grand Canyon hotels discount season can mean anywhere from $10 to $40 a night savings!
So those of you at the Grand Canyon, try and stay put. Those of you hoping to come to the Grand Canyon, try again tomorrow when Grand Canyon weather is expected to improve to mostly sunny but cold.
Have a “grand” day, and stay warm!
P.S. With the economy in the shape it’s in, a lot of Grand Canyon hotels, even the in-park Grand Canyon hotels, are offering specials for Spring Break, but only while “supplies” last!
Related posts:
- Grand Canyon Weather: SNOW! OK folks,
- Question of the week: “How Can I Make My Grand Canyon Vacation Affordable?” Good day
- Roadwork Advisory for popular Flagstaff to Grand Canyon route Good morn
- Grand Canyon North Rim Reopens, Tusayan Shuttle Re-Runs Good morni
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March 12th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
We would like some information on the weather for march would like to come and visit the week of the 16th