BEST TIME TO VISIT · MONTH BY MONTH

Canyonlands National Park in September

September in Canyonlands National Park is a best window month: highs around 88°F, lows around 55°F. Crowds: busy — #2 busiest of the park's 12 months. The best month overall: heat breaks, light lengthens, crowds thin. The editorial best window here is April–May & September–October. You get about 12h 25m of daylight.

Month data reviewed · how we check this

Canyonlands National Park in September: verdict, temperatures and crowds
Verdict Best window The editorial pick — weather, access and experience line up.
Temps °F 88° high / 55° low
Crowds busy · #2 busiest of the park's 12 months
What September is likeThe best month overall: heat breaks, light lengthens, crowds thin
Best window (whole year)April–May & September–October
Peak crowds (whole year)May

CROWDS: RELATIVE SEASONALITY FROM NPS VISITATION STATISTICS · TEMPS: APPROXIMATE NOAA NORMALS AT MAIN VISITOR ELEVATION — HIGH COUNTRY RUNS 10–20°F COLDER

DAYLIGHT ON SEPTEMBER 15 · LOCAL PARK TIME (MDT)
☀️12h 25mOf daylight
🌅7:01 AMSunrise
🌇7:27 PMSunset
📸6:53 PM–7:43 PMGolden hour

COMPUTED FROM THE PARK'S OWN COORDINATES FOR THE 15TH — THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH STANDS FOR IT, AS IT DOES FOR CLIMATE NORMALS. WITHIN A MONTH THESE TIMES SHIFT BY UP TO AN HOUR

WHAT SEPTEMBER ASKS OF YOU HERE
🧥 33°F swing Days reach 88°F and nights drop to 55°F. Layers, not one warm thing.
🌳 0 of 12 trails shaded At 88°F highs, shade is the variable that matters, and 0 of the 12 trails we have measured here carry 40% or more.
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NEXT MONTH

Canyonlands National Park in October — Best window, highs around 74°F, crowds: busy (cool, clear and quiet — the other prime month for the backcountry).

QUICK ANSWERS

Frequently asked

Is September a good time to visit Canyonlands National Park?

Our verdict for September is "Best window". The editorial pick — weather, access and experience line up. Expect highs around 88°F and lows around 55°F, with crowds at the "busy" level. Temperatures are approximate NOAA normals at the main visitor elevation; crowd levels follow published NPS visitation statistics.

When is the best time to visit Canyonlands National Park?

Across the full 12-month review, the best window is April–May & September–October, and the peak-crowd months are May. September itself we rate "Best window".

How many hours of daylight does Canyonlands National Park get in September?

About 12h 25m on September 15: the sun rises around 7:01 AM and sets around 7:27 PM local park time (MDT). Computed from the park's own coordinates, so it is the light you actually get at the trailhead, not the nearest city's.

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