To see the Grand Canyon in snow is absolute magic. While you should never let the weather stop you, I always recommend planning accordingly. I am your Grand Canyon expert in every season and I can’t wait to take you on a snowy adventure! This is how I help my couples plan a photo session at the Grand Canyon with snow.
How It’s Possible to Visit the Grand Canyon in Winter
You’re taking me along for the ride not only to capture stunning Grand Canyon proposals or engagement photos but also to act as your guide to a Grand Canyon adventure with snow! Providing my expertise in both location scouting and weather assessment is part of what I’m there for!
I am an expert at monitoring when the light will best hit various locations depending upon the season and sunset. There are many locations where you can’t witness the sun setting at all or it changes seasonally such as Moran Point. I do extensive location scouting year-round to know the best location for sunrise and sunset depending upon the season and crowd fluctuations.
Though weather at the canyon can fluctuate and some years are drier than others, usually February and March are the snowiest months. The highs are in the lower 50s with the lows at about 25°F.
What to Expect From Grand Canyon Winter Weather
Usually, I don’t worry about the weather until we really have to! I personally don’t believe in such a thing as bad weather and my best photos often come from days when it is snowy or cloudy. This makes for amazing light and usually pink sunsets.
But, sometimes, things happen. During a recent couples adventure session there was a crazy snowstorm. The storm lasted into the evening on a day where they meant to do a sunset proposal. When there’s a 90% chance of snow all day and into the evening that usually means an invisible canyon.
We instead scheduled for sunrise the following morning, which was perfect for an amazing proposal moment with the sun rising over the untouched snow. These two were giddy and in love and willing to wait for me to arrive despite the snow delays!
When shooting in the Grand Canyon with snow, you should always come prepared with water, blankets and food. Since there’s a chance of getting snowed in, always have a full tank of gas, and come equipped with an ice scraper and a shovel. Whenever I book a couple at the Grand Canyon in wintertime, I always have a backup location in mind. That is how we can make your session happen even when the snowfall causes road closures.
Making a Game Plan for Visiting the Grand Canyon With Snow
My original game plan for most couples when visiting the Grand Canyon in winter is taking photos at a South Rim viewpoint off Desert View Drive (64 East). Unfortunately, during snow storms, this road always closes. Depending upon the severity of the weather it can open back up quickly or remain closed for 48 hours or more.
Hermit Road is another option which you can drive from December to February, but a shuttle bus or hike (eight miles one way on the Canyon Rim Trail) is required for the rest of the season. But, in more recent years the scenic Hermit Road also closes during snowfall.
My backup plan is Yavapai Point, which is the most northern point of the South Rim that has amazing views. It is the home of the historic Yavapai Museum of Geology and is a spot that can be driven to and that also remains open during a snow storm.
The point is accessible by shuttle bus, but I generally recommend driving since shuttles tend to not run early enough for Grand Canyon sunrise photos. They also are less reliable during or after a snowstorm when services may be delayed.
Whatever we do, we will make a plan and stick to it even if it’s the backup plan. Cell phone reception can be seriously spotty in the park especially in the winter when towers often get covered in ice. Sticking to the plan enables us to not have to communicate last minute and instead move forward with surprise proposal plans!
Resources for a Trip to The Grand Canyon With Snow
- Grand Canyon Weather & Climate
- Current Grand Canyon Weather Report
- Grand Canyon Webcams
- You can also sign up for road closure alerts prior to your trip or call this number for updates: 928-638-7888.
If there happens to be a photo session scheduled on a day when there is no break in the weather, I will do my absolute best to offer up any additional availability. If you want to reserve another sunset or the subsequent sunrise, you can do that for half of the session cost. It is non refundable, but it can be upgraded to a full session if you decide you would like to do an additional shoot. We can talk through the options available when planning your Grand Canyon adventure for any time of year!
Vendors
Location | Grand Canyon National Park
Photographer | Terri Attridge Photography
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