ZION AND BRYCE CANYON STATE PARKS
Best Time to Visit Utah
Utah has some of the most famous parks in the USA, namely Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park.
Zion National Park - near the I-15, 158 miles southeast Las Vegas, and 320 southwest Salt Lake City - is perhaps the most beautiful, if we value cliffs, riverine forests and waterfalls.
Bryce Canyon National Park offers much stranger and unconventional views and is reached by highway UT 12, which crosses the northeast part of the park.
Cedar City and St George (50 miles south Cedar) in the I-15 are the two main Southern Utah's towns and major hubs to the nearby Zion and Bryce Canyon Parks.
See also:
Moab, Arches Park and Canyonlands Park
Map of Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks region
WHAT TO VISIT IN SOUTH UTAH
Most travellers limit their visits to a quick half-day stay in Zion, crossing its southern part through I-19. The same happens with Bryce Canyon, visited through Hwy 12 (which crosses the park's northeast corner). But both parks offer a much wider set of top opportunities for outdoor lovers: just plan your trips carefully and take adequate advice in their Visitor Centers.
St George and Cedar (in the I-15), Springdale (a beautiful small town on the south border of Zion Park) are good places to stay for those who want to explore the secrets and the hidden beauties of these two major American Parks.
BEST TIME TO VISIT SOUTH UTAH PARKS
Spring - with its mild temperatures and good weather - is an excellent time to visit Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. April and May are also very beatiful months, with the park's flowers blooming.
Setember and October are also very good times for a visit. Temperatures are usually great, the weather is good and you may enjoy the fall colors along the riverine forests of Zion Park.
WHEN NOT TO GO TO CEDAR, ST GEORGE, ZION, BRICE CANYON
Summer is the most popular season but temperatures may reach particularly high levels in most parts of the Parks. August is also a time of rather frightening thunderstorms.
Winter has many nice days but it isn't exactly the best period for outdoor activities, namely for tours in the more hidden and less accessible parts of the parks.
For details on the weather conditions, see the map below.
SOUTH UTAH WEATHER MAP
TOURS, HOTELS AND FLIGHTS TO UTAH
Zion National Park is closer to Las Vegas airport (158 miles: McCarran International Airport) than to Salt Lake City airport (320 miles: Salt Lake City International Airport). The same happens, obviously, with Cedar City, St George and the Bryce Canyon Park.
Accommodation is mainly concentraded in the two major cities of south Utah (Cedar City and St George) and Springdale (in the case of Zion National Park).
