Best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park
Guides don't agree on one best time. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.
Guides don't agree on one best time
- “The best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park is April–May and September–October.” nationalparksjournal.org
- “The most popular times to head for Capitol Reef are from March to June and between September and October.” thewanderingqueen.com
Capitol Reef National Park month by month
Average high and low in Capitol Reef, and days with rain
JanuaryChecking fares…One of the two coldest months. Daytime highs near 39F, nights near 18F, and temperatures can drop below zero.Winter is called the worst time by one guide, but it brings outdoor fun and a snow-capped desert.
FebruaryChecking fares…Winter months from November to January are named the worst time to visit; light snow is occasional.
MarchChecking fares…Spring runs from March into early June, with highs near 65F and lows near 30F.Popular spots such as Fruita Orchards, Capitol Gorge and Grand Wash often fill by 10 am in spring.
AprilChecking fares…April and May are the park's best months, with comfortable hiking temperatures.
MayChecking fares…May is the busiest month on average.Average highs are 64 to 80F in the best-time months at the visitor center.
JuneChecking fares…Highs near 85F and lows near 56F; cool mornings and evenings. Monsoons begin and crowds are expected.Cherries and apricots can be picked in the orchards in mid to late June.Capitol Reef is the least visited of Utah's five national parks, so it is less busy than the others.
JulyChecking fares…July to August is the monsoon peak; monsoon season (July to September) brings downpours and flash flood risk.Heat can be extreme, with shade limited on trails.
AugustChecking fares…Hot, with highs near 88F and lows near 63F. One guide says it is not their favorite time because of crowds and heat.Peaches and pears can be picked in the orchards, and all services are open.Monsoons are common in August; flash floods can make roads impassable and trails unsafe.
SeptemberChecking fares…Popular for hiking and backpacking, alongside October.September to October is among the best months, with comfortable hiking temperatures.
OctoberChecking fares…Average highs of 64 to 80F fall in the recommended April-May and September-October windows.
NovemberChecking fares…Start of the winter stretch that one guide calls the worst time to visit.
DecemberChecking fares…One of the two coldest months, with possible light snowfall.
Weather: Capitol Reef averages (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.
Every date to Salt Lake City from your city
Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.
Busy, quiet and what to watch for
Busiest
- March to June and September to OctoberThe most popular times, with good hiking weather, though visitor numbers stay manageable.
- SummerA popular time for the Utah national parks, though Capitol Reef is the least visited.
Quietest
- November to JanuaryCold winter months, with the coldest in December and January.
Watch for
- July to SeptemberMonsoon season: downpours and flash floods in narrow canyons; half an inch of rain in an hour can trigger one.
- After rainUnpaved roads can turn muddy and impassable, even to high-clearance 4x4s.
- SummerExtreme heat; lives are lost to heat stroke and dehydration, so carry water.
- WinterTemperatures can plunge below zero.
Questions people ask
- What are the best months to visit Utah national parks?
- For Capitol Reef, one guide names April to May and September to October, avoiding summer heat and the July to August monsoon peak.
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