Deciding what time of year to hike the Grand Canyon is the first major decision in planning a rim-to-rim (R2R) or a rim-to-rim-to-rim (R2R2R) hike. You’ll need to choose a date that maximizes your chances of success while simultaneously minimizing the many risks.

Hikers who’ve spent any time around the Southwest know there are two major factors to consider whenever you’re desert hiking: (a) the insanely hot daytime temperatures; and (b) the general lack of water.

The Grand Canyon isn’t all that different in this regard. These two concerns are definitely at the top of the list. But, there’s a few more elements which might affect your timing too:

• Planning a hike around the 5,000′ elevation changes
• Snow, ice, and road closures on the North Rim
• Monsoon season (yes, Arizona has monsoons!)
• Issues with seasonal and year-round water sources inside the canyon
• Avoiding peak tourist season at the Grand Canyon

That’s a lot to chew on. I intend to cover each one in depth, and will explain why late May or early October is often the most popular choice for a rim-to-rim hike.

#1 – Why elevation matters

Anyone who’s hiked mountains like Pike’s Peak or Mt. Washington can attest to the major temperature swings between their starting point and the summit resting thousands of feet above. The higher you go in elevation, the cooler it tends to get.

The Grand Canyon is no exception to this rule. Yet some people are under the illusion that they aren’t mountain climbing here. Yes, you may be attacking the terrain in reverse (high to low), but that doesn’t mean you can afford to be oblivious to the elevation or the challenges it brings.

The Grand Canyon’s South Rim lies at approximately 7,200 feet in elevation and the North Rim is even higher at 8,200 feet. This is higher than any peak on the East Coast of the United States. In fact, if you look at the highest point in each state, a whopping 35 of our 50 states don’t have a single peak that surpasses the elevation at the Grand Canyon.

That’s not to say you’ll have problems with altitude sickness. It’s just to remind you that the weather concerns at the Grand Canyon’s should be similar to that of any high mountain. And you should expect the the inner gorge of the canyon below to run 20-30 degrees warmer than your ‘high elevation’ starting point.

Since you will be experiencing both these altitudes during your backcountry hike, you really should plan your trip with some additional focus on the weather.

It’s getting hot in here!

The bottom of the Grand Canyon is approximately 2,200 feet above sea level. This is similar to the elevation of nearby Tuscon, Arizona. So, you can expect the temperature inside the canyon to roughly mirror the temperatures in Tuscon, regardless of the time of year you plan to hike.

The potential for extremely high temperatures inside the canyon is one key reason why most people avoid attempting a single-day traverse of the Grand Canyon during the summer months.

In June, July, and August the temperatures usually top 100 degrees in the shade!! Once the sun gets overhead, there is little respite from this brutal heat and it can often feel like 140 degrees in the mid-day according to the National Park Service.

To further illustrate this point, when I did my R2R2R hike in May 2017 it was a comfortable 70 degrees on the South Rim around 1 pm. Meanwhile, less than five miles away at the Indian Garden Campground, it was well a full 20 degrees warmer. The arid temperature caused the sweat to evaporate off us almost instantly, so many people didn’t even realize they were sweating or getting dehydrated.

#2 – Snow, ice, and winter road closures

High temperatures aren’t the only end of the spectrum you’ll need to worry about either!

It seems that most tourists visit the Grand Canyon in the late spring or early summer. Their photos show clear blue skies and views for miles. So, it’s tempting to believe the weather is sunny and ideal year round.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Between November and February, the average high temperatures at Grand Canyon Village (aka the South Rim) barely climb into the low 40s. And the North Rim tends to get even colder.

Dramatic winter storms regularly brings in 6 or more inches of snow at a time. The trails can be covered with severe ice and deep snow, often making your backcountry route impassible even with microspikes.

In additional to these cold weather challenges, you also need to factor in the seasonal closures near the North Rim.

During the month of November, the North Rim is only open from dawn to dusk. There is no overnight parking for hikers who want to begin/end their rim-to-rim hike there.

The Arizona Department of Transportation also closes Highway 67 (your sole access road to the North Rim) around December 1st. When this occurs, the National Park Service shuts down the North Rim for the season.

This road closure means you won’t be starting or finishing at the North Rim during November to May – unless you plan to hike or ski the 18+ miles in. And, you’ll have no bailout or shuttle options from the North Rim if you (or your hiking partner) decide that you’re unable to complete a full R2R2R circuit and return back to the South Rim.

#3 – Monsoon season in Arizona

As a final weather consideration, there’s also the 3 ½ month monsoon season, which further narrows down your window for successfully completing a rim-to-rim hike.

When you see the word monsoon, perhaps you’re envisioning the tropical jungles of Southeast Asia – not the arid deserts of Arizona. It surprises many people to learn that North America has a monsoon season too. Stormy weather begins in Mexico and this pattern of thunderstorms and heavy rains push northward into the Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and even Colorado.

Arizona gets approxiately 8″ of annual rainfall, but half of it falls during the monsoon season, which officially runs from June 15th and September 30th. These storms really tend to peak in number and intensity between mid-July and mid-August though.

The monsoon season’s unpredictable rainstorms can involve high winds, lightning, and flash floods. Violent downpours often start suddenly, and their intensity can vary greatly in the distance of just a few miles, with the mountainous areas receiving the most rain.

Most importantly, these heavy rains are capable of causing mudslides that can wipe out trails in just a matter of a few minutes. Click HERE to see a summer storm at the Grand Canyon to illustrate the type of conditions you could experience if you’re out on a trail when a rainstorm moves in.

As a result, any hiker wanting to attempt their rim-to-rim hike in late summer or early fall will need to be prepared for this weather phenomena. A rain jacket may not be enough to protect you, particularly as you are exposed on the upper portions of the trail. Moreover, if the air temperature drops significantly, hypothermia could become a much bigger risk.

#4 – Unreliable water sources

While we are on the topic of wet things, let’s discuss the various water sources within the Grand Canyon.

I delve into far greater detail on this topic in my blog post HERE. However, what’s really important to note is the Grand Canyon only has up to eight (8) potable drinking water sources along the corridor trails used by most rim-to-rim hikers.

Of these potential sources, only three locations actually supply water on a year-round basis:

• Phantom Ranch
• Bright Angel Campground
• Indian Garden Campground

The National Park Service usually turns on the remaining seasonal water sources from May 15th to October 15th each year. Thus, it’s common for hikers to use these May/October dates as benchmarks when planning their rim-to-rim hike.

However, there is no guarantee the water will actually be turned on when planned. The pipes running to these seasonal water sources are decades old and in frequent need of repair or replacement.

In March 2017 (two months before my own R2R2R hike), a rock slide below the North Rim destroyed some of these water pipes. Repair crews closed the North Kaibab Trail for 5+ weeks trying to repair the damage and get the water back up and running. The trail re-opened in May, but the Park Rangers warned us it was still ‘hit or miss’ on whether we’d have water in the canyon due to the ongoing repairs.

#5 – Avoiding the seasonal crowds and finding somewhere to sleep

If you’re planning a rim-to-rim hike, chances are you’re going to be sleeping near the North Rim or the South Rim immediately before and/or after your hike.

North Rim Lodging

As discussed above, the North Rim closes, so lodging options are virtually non-existent for 5-6 months of the year. Therefore, whether you want to sleep on that rim before/after your hike or use it as an overnight stop on a multi-day hike (like I did), you have to select your travel dates carefully.

There are three potential lodging options at the North Rim.

The Grand Canyon Lodge is the only hotel operating in the Park on the North Rim. The lodge and adjacent cabins are only open between May 15th and October 15th, and reservations go extremely fast. One benefit of staying at the lodge is your ability to use their shuttle to and from the North Kaibab trailhead, which is about 2.2 miles away.

The National Park Service manages a seasonal campground on the North Rim, which also opens from May 15th and stays open until October 31st.  Camping reservations can be made at recreation.gov, and are they highly recommended as this campground fills up most days. The campground is located approximately 1 mile from the trailhead.

After that, your choices drop quickly, as the next closest lodging options are 18 miles away in Kanab, Utah.

South Rim Lodging

The South Rim is far easier for planning out your lodging options.

All five of the South Rim lodges within the Grand Canyon Village remain open year-round. However, they experience extremely high demand during the peak summer season, as well as on holiday weekends and during Spring Break.

There’s also several hotels in nearby Tusayan, Arizona – just 6 miles from Grand Canyon Village. If you choose to stay outside the park at one of these local hotels, you can leave your car overnight at the Backcountry Ranger Station during your hike. (The backcountry lot is conveniently located 0.6 miles from the Bright Angel Trailhead or a shuttle ride from the South Kaibab Trailhead.)

The National Park Service also operates two campgrounds on the South Rim – Mather and Desert View. Nearly all campers opt for Mather Campground, because it’s in Grand Canyon Village near the Park Headquarters, whereas Desert View Campground is 26 miles east. Advance reservations at Mather Campground are highly recommended as the campground is usually completely full by noon each day.

Finally, the U.S. Forest Service operates Ten-X Campground on public land about 2 miles south of Tusayan. This is a less expensive option than staying in a hotel in Tusayan, but it’s important to remember this is a seasonal campground that’s only open from May 1st to October 15th.

So when is the best time to hike rim-to-rim?

Obviously your own schedule will play a major factor on when is best for you to hike the Grand Canyon. However, planning around external factors like weather, water sources, and seasonal lodging can significantly improve your chances of a successful rim-to-rim hiking experience.

Let’s review where how these factors stack up:

As you can see from the diagram, there are two narrow windows between the winter and summer seasons that allow for a “sweet spot” for a rim-to-rim hike.

Of course, this doesn’t mean it will always produce ideal circumstances. However, if your goal is to traverse the canyon in just a day (or two), planning a trip toward the end of May or late September/early October could increase your chances of success.

During these windows:

• The snow, ice, and winter weather is a non-factor
• Both rims are open – allowing you to start on either side and providing a safe bailout option if you decide to traverse R2R instead of R2R2R
• The worst of the summer heat inside the canyon can be avoided
• All the potable water sources *should* be turned on inside the Grand Canyon
• You’ll avoid paying a premium on hotels during peak tourist season

Want to know more about planning a rim-to-rim hike?

Check out the following upcoming blog posts on:

• Planning Your Water Sources Inside the Grand Canyon
• Deciding Whether to Start Your Hike on the North Rim vs. South Rim
• Gear Every Hiker Should Take on a Rim-to-Rim Hike

The material provided in this blog is informational only. Hiking in the Grand Canyon is an inherently risky activity. Every hiker is responsible for their own health and safety, and should plan for their rim-to-rim hike with those risks in mind. Outdoor Pilgrim is in no way responsible for the use or misuse of this information. Please hike responsibly!