In the time frame May 1 to June 15, what areas, national parks, etc., would be difficult or impossible due to snow and cold? I know it's a broad, vague question. We plan to be out to AZ in early May for a family thing, and want to take our Class C and work on our bucket list. And that list is just an general idea in my mind: -Grand Canyon-Colorado, Utah-Yellowstone-etc (see the big NPs and mountains out west)I would not count out Yosemite too. As I say, it's a very vague idea.So I'm just looking for some general guidance on when areas open up and are reasonably beyond winter.edit: after getting a few replies, I can see it would not be good to plan on the above.So how about going up the Pacific coast? How would it be in mid-May if we go all the way to the top of Oregon? Then, check out Oregon, then maybe Nevada and Utah on the way back to AZ? Would we likely find moderate weather on that routing?

Grand Canyon should be fine. As for the rest? It all depends on snow pack. Some years places like Yellowstone can be snowed in until late June. Others, wide open before Memorial day. Watch the mountain forecasts and see.

I have to disagree with part of saying the Grand Canyon would be fine. The north rim will be closed until May 30. I understand that is even with the road being passable earlier. Hwy 120 over Tioga Pass is normally plowed by May for the folks on the east side of the Sierra who want it done by April 1 for trout season. Yellowstone can be very cold in early May and snow is not unusual even in June.We've been to Rose's at Bryce in April when they had to plow about six spaces for us spring breakers and none of the campgrounds inside the park were open.All that said, there are usually work arounds if you can't camp inside a park and all of those places are beautiful when snow covered.I wouldn't let the weather stop me from a trip like yours but remember to plan other places to go and things to see. Check early for weather predictions and wear warm clothes.

Snowman9000 wrote:In the time frame May 1 to June 15, what areas, national parks, etc., would be difficult or impossible due to snow and cold? I know it's a broad, vague question. We plan to be out to AZ in early May for a family thing, and want to take our Class C and work on our bucket list. And that list is just an general idea in my mind: -Grand Canyon-Colorado, Utah-Yellowstone-etc (see the big NPs and mountains out west)I would not count out Yosemite too. As I say, it's a very vague idea.So I'm just looking for some general guidance on when areas open up and are reasonably beyond winter.In most of Colorado, at least the parts that are NOT the eastern plains, you'll likely encounter snow at a goodly number of locations and elevations that early in the season. Most CG/RV Parks don't open until mid- to late-May. I've already started looking at the reservation calendar, and for the locations that I want to reserve, most of them don't open until the weekend of May 19th or thereabouts. Keep in mind that in Colorado, March and April are among our snowiest months, late season snows are not uncommon. Planning to arrive in Colorado later in your itinerary will give you more options, and if you can extend your time in Colorado to later in June, so much the better.

You should be able to go to weather.com and plug in the location to get the averages for any month of the year.

Snowman9000 wrote:In the time frame May 1 to June 15, what areas, national parks, etc., would be difficult or impossible due to snow and cold?May is way too early to go, especially the further north you go and the greater the elevation. We arrived in Estes Park one year on May 30, only to find Trail Ridge Rd to the top closed :( ... just as we were turning around a road crew member arrived at the barrier, said they were working diligently to clear the road at the top, and if we waited a couple of hours they might be able to open it up. We waited and as luck would have it we did make it to the top that day ... but on motorcyles snow cleared on each side of the roadway was WAY above our heads, much like riding through a canyon of snow. That was the end of May - early May, no way, even when your SIG is Snowman. :W

US mountain west in May | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

allen8106
Explorer
Nov 09, 2016
We did the Grand Canyon May 7th thru May 10th in 2012. There were a very few small patches on snow on the ground but nothing to worry about.
Thom02099
Explorer II
Nov 08, 2016
Thunder Mountain wrote:
I remember a 2+ snow fall in Estes Park (Rocky Mountain National Park) on Memorial Day weekend in the late 1970s and a 3'dump on May 17 in the early 1980s as well as many heavy wet snows in May. Just go prepared for at least a 60 degree swing in temps in the Rockies.

This happened last year up in Rocky. They got Trail Ridge Rd plowed before Memorial Day, cutting through drifts up to 20 feet high. But the planned opening wasn't prior to Memorial Day due to more snow. I was up there the weekend AFTER Memorial Day, when they were finally able to get it open during daylight hours for the season (closed down at night for the next week due to icing).

As Thunder Mountain said, be prepared for huge temp swings in the Rockies.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Nov 08, 2016
Snowman9000 wrote:

So how about going up the Pacific coast? How would it be in mid-May if we go all the way to the top of Oregon? Then, check out Oregon, then maybe Nevada and Utah on the way back to AZ? Would we likely find moderate weather on that routing?

This would be the ideal route for your trip. By the time you get to Utah on your return the weather will be perfect.

Also, May would be good for the South Rim of Grand Canyon and for Zion if you wanted to do those on your way out of Arizona and up the coast.

One of our times at the Grand Canyon was in February and the weather was great. You never know. Just monitor the weather as you travel.

We always started heading north out of Arizona in April/May. May in Arizona is getting hot. We did travel slowly though.
wnjj
Explorer II
Nov 08, 2016
May on the Oregon coast can be anything. Three years ago we were camping at Cape Lookout State Park in the beginning of May and it was over 90! Typically it's low 60's for high temperatures.
obgraham
Explorer
Nov 07, 2016
May is a fine time to go. Bryce Canyon was great in early April last year. And the day after I left there it snowed. So what?

A flexible plan and a persistent weather check will result in a great trip.
minnow
Explorer
Nov 07, 2016
We did Yellowstone in mid April this year. The park was open(most if it), We were able to see Old Faithful. There was little crowds. Did have a snow squall in West Yellowstone one night - quick 2-3" of snow. Next day it was gone. A very enjoyable trip.
Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Nov 07, 2016
I remember a 2+ snow fall in Estes Park (Rocky Mountain National Park) on Memorial Day weekend in the late 1970s and a 3'dump on May 17 in the early 1980s as well as many heavy wet snows in May. Just go prepared for at least a 60 degree swing in temps in the Rockies.
PghBob
Explorer
Nov 07, 2016
If you are near the Grand Canyon, don't pass up an opportunity to visit Monument Valley (Navajo Tribal Land) on the border of Arizona and Utah. Absolutely gorgeous, then consider traveling north to Arches MP. If you want, you can circle around to Bryce and Zion NPs.

Heed the posts about the weather. It can snow it Yellowstone any month, and one June we were snowed in for a day. Another visit and another June, temps dropped to freezing. Consider seeing parks in the southwest and gradually work north as the weather improves. Have fun.
Snowman9000
Explorer
Nov 07, 2016
We will be able to be flexible, that's for sure. I'm getting a better picture of the situation from all the posts. So we will have to wait and see.
Alabama_Jim
Explorer
Nov 07, 2016
Was in Yellow two years ago in the same time frame. Half of Yellowstone was closed due to snow and the low lying clouds in Teton and Yellowstone blocked all the view. The going-to-the-sun road in Glacier will be closed.