The Best Time to Visit the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon, an incredible must-see travel icon, attracts people from all over the world to come and experience its beautiful colorful rock formations, vast landscape, and picturesque views. The Grand Canyon is open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, with lots of things to do no matter the season.

The "best time" to visit the Grand Canyon is going to be different for everyone! Depending on what activities you are looking to experience, some seasons might be a better time to visit than others. However, when you come, there is always something fun to do, see, and experience at the Grand Canyon every season. We will share with you some of our favorite activities to do during the spring, summer, fall, and winter to help you plan for your future Grand Canyon getaway!

Spring
During the spring, a great thing to do at the Grand Canyon National Park would be a day hike at the Rim Trail. Hiking is a great activity to engage in during this time of the year because the weather at the canyon is just right! The weather is not too hot and not too cold, perfect for light outerwear.

The Rim Trail hike is considered easy for tourists because the trails are well-defined and mostly paved. This hike ranges from flat to incline surfaces and offers plenty of shade relief along the way. This tour contains minimal elevation changes, excellent walking, and spectacular views.

Summer
A fantastic and thrilling Grand Canyon summer activity would be whitewater rafting. Whitewater rafting is a fun and great way to stay cool while exploring the Grand Canyon during its high-temperature months from late May to early September. Alongside this unique Grand Canyon tour, you will also have the opportunity to experience and witness the canyon's gorgeous wildlife, have lunch along the river banks, and learn about the Hualapai Tribe's history.

Fall
As the weather at the canyon starts to shift from warmer to cooler weather, mule-riding is a unique way to discover and tour the Grand Canyon during the fall! Mule rides offered at Grand Canyon National Park range from two-hour treks to overnight adventures. The mule ride will take you along the East Rim Trail established by the National Park Service. In addition to this magnificent Grand Canyon tour, you will also learn about the geology, history, and ecology of this natural wonder.

Winter
A terrific way to visit and see the Grand Canyon during the winter is with a train ride. Experience extraordinary views of snow-capped trees as you make your way to the canyon during the wintertime. The Grand Canyon Railway operates out of Williams, Arizona, and provides daily train ride departures to the Grand Canyon National Park located at the South Rim. Each way, the train ride is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. In addition, you will have just under four hours to freely roam and explore the national park before making your return back to Williams.

A great holiday activity for families to experience together would be the seasonal Polar Express Train Ride! This train ride offered by Grand Canyon Railway is approximately 90 minutes round trip and has departures at 5:30pm and 7:30pm from the beginning of November to the end of January!

No matter the season, a helicopter ride is a once-in-a-lifetime aerial adventure of the Grand Canyon. Maverick Helicopter tours offer various Grand Canyon excursions exploring multiple rims and departs from locations, including Grand Canyon West, Grand Canyon National Park, and Las Vegas. Bring your perspective of the Grand Canyon to new heights and allow Maverick to land you into the heart of the canyon, where you will experience its great nooks and crevices plus the tranquil flow of the Colorado River.

The best time to visit the Grand Canyon depends on what you are looking to experience during your visit. Whether hiking, rafting, or riding a mule, train, or helicopter ride, these are all magnificent ways to explore and see the Grand Canyon from every perspective!