Grand Canyon Village Christmas Holiday

See this site https://www.thecanyon.com/weather

Was in Trailer Village for Xmas 2015. It wasn't very busy, but many sites were closed by snow. I don't know that's common, I've only been there once. The rustic campground was busier, as people sleeping in tents or their cars didn't mind a snow filled site apparently.

Paid full price for a full hook up site but water and sewer were closed off for the season.

The park itself was a madhouse. Probably as busy then as it is during warmer months? Glad I stayed inside the park. The queue of cars waiting to get in on the 27th was miles long.

Temperatures were all over the place. Down to single digits overnight, one day was mid 20s, the next day almost 40 in the afternoon. Ice was everywhere, both in the overlooked areas and trails. I highly recommend YakTrax or similar ice walking crampons. Bring warm clothing and face protection like goggles and ski mask, 20 degree wind blasting up from the canyon was brutal at times.

Not camping. But on a 2 week business trip to Phoenix mid December a number of years ago I planned a quick day trip to the canyon over the weekend. But snowed 17” in Flagstaff on Friday. Forecast was for beautiful weather Saturday and Sunday. So left Phoenix early Sunday morning. Roads dry almost to Flagstaff, treacherous about 10 miles before and after Flag, then dry to GCNP gate, then snow pack. And about a foot of new snow through out the park. I was in a car but roads were already plowed.

Weather was sunny, about 35-40 degrees, dead calm, and almost no other person in sight. Didn’t even need a jacket. And at almost every overlook, just me and the canyon and no one else. No wind and so quiet I could hear the rapids far below at a couple of overlooks. Once in a lifetime event for the casual traveler. So basically timing, and luck of the draw, is everything.

The weather can be cold and snowy. Luck of the draw. The use is concentrated in winter to a few facilities. If you go, plan on hiking down in the Canyon to get to some warmer weather.

Grand Canyon is high altitude, hence the weather difference from, say, Phoenix.

ppine wrote:
If you go, plan on hiking down in the Canyon to get to some warmer weather.

Not advisable if the trail is icy or snow-covered. We were there once in February and a bus load of Asian tourists unloaded. We watched them in their dress shoes running to the trail (because they probably had 15 minutes to see the Canyon) and already they were slipping on ice. We always wondered how they did on the trail with steep drop-offs. :)

If the trail has ice on it, wear some cleats on your boots.