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Whaler's avatar
Whaler
Explorer
Apr 16, 2017

Utah in late September

Planning to see the NPs in Utah and on to GCNP in Sept/Oct time frame. We have no time specific dates or agenda. My question concerns the weather during that time frame and any high elevation roads or passes to avoid that may be snow impacted that time of year.

10 Replies

  • I live in AZ and have traveled to Utah many times over the years. September I've not seen snow except at very high elevations at the mountain ski towns above 8000' and typically only a dusting. Mid to late October I've seen flurries at Grand Canyon but have never seen it stick. Generally nice afternoons in the 60's, lows in the 40's with occasional below freezing.
  • Went last year, absolutely beautiful weather! Rained only once for about an hour one day. Must see Monument Valley, take the all day tour thru Gouldings, you will see things that you can't see if you drive thru on your own, and you get a nice barbeque lunch too. Moab is beautiful, Bryce, canyonlands, too! Also if you can, take the river trip via Canyonlands at night they are less than a mile from the entrance to arches National park!

    Enjoy
  • Captain_Happy wrote:
    If you haven't been to Utah before, your in for a treat. The weather is great in September.


    Absolutely! You will love it.
  • If you haven't been to Utah before, your in for a treat. The weather is great in September.
  • Whaler wrote:
    Planning to see the NPs in Utah and on to GCNP in Sept/Oct time frame. We have no time specific dates or agenda. My question concerns the weather during that time frame and any high elevation roads or passes to avoid that may be snow impacted that time of year.


    Traffic Cams UTAH

    Colorado Traffic Cams

    Just go to the Traffic cams to see the Weather, or the traffic for that matter, anytime of the day or night.

    Makes life easy,
  • On our trip last year, we left Minn. in mid-Sept, and returned in mid-Oct. Colorado was really getting going with the Aspen, Utah tended to be a low of 45-55 at night, and up to 75 during the day. Pretty much held true for Monument Valley, Page AZ, Zion, Bryce, and the Moab area. Snow in very high elevations near Breckenridge CO on our way back in mid-Oct, but none in the inhabited areas.
  • Whaler wrote:
    Planning to see the NPs in Utah and on to GCNP in Sept/Oct time frame. We have no time specific dates or agenda. My question concerns the weather during that time frame and any high elevation roads or passes to avoid that may be snow impacted that time of year.
    Best time
  • Whaler wrote:


    Planning to see the NPs in Utah and
    on to GCNP
    in Sept/Oct time frame.
    We have no time specific dates or agenda.

    My question concerns the weather during that time frame and any high elevation roads or passes to avoid that may be snow impacted that time of year.



    IMHO you will not have an Issue in UTAH.

    Even if you are lucky enough to catch Colorado's Golden Aspen in the high mountain passes the snow is usually gone by the next day.

    We have tended to spend most of our Utah time during the Winter, and have been lucky enough to have capture a few Great Snows, Zion once - Bryce Once - and North Rim Once, all did not make driving a problem and they merely added to the Beauty.

    Enjoy your trip - if you get a chance catch those Aspen in the San Juan's last week of September,

    Best of Luck,
  • We just returned from a great 9 day trip to southern Utah and are planning on returning the middle of September. The weather should be awesome and most of the kids will be back in school but...

    The weather in this area can change in a heartbeat so you will need to monitor conditions closely. With the internet and smartphones this is very easy to do. When we drove to Moab the weather was great but 2 hours behind us a blizzard dropped down onto Monticello {7,200'}, and the Lasal Mountains closing the pass over to Colorado.

    Plan on a wide range of conditions, pack and dress accordingly and you will have a blast. Do not miss Capitol Reef NP, even more spectacular than Arches and Canyonlands. Assume Bryce Canyon will be cold as it often is and Zion is just about perfect in September. The north Rim often shuts down early as, like Bryce, it sits at around 9,000'. The South Rim is milder but far more crowded.

    :B