United States
Grand Canyon in December
🧥 WinterCool and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings
Why December scores 8.9What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort8.3
- !Cool (13.3°C highs / 2.3°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point -5.7°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~25 mm rain)
- Air quality10.0
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~3 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | May | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.9 Excellent | 9.6 Excellent |
| Season | 🧥 Winter | 🌷 Spring |
| High / low | 13° / 2° | 29° / 13° |
| Rain | 25 mm | 14 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt -6° | dew pt 0° |
| PM2.5 | 3 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore Grand CanyonEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA vast canyon in northern Arizona carved by the Colorado River, visited for its viewpoints, rim walks and challenging hikes into the gorge.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Grand Canyon Star PartyDate variesUsually June
Amateur astronomers set up telescopes for free public night-sky viewing over a week.
Why go: Dark skies are a highlight; bring warm layers, as rims are cold at night.
Where: South Rim and North Rim
Monsoon seasonDate variesUsually July to mid-September
Afternoon thunderstorms bring lightning, flash floods and dramatic skies.
Why go: Stay away from rim edges in lightning and be cautious in side canyons.
Where: Throughout the park
South Rim viewpoints
Open year-round, with famous overlooks such as Mather Point and Yavapai Point near the visitor centre.
Rim Trail
A mostly paved, fairly flat path linking viewpoints and the historic Grand Canyon Village.
Bright Angel Trail
A popular trail descending into the canyon from Grand Canyon Village.
💡 Do not try to hike to the river and back in one day, especially in summer heat; carry plenty of water.
Desert View Watchtower
A stone tower designed by Mary Colter at the eastern end of the South Rim drive.
Hermit Road
A scenic road west of the village with several viewpoints, served by shuttle buses for much of the year.
North Rim
A higher, quieter and cooler rim, open only seasonally.
💡 Usually open mid-May to mid-October; check current status, as facilities were damaged by a 2025 wildfire.
Navajo taco
Fry bread topped with beans, meat, lettuce and cheese, found across the Navajo Nation and northern Arizona.
Prickly pear treats
Lemonade, syrups and sweets made from the fruit of the prickly pear cactus.
Southwestern chili
Hearty bean and meat chili common in the region's lodges and diners.
💡 Lodges and towns such as Tusayan and Williams
Native American jewellery
Silver and turquoise jewellery made by Navajo, Hopi and Zuni artists.
💡 Shops that sell authenticated work by Native artists
Navajo textiles
Hand-woven rugs and textiles in traditional patterns.
Hopi katsina carvings
Carved and painted figures representing Hopi spiritual beings.
💡 Reputable galleries and trading posts