People are constantly searching for tips and tricks that will get them either a better deal or a better experience with regards to travel. One of the most obvious ways to improve your experience is to travel during times which are traditionally slower for tourism than other times. This is considered the “off season,” and it essentially means the time that is not during the warmest weather. Most tourists will want to travel when it is warm out, and where they will be able to not have to worry at all about the weather. They can pack lighter clothes, and probably will not get caught out somewhere when the temperature either goes up or drops, forcing you to make due with clothing that you have, or purchase a jacket. Europe is notoriously hard to gauge in this respect, with most advice being that if you are going to travel there to bring extra layers of clothing and prepare to need it, even during the warm season. The American southwest is a little easier to predict as far as the best times to travel, but it is actually not the times that you would expect. Most people will simply look at the summer months and assume that it is the best time. As a result the tourist season in national parks like Zion corresponds with summertime, making the park congested and crowded during these times. What is especially interesting is that summer is not the best time to visit parks that are within driving distance of Las Vegas. The heat in the summer is so extreme that you may find it more uncomfortable being outside than you expect. The temperatures in many of these parks can reach upwards of 100 degrees or more in the summer, making hiking and exploring less than ideal.
The best time to visit Zion is during the winter, between December and April. This is the time that everyone assumes it will be cold, and as a result you will find that tourism numbers drop to about 10% what they are during the peak times. This alone is generally enough to convince people that they will have a better time off season, especially when they see that parks like Zion have become so crowded during peak season that the parks department is attempting to solve the congestion issues. Most people who want to explore the beauty of Zion want to do so with fewer crowds, and off season is the way to do that. The other positive aspect that people do not realize is that the winter in Zion is more like spring on the east coast. It may get chilly at night, but during the day the weather is perfect for hiking. 2018 is proving to be the mildest winter in a long time, which is giving us temperatures in the 70’s during Feb! The spring-like temperatures and the reduced crowds make this the perfect time for your tour of Zion, so give us a call and let us take you on the adventure of a lifetime.