- Best time to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison: May and August to October. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: June, with about 52,874 visits in a typical recent year. That is 4.5 times as many as April.
- Quietest month: December (5,569 visits), when weather or closures keep most people away.
- Cold: average highs stay below 40°F in January, February and December.
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
Month by month
| Month | Crowds | Visits (typical) | High / low (°F) | Precipitation | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very quiet | 8,132 | 37° / 13° | 1.7 in | n/a |
| February | Very quiet | 7,067 | 40° / 16° | 1.7 in | n/a |
| March | Very quiet | 9,255 | 48° / 23° | 2.0 in | n/a |
| April | Quiet | 11,697 | 56° / 29° | 1.8 in | n/a |
| May ★ | Busy | 33,073 | 66° / 38° | 1.6 in | n/a |
| June | Busiest | 52,874 | 76° / 46° | 0.7 in | n/a |
| July | Busiest | 51,922 | 82° / 52° | 1.6 in | n/a |
| August ★ | Busiest | 50,929 | 81° / 52° | 1.7 in | n/a |
| September ★ | Busiest | 48,711 | 72° / 44° | 2.1 in | n/a |
| October ★ | Moderate | 28,716 | 60° / 33° | 1.9 in | n/a |
| November | Quiet | 14,398 | 47° / 23° | 1.5 in | n/a |
| December | Very quiet | 5,569 | 36° / 13° | 1.5 in | n/a |
Weather figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Black Canyon Of The Gunnison station (8,151 feet above sea level), 0 miles from South Rim Visitor Center. Higher parts of the park are colder and snowier. Visitor numbers are the median of 2022 to 2025 monthly recreation visits from the National Park Service.
By season
- Spring (March to May): 17% of the year’s visits; average highs 48° to 66°F.
- Summer (June to August): 48% of the year’s visits; average highs 76° to 82°F.
- Fall (September to November): 28% of the year’s visits; average highs 47° to 72°F.
- Winter (December to February): 6% of the year’s visits; average highs 36° to 40°F.
Weekends and holidays
Even in a quiet month, holiday weekends fill parking lots and campgrounds. The 2027 federal holidays to plan around:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 18
- Presidents Day: Monday, February 15
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 31
- Juneteenth: Saturday, June 19
- Independence Day: Sunday, July 4 (observed Monday, July 5)
- Labor Day: Monday, September 6
- Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day: Monday, October 11
- Veterans Day: Thursday, November 11
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 25
Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the park service’s fee-free days. The last one in 2026 is Veterans Day, November 11; the 2027 dates had not been announced when we checked. Free days are often busier. See the crowd calendar for all 64 parks.
Weather, in the park service’s words
Today's Weather: http://www.weather.com/weather/today/l/NPBLCA:13:US CLIMATE Weather can vary greatly throughout the day. Summer daytime temperatures range between 55 to 90F (13 to 32C), nights 45 to 60F (7 to 16C). Winter daytime temperatures range between 15 to 40F (-9 to 4C), nights 10 to 20F (-12 to -6C). Afternoon thunderstorms are common during the summer. Snow accumulation varies greatly year to year. Layered clothing appropriate for the season is recommended.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Today at Black Canyon of the Gunnison
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for South Rim Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
Sources
- National Park Service visitor use statistics (IRMA): monthly recreation visits, 2022 to 2025
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020 (monthly)
- National Park Service Data API: weather overview (public domain)
Last checked 1 November 2026.