Updated October 2026
Capitol Reef National Park Weather by Month
Capitol Reef National Park is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 91°F and a low of 65°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 41°F and an average low of 21°F. August is the wettest month, with about 1.1 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in January, at about 3.8 inches.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 1 mile from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Capitol Reef National Park can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
91°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
21°F avg low
Wettest month
Aug
1.1 in avg
Snowiest month
Jan
3.8 in avg
Longest days
Jun
14.7 h of daylight
Average weather at Capitol Reef by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41°F | 21°F | 0.6 in | 3.8 in | 9.6 h |
| February | 47°F | 26°F | 0.5 in | 1.5 in | 10.6 h |
| March | 57°F | 34°F | 0.5 in | 1.7 in | 11.7 h |
| April | 65°F | 39°F | 0.5 in | 0.2 in | 13.0 h |
| May | 74°F | 48°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in | 14.1 h |
| June | 86°F | 58°F | 0.4 in | 0.0 in | 14.7 h |
| July | 91°F | 65°F | 1.0 in | 0.0 in | 14.4 h |
| August | 88°F | 63°F | 1.1 in | 0.0 in | 13.5 h |
| September | 80°F | 55°F | 1.0 in | 0.0 in | 12.2 h |
| October | 66°F | 43°F | 0.9 in | 0.0 in | 11.0 h |
| November | 51°F | 30°F | 0.5 in | 1.5 in | 9.9 h |
| December | 40°F | 21°F | 0.4 in | 2.2 in | 9.3 h |
| Year total | 8.1 in | 10.9 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00421171, 1 mile from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Capitol Reef is at that time of year.
Capitol Reef weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs climb from 40°F in December to 47°F in February, with average lows between 21°F and 26°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 1.5 inches of precipitation, about 19% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 7.5 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 9.3 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 57°F in March to 74°F in May, with average lows between 34°F and 48°F. Together the three months average 1.7 inches of precipitation, about 21% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 1.9 inches for the season, most of it in March. Daylight lengthens from about 11.7 hours in March to 14.1 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 91°F in July, between 86°F in June and 88°F in August, with average lows between 58°F and 65°F. The average high is 90°F or hotter in July. Together the three months average 2.5 inches of precipitation, about 31% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 14.7 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 80°F in September to 51°F in November, with average lows between 30°F and 55°F. The average low is at or below freezing in November. Together the three months average 2.4 inches of precipitation, about 30% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 1.5 inches for the season, most of it in November. Daylight shortens from about 12.2 hours in September to 9.9 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Weather is posted daily; check at the park visitor center for weather updates. Do not enter into narrow canyons if there is a threat of rain or if rain has been falling in the area. Rain and snow may also make dirt roads impassable to vehicles.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Capitol Reef
Averages describe a typical month, not this week. For current conditions and the seven-day outlook, the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the park's reference point at 38.28°N, 111.25°W. It covers that one spot, so other elevations in the park can differ from it, as they do from the averages above.
National Weather Service forecast for Capitol Reef National Park →
Weather and crowds together
July, the warmest month, sees about 1.2× the visitors of the park's average month. May is the busiest month of the year and January the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Capitol Reef National Park. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Capitol Reef.
Where to stay near Capitol Reef
Picked a month for Capitol Reef National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Capitol Reef
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Capitol Reef National Park, with an average high of 91°F and an average low of 65°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 1 mile from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at Capitol Reef National Park, with an average low of 21°F and an average high of 41°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
August is the wettest month, with about 1.1 inches of precipitation. June and December are the driest, at about 0.4 inches each. The station records about 8.1 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 1 mile from the park's reference point, averages about 11 inches of snow a year. January is the snowiest month, at about 3.8 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 6 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
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94 mi away · warmest in July (97°F)
95 mi away · warmest in July (99°F)
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00421171), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.