When To Visit & Weather in Moab

Moab’s weather is as varied as its landscape and can change quickly. We can't promise you sunny, blue skies days every season — but we can promise awe-inspiring adventures, as long as you're prepared to weather them (see what we did there?). 

Moab has four real seasons and there’s no wrong one. What changes is the kind of trip you get.

Spring and fall are what most people picture — warm days, cool nights, everything open and running. Summer is hot, and it’s also when the river runs cold, the stars come out over two Dark Sky Parks, and the kids are out of school. Winter puts snow on red rock and hands you the place at half volume.

Picking the month matters less than knowing what it asks of you and building the day around it. Here’s what each one is actually like.

SPRING  ·  MARCH TO MAY

Spring is when Moab wakes up. The river comes up with snowmelt, rafting season opens, and the desert goes green and briefly full of flowers. Days run 60 to 80. Nights still drop into the 40s, so bring layers. March is the part people miss. Everything’s open, the light is long, and you can hike at noon without thinking about it. April and May are the weeks everybody wants, and they earn it. One honest note: spring can be windy. Check before you commit to a big exposed ridge.

Average Temps
Lows in the 30s and 40s; Highs in the 60s to 80s

Rain
3-4 days of rain each month

Best For
Hiking, Off-Roading, Backpacking & Bikepacking
Big adventure days and cool nights, with some hot-enough-to-raft days in May.

SUMMER  ·  JUNE TO AUGUST 

Summer gets hot. It can be triple digits on the rock in the middle of the day. Here’s how locals do summer: out at first light, off the rock by eleven, into water or shade through the afternoon, back out at five, stars after dinner. The Colorado runs cold no matter how hot it gets, and the La Sals are twenty to thirty degrees cooler and just an hour from town. Arches, Canyonlands, and Moab itself are all Dark Sky certified, so the night is as much of a reason to come as the day. Summer also lines up with school break. Book somewhere with a pool and take the middle of the day off.

Average Temps
Lows in the 60s and 70s; Highs in the 90s and 100s

Rain
1-3 days each month; but the tricky-to-track monsoon season sometimes hits in July and August, bringing afternoon storms every day

Best For
Rafting, Off-Roading, Stargazing, La Sal Mountains
Hike in the early morning and escape the afternoon heat by lounging at the pool or going on the river. Summer is the best time to see the core of the Milky Way: plan your trip around the July and August new moon for the best viewing.

FALL  ·  SEPTEMBER TO EARLY DECEMBER

Fall is high season, and for good reason. September still has river water and warm afternoons. In October the cottonwoods along the Colorado turn gold against red rock, which is the photograph everyone tries to take. November is the quiet standout — everything still open, the sun low all day, and rock that’s finally comfortable to climb on. Then there’s early December, which almost nobody plans for. Trails ride, canyons hike, town puts its lights up, and you get the place with room to move. Nights get cold fast once the sun drops behind the rock. The right layers solve it.

Average Temps
Lows in the 30s to 50s; Highs in the 80s (September), 70s (October), 50s (November), and 40s (December)

Rain
3-4 days of rain each month; but monsoon season can sometimes extend into October.

Best For
Biking, Hiking, Off-Roading, Rock Climbing, Canyoneering
September and October are prime-time for mountain bikers (especially those looking to complete the Whole Enchilada), but the La Sal Mountains typically see their first snow in mid-October. Plan for long hikes if the weather allows, but bring layers (including rain gear). 

WINTER  ·  DECEMBER TO FEBRUARY

Snow on red rock is worth seeing at least once in your life. Arches in January is a different park than Arches in April, and Dead Horse Point in fresh snow is about as good as this landscape gets. It’s a slower season. Some businesses take their off-season breaks in January and February, so check hours before you count on anything. The trade is a version of Moab that very few visitors ever see.

Average Temps
Lows in the 20s and 30s; Highs in the 40s and 50s

Rain
2-3 days of rain & snow each month, depending on the elevation. The town of Moab is much lower — and thus sees less snow — than the nearby National Parks and La Sal Mountains. 

Best For
Hiking, Solitude
Daytime temps in the 40s and 50s make for excellent hiking weather in the winter. But note that Moab gets very, very quiet: few restaurants are open and almost no guiding companies. You'll need to be prepared for the solitude, and for the occasional snowstorm.