Best time to visit Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
The short answer
Best months to visit Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park: May–September. Daily highs run about 65–85°F, with about 90% of July's visitors.
Hardest months: December–March, mostly because of cold weather.
How we picked these months: each month is scored on daily highs (65–82°F is ideal), rain, snow and seasonal closures, then reduced by up to 30% for crowds, measured against the park's busiest month. We list the months within 15% of the top score (at most 5).
Weather and crowds by month
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park month by month
Park-wide averages across 4 locations. Crowds compare each month with the park's busiest month: Quiet is under 35% of it, Moderate under 60%, Busy under 85%, Peak above that.
| Month | Rating | High / low | Rain | Snow | Crowds | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 33° / 10°F | 0.1 in | 10.7 in | Quiet | North Rim |
| February | Poor | 36° / 14°F | 0.1 in | 11.4 in | Quiet | North Rim |
| March | Poor | 43° / 21°F | 0.4 in | 11.3 in | Quiet | North Rim |
| April | Poor | 52° / 27°F | 0.7 in | 5.6 in | Quiet | North Rim |
| May | Best | 64° / 36°F | 1.2 in | 3.1 in | Busy | – |
| June | Best | 78° / 48°F | 0.8 in | – | Peak | – |
| July | Best | 83° / 55°F | 1.2 in | – | Peak | – |
| August | Best | 80° / 53°F | 1.2 in | – | Peak | – |
| September | Best | 73° / 46°F | 1.1 in | – | Peak | – |
| October | Good | 58° / 32°F | 0.9 in | 3.8 in | Moderate | – |
| November | Poor | 45° / 20°F | 0.3 in | 8.1 in | Quiet | – |
| December | Poor | 34° / 11°F | 0.2 in | 12.1 in | Quiet | North Rim |
Weather by location
Parks with a big range of elevation can differ a lot from one area to another. Open a location to see its own numbers.
Park-wide (center of the park)
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35°F | 12°F | 0.1 in | 8.8 in |
| February | 38°F | 16°F | 0.1 in | 9.3 in |
| March | 47°F | 23°F | 0.5 in | 8.6 in |
| April | 56°F | 31°F | 0.8 in | 3.8 in |
| May | 67°F | 39°F | 1.1 in | 2.0 in |
| June | 82°F | 52°F | 0.7 in | – |
| July | 86°F | 58°F | 1.0 in | – |
| August | 83°F | 56°F | 1.0 in | – |
| September | 76°F | 49°F | 1.0 in | – |
| October | 61°F | 35°F | 0.9 in | 2.8 in |
| November | 48°F | 23°F | 0.4 in | 5.9 in |
| December | 36°F | 13°F | 0.3 in | 9.8 in |
North Rim
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F | 10°F | 0.1 in | 12.6 in |
| February | 34°F | 13°F | 0.1 in | 13.4 in |
| March | 41°F | 19°F | 0.3 in | 14.1 in |
| April | 49°F | 25°F | 0.7 in | 7.4 in |
| May | 61°F | 33°F | 1.3 in | 4.3 in |
| June | 76°F | 45°F | 0.9 in | – |
| July | 81°F | 52°F | 1.4 in | – |
| August | 78°F | 50°F | 1.4 in | – |
| September | 71°F | 43°F | 1.2 in | – |
| October | 56°F | 30°F | 0.9 in | 4.7 in |
| November | 42°F | 17°F | 0.3 in | 10.2 in |
| December | 32°F | 10°F | 0.1 in | 14.3 in |
South Rim
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F | 9°F | 0.1 in | 12.6 in |
| February | 33°F | 12°F | 0.1 in | 13.4 in |
| March | 40°F | 18°F | 0.3 in | 14.1 in |
| April | 48°F | 24°F | 0.7 in | 7.4 in |
| May | 60°F | 32°F | 1.3 in | 4.3 in |
| June | 75°F | 45°F | 0.9 in | – |
| July | 80°F | 52°F | 1.4 in | – |
| August | 77°F | 50°F | 1.4 in | – |
| September | 70°F | 43°F | 1.2 in | – |
| October | 55°F | 30°F | 0.9 in | 4.7 in |
| November | 42°F | 16°F | 0.3 in | 10.2 in |
| December | 32°F | 9°F | 0.1 in | 14.3 in |
East Portal
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34°F | 12°F | 0.1 in | 8.8 in |
| February | 38°F | 15°F | 0.1 in | 9.3 in |
| March | 46°F | 22°F | 0.5 in | 8.6 in |
| April | 56°F | 30°F | 0.8 in | 3.8 in |
| May | 67°F | 39°F | 1.1 in | 2.0 in |
| June | 81°F | 51°F | 0.7 in | – |
| July | 85°F | 58°F | 1.0 in | – |
| August | 82°F | 55°F | 1.0 in | – |
| September | 76°F | 49°F | 1.0 in | – |
| October | 60°F | 35°F | 0.9 in | 2.8 in |
| November | 47°F | 22°F | 0.4 in | 5.9 in |
| December | 36°F | 13°F | 0.3 in | 9.8 in |
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park by season
Spring (March–May)
Spring (March–May) is a mixed time to visit Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park. Daily highs average 43–64°F and lows 21–36°F. Expect about 0.8 in of rain a month and 6.7 in of snow, with up to 13 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 16–62% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards. Closures listed by the NPS: North Rim.
Summer (June–August)
Summer (June–August) is among the best times to visit Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park. Daily highs average 78–83°F and lows 48–55°F. Expect about 1.1 in of rain a month and little or no snow. Visitor numbers run 88–100% of the busiest month, which is peak by this park's standards.
Fall (September–November)
Fall (September–November) is a mixed time to visit Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park. Daily highs average 45–73°F and lows 20–46°F. Expect about 0.8 in of rain a month and 4.0 in of snow, with up to 2 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 28–94% of the busiest month, which is busy by this park's standards.
Winter (December–February)
Winter (December–February) is a difficult time to visit Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park. Daily highs average 33–36°F and lows 10–14°F. Expect about 0.1 in of rain a month and 11.4 in of snow, with up to 16 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 13–18% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards. Closures listed by the NPS: North Rim.
For what to do in each season, see our guides to trip planning, fees and hours, trails, camping and things to do, where the planning page also has our written advice on when to go. In-depth topic guides cover individual places and hikes.
Seasonal closures
Closures listed in the NPS operating hours, shown as month and day. Exact dates change every year with snow and staffing.
- North Rim: closed about Nov 25 – Apr 29
- The South Rim Road is open to vehicles from mid-April to mid-November.
- The road typically closes mid-November and reopens mid-April.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Today's Weather: http://www.weather.com/weather/today/l/NPBLCA:13:US CLIMATE Weather can vary greatly throughout the day. Summer daytime temperatures range between 55 to 90F (13 to 32C), nights 45 to 60F (7 to 16C). Winter daytime temperatures range between 15 to 40F (-9 to 4C), nights 10 to 20F (-12 to -6C). Afternoon thunderstorms are common during the summer. Snow accumulation varies greatly year to year. Layered clothing appropriate for the season is recommended.
Weather: modeled monthly averages for 2014-2023 (Open-Meteo Archive API), averaged over 4 locations. Modeled grid cells can read cooler than weather stations in deep canyons and deserts, and warmer or colder at high elevation. Visits: monthly recreation visits for 2021-2024, National Park Service.
