Updated October 2026
City Of Rocks National Reserve Weather by Month
City Of Rocks National Reserve is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 86°F and a low of 57°F, and coldest in December, with an average high of 39°F and an average low of 21°F. May is the wettest month, with about 2.1 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in January, at about 5.7 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, 14.6 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in City Of Rocks National Reserve can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
86°F avg high
Coldest month
Dec
21°F avg low
Wettest month
May
2.1 in avg
Snowiest month
Jan
5.7 in avg
Longest days
Jun
15.1 h of daylight
Average weather at City Of Rocks by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40°F | 21°F | 0.8 in | 5.7 in | 9.3 h |
| February | 45°F | 24°F | 0.7 in | 5.0 in | 10.4 h |
| March | 54°F | 30°F | 1.1 in | 4.2 in | 11.7 h |
| April | 60°F | 34°F | 1.6 in | 2.0 in | 13.1 h |
| May | 69°F | 42°F | 2.1 in | 0.2 in | 14.4 h |
| June | 78°F | 48°F | 1.1 in | 0.0 in | 15.1 h |
| July | 86°F | 57°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in | 14.8 h |
| August | 86°F | 56°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in | 13.7 h |
| September | 77°F | 47°F | 1.1 in | 0.0 in | 12.3 h |
| October | 64°F | 37°F | 0.9 in | 0.6 in | 10.8 h |
| November | 50°F | 28°F | 0.8 in | 2.2 in | 9.6 h |
| December | 39°F | 21°F | 0.8 in | 5.2 in | 8.9 h |
| Year total | 12.4 in | 25.1 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00106542, 14.6 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded City Of Rocks is at that time of year.
City Of Rocks weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs climb from 39°F in December to 45°F in February, with average lows between 21°F and 24°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 2.3 inches of precipitation, about 19% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 16 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 8.9 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 54°F in March to 69°F in May, with average lows between 30°F and 42°F. The average low is at or below freezing in March. Together the three months average 4.8 inches of precipitation, about 39% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 6.4 inches for the season, most of it in March. Daylight lengthens from about 11.7 hours in March to 14.4 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs climb from 78°F in June to 86°F in August, with average lows between 48°F and 57°F. Together the three months average 2.5 inches of precipitation, about 20% of the yearly total. Daylight is at its longest, about 15.1 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 77°F in September to 50°F in November, with average lows between 28°F and 47°F. The average low is at or below freezing in November. Together the three months average 2.8 inches of precipitation, about 23% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 2.8 inches for the season, most of it in November. Daylight shortens from about 12.3 hours in September to 9.6 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
City of Rocks is located in south-central Idaho within the northern edge of the Basin and Range geologic province. Outdoor recreation can be pleasant from April through October. Summers are generally dry with 10 to 15 inches of precipitation in winter and spring. Summer temperatures range widely with night time lows occasionally approaching freezing and midday highs nearing 100° F; however, the typical range of low and high temperature is 45-85. Thunderstorms are common in the summer months (June - August)
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for City Of Rocks
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 42.07°N, 113.71°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 City Of Rocks National Reserve →
Weather and crowds together
July, the warmest month, sees about 1.7× the visitors of the park's average month. June is the busiest month of the year and February the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit City Of Rocks National Reserve. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near City Of Rocks.
Where to stay near City Of Rocks
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Top-rated places to stay near City Of Rocks
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at City Of Rocks National Reserve, with an average high of 86°F and an average low of 57°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 14.6 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
December is the coldest month at City Of Rocks National Reserve, with an average low of 21°F and an average high of 39°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
May is the wettest month, with about 2.1 inches of precipitation. February, July and August are the driest, at about 0.7 inches each. The station records about 12.4 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 14.6 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 25 inches of snow a year. January is the snowiest month, at about 5.7 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 8 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
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Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00106542), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1992–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.