There’s a good chance that you’ll run into wildlife along the trails in Zion, on any … Flagstaff, Arizona 86004, All Content & Photos Copyrighted by WTC © 2021, Current Operating Guidelines & New Booking Terms →. But during Zion National Park winter months, it’s open! Last year, over 200,000 people took Zion National Park winter trips in just January and February. Grafton is located near the Springdale entrance to Zion National Park and is recognizable as a setting of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. ‘This is a great time to come.” One hears that a lot from the locals when visiting Zion National Park in winter. Winter nights are chilly but usually not extremely cold. Crampons or yak-traks are used by many who like to hike in the winter. The pictures are certainly stunning, but in a very real way, there’s a level of false advertising going on there. The average temperature for Zion Canyon is a high of 53, and a low of 30 degrees Fahrenheit (12/-1 degrees Celsius). December through March can offer a wonderfully rare opportunity between the East Rim Trail and Observation Point. Another one to try is the area between Springdale and Kolob Canyon which you can access right outside Springdale on Hwy 9 and then onto Hwy 15. Answer 1 of 14: Hello All, The missus and I are planning to do a Utah-Arizona trip in December and are hoping to be in Bryce/Zion during Christmas. Another benefit of visiting in December is that you can drive through the canyon with your own car. The shuttle system is the only way to get around. SUBSCRIBE NOW $3 for 3 months. Zion Lodge, built in the 1920s, is a rustic, medium-sized hotel, a member of Historic Hotels of America, as part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Snowshoeing is a great option for hiking on trails at higher elevation; there are many companies in Springdale that rent snowshoes. But in our perspective, those 200,000 people are some of the smartest around. The breathtaking scenery of Zion is even more remarkable as it’s walls are blanketed in a fresh layer of snow. Snow in Zion is very rare. All Rights Reserved, 1101 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767  |  435-429-1555. ZionNationalPark.com. Temps also vary with elevation and time of day — the swing between noon and midnight can reach 30 degrees. Since then, I’ve been back three more times, all within the past two years, but my trip to St. George earlier this month was my first visit during winter. Zion National Park Guide | December 2020 PDF. Generic astronomy calculator to calculate times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset for many cities, with daylight saving time and time zones taken in account. The biggest benefit of visiting Zion in November is the crowds have all but disappeared, and there is opportunity for peace and quiet in the park. Walk across our 4,000 acre ranch or venture into Zion National Park. In Kolob Canyons, the average temperature is a high of 50, and a low of 26 degrees Fahrenheit (10/-3 degrees Celsius). Lastly, wildlife viewing is a great activity to do in Zion during the winter months. On average, it rains or snows 6 days in December. Travelers who’ve experienced it often describe it as one of their most favorite trips to take and many do it yearly. Winters in Zion National Park are cold and often wet. The others are first come first serve. The weather in january in Zion National Park is rather dry (with 0.9in of precipitation over 4 days). Daytime temperatures are usually very pleasant, even during December and January. Zion National Park in Winter Zion Guide December 2020 PDF. You’ll experience roads that are easily passable, continuously plowed, and traffic-free in addition to the incredible scenery. Some of the paths that get little sun might be icy, so check with the Zion Canyon Visitor Center before heading out. That hardly ever happens, and when it does, the snow usually doesn’t stick for more than a day or two, if that. Most trails are open throughout the winter, and give you the space to enjoy the scenery without the crowds that you’ll experience other times of the year. Note: You know all those beautiful photographs you’ve seen with the cliffs of Zion covered in snow? It should be noted an improvement from the previous month since in december it receives an average of 1.1in of precipitation over 5 days. Sign up to receive our exclusive Wildland Wire emails and stay up to date with Wildland Trekking's promotions, discounts, contests, outdoor tips and tricks, trip reports and more! Visiting Zion National Park during the winter months is one of the best-kept secrets in tourism. Either way, you are going to be richly rewarded. The biggest benefit of visiting Zion in December is the lack of crowds. 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