Is it too hot to go to the Grand Canyon in July?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you!

It’s a camping tour that including Zion, Bryce Canyon, canyonlands, Arches, Monument Valley, Antelope, Page, and Grand Canyon.

We are all pretty fit and used to heat. My kids have all camped a good amount. I have not, but am excited to try it and the tour provides all the camping gear.

I could also do one in Utah instead. Zion, grand Teton, Yellowstone.

I’ve never done any of this so trying to pick best option for a group that has not seen any national parks in July.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you!

It’s a camping tour that including Zion, Bryce Canyon, canyonlands, Arches, Monument Valley, Antelope, Page, and Grand Canyon.

We are all pretty fit and used to heat. My kids have all camped a good amount. I have not, but am excited to try it and the tour provides all the camping gear.

I could also do one in Utah instead. Zion, grand Teton, Yellowstone.

I’ve never done any of this so trying to pick best option for a group that has not seen any national parks in July.

Thank you!

Your first itinerary has a lot of places! How long are you going? I would think you would need a minimum of 2 weeks to go to all those parks. There's also a fair amount of driving between them. Also, you know that Grand Teton and Yellowstone are not in Utah, right? It's about 9 hours from Grand Teton to Zion so I still think you would need at least 10 days for your itinerary.

[Anonymous]

We did grand Teton and Yellowstone mid-end July and it was perfect weather wise. Pleasant for hiking, even coolish at night.

[Anonymous]

Too hot, and have fun with every other tourist in the world converging on the same area.

[Anonymous]

I went in August. I do not remember it being hot. It's very high elevation. It's also pretty boring. Ok giant hole in the ground, let's go.

[Anonymous]

I went in August when I was 6 months pregnant and it was much more pleasant than DC in the summer (cool in the shade and at night, no humidity). But I was sleeping in a dorm-type lodging, not camping,and I didn't try to hike all the way down to the river and back, or spend the peak heat of the day doing active outdoor stuff. I think going is fine, it's more a question of whether the activities you're planning would be unpleasant or dangerous.

[Anonymous]

It's the old adage - "its dry heat". Daytime temperatures can soar in July, rim of the Canyon will be ok but if you planning to hike below the rim - be aware that there is very little shade, the sun off of the red rocks adds additional heat and the lower you go the hotter it will be. Night time temperatures at the river will be warm but not humid like DC. Water is really the biggest concern. Folks tend to underestimate what is needed and what you have to carry. Especially if you are hiking out of the canyon from the river - even with an early start that last bit can be very dangerous. On the other hand it sounds like you are doing this with an organized group? I would want to know what the includes for the canyon - are they carrying your bags and extra water?

The National Park Service provides some good FAQ's - https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/hiking-faq.htm#CP_JUMP_1900774

[Anonymous]

I have been at least six times. The last time was the first week of August. It is too hot for hiking to base but otherwise lovely. When I got up in the morning it was cool enough I needed a jacket to go out for breakfast or in the evenings. Afternoons I was wearing shorts and tee shirt or light pants with tee. We biked along the rim and it was fine. We also hiked a couple miles into the canyon on bright angel. We started early and it was definitely warm towards the end of the hike. It’s typically 10-20 degrees hotter at base so the temp will go up as you go down.

The three big mistakes hikes make with the canyon are — do not anticipate how hot it gets as you go down; do not realize how far it is between water sources; do not plan for the fact that it’s easy to go down but hard to come up and the bit at the very top is basically the worst fincline that you hit when you are most tired. The rule of thumb is that if you want to hike three hours, turn around after one. There’s also a rule of thumb for how much water to carry but I forget what that is right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I went in August. I do not remember it being hot. It's very high elevation. It's also pretty boring. Ok giant hole in the ground, let's go.

South Rim is over 7,000 ft in elevation and does not get hot and humid like DC. Just for comparison, the highest point in Shenandoah NP in VA is 3,600. As long as you stay on the rim and not hike to the bottom of the canyon, you'll be okay. Also wear a hat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you!

It’s a camping tour that including Zion, Bryce Canyon, canyonlands, Arches, Monument Valley, Antelope, Page, and Grand Canyon.

We are all pretty fit and used to heat. My kids have all camped a good amount. I have not, but am excited to try it and the tour provides all the camping gear.

I could also do one in Utah instead. Zion, grand Teton, Yellowstone.

I’ve never done any of this so trying to pick best option for a group that has not seen any national parks in July.

Thank you!

Your first itinerary has a lot of places! How long are you going? I would think you would need a minimum of 2 weeks to go to all those parks. There's also a fair amount of driving between them. Also, you know that Grand Teton and Yellowstone are not in Utah, right? It's about 9 hours from Grand Teton to Zion so I still think you would need at least 10 days for your itinerary.

Agree, you'll spend lots of time driving. NPs out there are very far apart and not close to airports.

[Anonymous]

I'm more worry about the crowds and long lines than the temperature. I can't imagine hiking with so many people in a line.

[Anonymous]

yes