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Thinking of planning a trip out west and wondering when is the best time to visit Utah? I get this question all of the time. But the answer really depends on what you want to do while you visit. Here are some of the highlights throughout the year so you can decide for yourself on the best time of year to visit Utah.

Best time to visit Utah National Parks

When people think of Utah, one of the first things they think of is visiting the Mighty 5 Utah National Parks. If this is the reason you plan to visit, you’re in luck because pretty much any time of the year is a good time. However here are more details specifically:

• January – March: Expect cold weather. Yes it is Southern Utah so it will be warmer than Salt Lake City, but it is still cold. This is especially important for Bryce Canyon which is higher elevation than the other parks. The other important things to consider during this time of the year are trail conditions. Hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park will require extra gear since it’s entirely in a river and Angel’s Landing could be very slippery. The perks of visiting during this time is that there are significantly less people which can make for a much better experience.

• April – May: With the exception of Spring break/Memorial Day weekend, spring is still slightly less crowded than the summertime. The weather is also not as brutal compared to the summer. Snow melt causes high river flow everywhere in the spring season so it’s important to consider for river crossings, and hikes like the Narrows in Zion which might be closed.

• June – August: The national parks are more crowded because of summer vacations. The weather is also hot. Do not underestimate the temperatures especially because most of the national parks in Utah have minimal shade. Sunrise and sunset hikes are your friends.

• September – October: If your schedule is completely flexible, in my opinion this is the best time of year to visit Utah national parks. Not everyone can swing a trip during this time but if you get a choice, this is my suggestion. The end of October will also likely have beautiful fall colors in the areas of the parks where there are trees.

• November – December: Very similar to January-March. Expect cold weather. Yes it is Southern Utah so it will be warmer than Salt Lake City, but it is still cold. This is especially important for Bryce Canyon which is higher elevation than the other parks. The other important things to consider during this time of the year are trail conditions. Hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park will require extra gear since it’s entirely in a river and Angel’s Landing could be very slippery. The perks of visiting during this time is that there are significantly less people which can make for a much better experience.

Best time of year to visit Northern Utah

If visiting the Utah National Parks wasn’t the first thing on your mind when thinking about the best time of year to visit Utah, you were likely thinking about skiing/snowboarding. Utah is well-known for the “Greatest Snow on Earth” so it’s not surprising this might be one of the reasons you are planning your trip out west. And although often overlooked, once the snow starts to melt and the skis are put away, it’s time to break out the hiking boots on some of the trails you shredded a few months earlier. Here are the specifics if you are looking for the perfect time to visit Northern Utah:

• January-March: The perfect time to ski/snowboard. Whether the snow season starts late or ends early, you’re safe in these months (barring a repeat COVID shutdown like the 2019-2020 season). Check out the best places to ski in Utah. These are also great months to practice your winter hiking skills. If you didn’t come to Utah for skiing, there are still plenty of other activities you can do. Check out this post for things to do in Salt Lake City in the winter.

• April-June: Shoulder ski season for Utah ski resorts. Alta/Snowbird will usually have a lift or two open until Memorial Day with some years going as late as July 4th. However, things are definitely winding down. These months are some of the prettiest for hiking. The snow capped mountains are amazing. You likely will need to be prepared to hike in packed snow on many trails in these months. Snow melt causes high river flow everywhere in the spring season so it’s important to consider for river crossings.

• July-August: Expect to see wildflowers on many Salt Lake City area hiking trails in July. The weather is getting hot but trails are least likely to have snow so you can bag peaks. Sunrise and sunset hikes are your friend due to the heat. This is also when Millcreek Canyon opens and you are likely to be able to drive on Mirror Lake Highway in the Uinta Mountains. Pro tip: If you are planning to see Utah by car, check out the best scenic drives in Utah.

• September-October: Fall brings pretty leaves and cooler temps. People tend to forget Utah in the fall when considering foliage but the canyons can be stunning. The snow can also show up on top of the changing leaves depending on the year which be beautiful.

• November-December: Weirder weather months in Northern Utah with less predictable weather. It will likely be cold. However, snow (at least for skiing) is hit or miss. Usually the ski season kicks off in late November but often this will mean limited lifts until mid-late December.

Best time of year to visit Utah

If I had to pick the best time of year to visit Utah, I would recommend, September/October for visiting the Utah National Parks, May-October for hiking in Utah, and January-March for skiing. How about you? What’s your favorite time of year in Utah if you have been? If you haven’t, when are you visiting?

You May Also Enjoy These Posts:

• 13 Things to do in Salt Lake City in the Winter
• Best Hikes in Utah
• Easy Hikes near Salt Lake City
• Salt Lake City Hiking: 7 Trails you Can’t Miss
• 21 Places to Visit in Utah that aren’t National Parks
• Best Scenic Drives in Utah

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