The South Rim in winter

6 min read Updated November 2026 Compare all tours

Winter usually arrives at the South Rim in November and is in full force by December and January, the National Park Service says, and snow can fall on the higher ground into April. The rim stands at about 7,000 feet (2,100 m), and in an average year it gets 58 inches (147 cm) of snow. The park’s advice is plain: winter conditions on the South Rim can be extreme, so be prepared for snow, icy roads and trails, and possible road closures. What you get in return is a quieter park. In 2025, January and February had fewer than half the visits of May, according to the park’s figures compiled by Northern Arizona University.

Temperatures and snow

Night lows are usually in the teens (°F), and after a storm they can drop below 0 °F (−18 °C). Down at Phantom Ranch, about 4,600 feet lower, January lows average just above freezing. The park lists hypothermia among the dangers for winter hikers, so dress in layers even for a short walk on the rim. Our weather and clothing page covers the whole year.

Roads and driving

Both park entrances, the South Entrance near Tusayan and the East Entrance at Desert View, are open 24 hours a day all year, though the East Entrance can close for a while in snow. The park does not use salt on its roads. It spreads rock cinders for grip, and snow chains are allowed but usually not needed. During winter storms some roads may close temporarily while they are cleared. Check AZ 511 (az511.com) or the park’s road line on 928-638-7496 before you set off, and keep the tank full: there is no fuel station in Grand Canyon Village. The station at Desert View is open 24 hours with a card at the pump.

Desert View Drive, the 23-mile road east to Desert View, is open to all vehicles throughout the year unless snow closes it for a time. Hermit Road, west of the village, opens to private vehicles under 22 feet (about 6.7 m) only in December, January and February, and snow can close it too. In past winters the red Hermit Road shuttle was suspended while cars were allowed. The Hermit Road page lists the viewpoints.

Shuttle buses

The park runs free South Rim shuttle buses in winter as well. The Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route, to Mather Point, Yavapai, the South Kaibab Trailhead and Yaki Point, operates all year, and the road to Yaki Point stays closed to private cars all year. The autumn timetable runs until 30 November 2026, and the winter timetable had not been published by 11 November, so check the shuttle page before you plan a day around the buses.

Ice on paths and trails

Footpaths and trails can be icy, the park warns, and it recommends over-the-shoe traction devices and walking poles, which are sold in Grand Canyon Village. Below the rim, the upper parts of the Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails carry ice from late autumn into spring, and the Chimney on the South Kaibab Trail holds ice all winter. As of late October 2026, both trails were open only partway down after the August flood; the trail page has the details.

What is open, and what is not

At Desert View, the trading post, market and deli closed for the winter season on 19 October 2026, and the camper store at the fuel station has closed for the winter as well. In Grand Canyon Village, overnight accommodation has been suspended since the flood of August 2026, and several restaurants were closed in November. The park expected to restore water in stages from late November; see the food and dining page for the latest list and the operations update before you travel.

The North Rim is not an option in winter. It is open for limited day use until 30 November 2026 or the first major snowstorm, and from 1 December to 14 May its roads are closed to all vehicles, snowmobiles included. The North Rim page explains the current situation there.

Elk live in the pine and juniper forests of the South Rim, and their rutting season, when the bulls compete for the cows, runs from August into early winter. Keep at least 100 feet (30 m) away from them.

The train in winter

The Grand Canyon Railway runs daily through the winter. From 1 November to 31 December it leaves Williams at 8:30 am, an hour earlier than the rest of the year, and is back by 4:45 pm, and the published timetable excludes 25 December. From January the 9:30 am departure returns. Getting to the rim by train spares you the drive on snowy roads. The ticket includes park entry for US residents only; non-US residents aged 16 and older pay the 100-dollar nonresident fee on site, unless they hold the 250-dollar non-resident pass, and children aged 15 and younger pay neither the entrance fee nor the nonresident fee (National Park Service, as of November 2026). The entrance fees page explains the rules.

In Williams, the railway also runs The Polar Express in the evenings on select dates from early November to late December, a round trip of about 90 minutes from Williams.

Guided tours in winter

If you prefer not to drive on snow, a guide can do it. A four-hour tour from Grand Canyon Village carries blankets and umbrellas and serves hot and cold drinks on board; its pickups currently start at Parking Lot D. Park entry is extra: the operator lists 35 dollars for US residents and 135 dollars for international visitors.

From Sedona, the classic full-day tour includes park admission, Grand Canyon Village and the Desert View Watchtower; non-US residents pay the nonresident fee to the tour company by card before the day. Snow and cloud can hide the canyon on any winter day, and reviewers of the helicopter flights report cancellations in bad weather, so leave a spare day if a flight matters to you.