Utah · National Park
Best time to visit Capitol Reef
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS + NOAA
For Capitol Reef, the mild and quiet months are March and November: average highs of 50 to 85°F at the nearest NOAA station and visits at or below the yearly monthly average. May is busiest, with 16% of 2025 recreation visits. January was quietest, with an average high of 41°F.
Crowd index by month
Each bar is that month’s NPS recreation visits compared with the average month of 2025 (100 = average). May scored 191; January scored 15.
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, recreation visitors, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026. Index = month ÷ average month × 100.
Weather normals by month
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip in | Crowd index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40.6 | 20.5 | 0.56 | 15 |
| February | 46.8 | 25.7 | 0.50 | 17 |
| March | 57.3 | 33.6 | 0.46 | 91 |
| April | 64.7 | 39.2 | 0.52 | 135 |
| May | 74.3 | 48.3 | 0.65 | 191 |
| June | 86.4 | 58.2 | 0.35 | 144 |
| July | 91.2 | 65.2 | 1.03 | 106 |
| August | 87.8 | 62.8 | 1.12 | 95 |
| September | 79.7 | 54.7 | 0.95 | 158 |
| October | 65.9 | 43.1 | 0.87 | 157 |
| November | 51.0 | 30.4 | 0.50 | 57 |
| December | 40.2 | 20.6 | 0.37 | 34 |
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (monthly), station USC00421171. The station may sit at a different elevation than the places you visit, so expect cooler temperatures higher up.
Mild and quiet months
- March
- November
Our rule, applied to the data above: average high between 50 and 85°F, and recreation visits no higher than the average month. It is arithmetic, not a forecast. Roads, trails and facilities can still be closed in these months.
Hours
Capitol Reef is a 24 hour park, open all day, every day. The visitor center is open daily, except for some major holidays. Visitor center hours vary, call 435-425-3791 and follow the prompts for current visitor center information.
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
More on Capitol Reef: tour or DIY overview. TourOrDIY is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. See the accuracy disclaimer and our method.