We weren’t really sure about what to expect from the Grand Canyon in winter and having never visited before we were just hoping that enough would be open to give us a feel for the place. As it turns out the Grand Canyon in winter was better than we could have ever imagined. Not only was everything we wanted to do accessible but the dusting of snow gave the surroundings an even more magical feel.

Here’s what to expect from visiting the Grand Canyon in winter.

Pros of visiting the Grand Canyon in winter

Lack of crowds

Of course you won’t be the only one there - it’s the Grand Canyon after all - but the number of people visiting the Grand Canyon in winter is much lower than any other season. So much so that we had some of the lookouts to ourselves!

You’ll also find serenity on even the most popular hiking trails and you won’t have to queue for restaurants or shuttle buses. For us this was a huge benefit, as we’ve heard about how busy it can get in the warmer months and how much less peaceful the whole experience would be.

*The Grand Canyon in winter - much smaller crowds*

Greater availability in the park lodges

A major benefit of the Grand Canyon in winter is that staying actually in the national park was possible and not too expensive. We were able to get reservations just days before we arrived in several of the lodges right in the park.

Now granted, we booked so late we couldn’t get multiple nights in a row and this meant we had to change lodges a few times. However, it was mind blowing that we could even get reservations right on the rim at short notice.

This meant no long drives from outside the park, no fears about parking and we were able to simply leave our lodge and explore. Little things like that make for a much more relaxing experience.

It is so much cheaper

Added to the availability was the fact all accommodation near the South Rim (even the park lodges) were significantly cheaper than during the summer - a huge benefit for those travelling on a tight budget.

We got a great room in Bright Angel Lodge for just $77! This is the lodge that is metres from the South Rim and has great, modern rooms. Granted, this was still nowhere near as cheap as a room we got in Williams, an hour outside the park ($35), but still an incredible deal for being in such an iconic location.

No matter how tight your budget is, you should be able to afford a reasonable place to stay in the winter.

The snow is magical

Snow is not guaranteed but if you are lucky enough to visit when it is snowing the scenery is even more spectacular. The whole place feels like a winter wonderland and it added an extra layer of child like joy to our visit.

We didn’t have much snow when we were there (sadly none on the mesas and buttes in the canyon), but there was a fair bit around the Rim Trail and the lodges.

*Grand Canyon in winter - the snow on the rim*

Hiking trails are still open and are quieter

We had the three major hikes from the South Rim on our hitlist - the Rim trail, the Bright Angel and the South Kaibab. All three were open in the winter, despite the recent snow.

In many ways, winter is the best time to hike at the Grand Canyon. As the temperatures soar in the summer, hiking below the rim can be arduous at best and dangerous at worst! In the winter, you will have no problems with the heat.

The trails were also blissfully uncrowded. We had some snow on the first 1/4-1/2 mile of both the Bright Angel and the South Kaibab, but the rest of the trails were snow free, and the further you got into the canyon the warmer it was.

*Grand Canyon in winter - The South Kaibab Trail*

We started our South Kaibab hike in down jackets and bobble hats, and ended it in t-shirts and wishing we had shorts! The rim trail had some snowy sections which you could easily navigate round if you don’t have the right footwear.

We would however highly recommend bringing traction devices for your boots if there has been snow or ice, so you can easily hike all the trails. You can buy them in the park, but they cost more than online and they might not have your size (we met a family who wanted to hike into the canyon but one family member couldn‘t get their size for the traction devices and therefore missed out, don’t let that be you). You can get them for between $20-$30 on REI or Amazon.

For more information on hiking in the Grand Canyon in winter read out detailed guide on hikes from the south rim.

It’s great for photography

Having few crowds means you won’t need to worry about getting people in your photos or jostling for the best spot for your tripod.

If you have snow that also adds an extra unique element to your shots.

*The Grand Canyon in winter - good for photography*

You might snag a cancellation at the coveted Phantom Ranch

This was probably our favourite thing about visiting the Grand Canyon in winter, we managed to get a cancellation for the lodge at the bottom of the canyon itself.

Technically a cancellation could come up at any time of year, but we were told it is much more common in winter. Staying at the bottom of the Grand Canyon was a true bucket list experience for us and we loved every minute of it.

It was also really warm down there which was a delight after the cooler conditions on the rim. You can read our full guide on exactly what to expect from a trip down to Phantom Ranch.

*Grand Canyon in winter - hiking down to Phantom Ranch*

Cons of visiting the Grand Canyon in winter

The North Rim will be closed

This is probably the most important thing you need to know about visiting the Grand Canyon in winter. The North Rim will be closed (generally from late October) but the South Rim and West Rim will be open year round.

Whilst we would have loved to visit the North Rim, we were happy with how much there was to do at the South Rim, including one of the best hikes we’ve ever done!

The canyon rim gets cold

If you hate the cold weather at all costs, then the Grand Canyon in winter is not for you. It can get pretty cold during the winter months, but we felt that If you have the right gear this wasn’t so much of an issue.

We did a sunrise and sunset and found these times particularly cold, and not quite as enjoyable as they would have been in the warm! However, the temperatures in the sun were much more pleasant, especially in the middle of the day.

The main problem is the wind. This can happen at any time of year, but in the winter months the wind makes a cold day much worse! This was a problem on the rim, but if you hike below the rim we had no wind whatsoever.

*Grand Canyon in winter: at sunrise yes, it gets very cold on the rim!*

You might need extra gear

If you already have winter kit this won’t be an issue, but if not, you might need to invest in some traction devices for your boots (you can find them on REI or Amazon). This will make walking on snow and ice much easier and mean you won’t have to worry about slipping and sliding around.

You also might need a down jacket or other warm gear so that you’re comfortable in the cooler conditions.

You could get a white out

Now I’m sure this isn’t unique to winter but it’s worth noting that one of our five days at the canyon was really foggy for much of the day, largely obscuring the views.

For this reason we’d recommend visiting for at least two days or check the weather ahead of time so your one precious day isn’t a disappointment. The lower prices in and around the canyon meant we could spend a lot longer there than we could have afforded in other seasons.

Overall thoughts on visiting the Grand Canyon in winter

Overall we highly recommend visiting the Grand Canyon in the winter and felt in many ways this was the best time to go.

We felt really privileged to have the chance to see the magnificent canyon with so few other people around. The hiking trails were in much better condition than we expected and hiking below the rim in 60f was a dream. We never expected to be able to stay in the park at one of the lodges, and this would have been impossible outside of the winter time.

Visiting the Grand Canyon in the winter isn’t perfect though, as it is cold and we would have loved to also see the North Rim, but overall for us the pros far outweighed the cons and we would highly recommend it as long as you don’t mind it being cold at the rim!

Where to stay in the Grand Canyon

Bright Angel Lodge

Bright Angel Lodge is probably the best value and best all round hotel in the village. Whilst the rooms here are pretty cosy (i.e small), they are stylishly furnished and have everything you need. Some have en-suite bathrooms, others will have shared bathrooms, but they are spotlessly clean. Wifi is terrible.

The beds are really small but comfy and all rooms have tea and coffee making facilities. You are literally a minute from the rim which kind of blew our minds.

The onsite restaurant serves hearty food pretty cheaply.

Bright Angel Lodge does have parking, although it is fairly limited and doesn’t seem to be restricted to guest use. We always managed to find a spot but sometimes it took a while.

Check the latest prices & reviews on:

Hotels.com

Tripadvisor

Packing suggestions for the Grand Canyon

Having the right gear can make a huge difference when visiting the Grand Canyon, especially in the winter. Here’s what we packed for our trip and we highly recommend you bringing:

Yak Trax: A game changer for hiking in the snow. Check them out on REI or Amazon
Icebreaker Base Layer: What we always wear in the winter and makes a huge difference for keeping warm. Check out on REI or Amazon
Down Jacket: Essential for keeping warm: Check out REI or Amazon
Merino Wool Socks: The best way to keep your feet warm. Check out REI or Amazon
Trekking poles: We’ve used Black Diamond for years as they are light, solid and durable. Check out REI or Amazon.
Day Pack: Osprey Talon 22 (we’ve owned this for years). Check on Amazon, REI or direct with Osprey
Hiking Boots: Merrell Moab (for men and women). We’ve both used these for over three years and they just keep going. Check them out on REI or Amazon
Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic. Check then out on REI or Amazon

Grand Canyon Essential info

Grand Canyon Entrance Fee

If you plan to visit more than three US National Parks in a year then we highly recommend purchasing the $80 America The Beautiful Annual Pass.

If not entrance for a car and all passengers is $35, valid for seven days. If arriving on a motorcycle the fee is $30.

Where to stay at the Grand Canyon South Rim

We stayed in so many places around the Grand Canyon South Rim that we’ve written a full detail (unsponsored) guide to each place, including distance from the rim and value for money. Where to stay at the Grand Canyon South Rim.

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This helps towards the costs of running our website. :-)