Capitol Reef weather, month by month
- Jul high
- 91°F
- hottest month
- Jan low
- 21°F
- coldest month
- Rain + snowmelt
- 7.9in / yr
- wettest: Aug
- Snowfall
- 10.9in / yr
- Nov–Mar
- Days ≥ 90°F
- 49/ yr
- Nights ≤ 32°F
- 124/ yr
Capitol Reef NP
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow | Wet days | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41° | 21° | 0.6″ | 3.8″ | 3 | 7:41 AM | 5:28 PM | 9h 48m | 8 |
| Feb | 47° | 26° | 0.5″ | 1.5″ | 4 | 7:16 AM | 6:03 PM | 10h 47m | 10 |
| Mar | 57° | 34° | 0.5″ | 1.7″ | 4 | 7:36 AM | 7:32 PM | 11h 55m | 44 |
| Apr | 65° | 39° | 0.5″ | 0.2″ | 5 | 6:49 AM | 8:01 PM | 13h 11m | 70 |
| May | 74° | 48° | 0.7″ | — | 5 | 6:14 AM | 8:29 PM | 14h 15m | 100 |
| Jun | 86° | 58° | 0.3″ | — | 3 | 6:01 AM | 8:50 PM | 14h 49m | 82 |
| Jul | 91° | 65° | 1.0″ | — | 8 | 6:14 AM | 8:48 PM | 14h 35m | 58 |
| Aug | 88° | 63° | 1.1″ | — | 8 | 6:40 AM | 8:19 PM | 13h 40m | 51 |
| Sep | 80° | 55° | 0.9″ | — | 5 | 7:07 AM | 7:34 PM | 12h 27m | 80 |
| Oct | 66° | 43° | 0.9″ | — | 5 | 7:34 AM | 6:48 PM | 11h 14m | 80 |
| Nov | 51° | 30° | 0.5″ | 1.5″ | 3 | 7:06 AM | 5:13 PM | 10h 07m | 30 |
| Dec | 40° | 21° | 0.4″ | 2.2″ | 3 | 7:34 AM | 5:06 PM | 9h 31m | 15 |
Sweet spot: March combines average highs between 55°F and 85°F with crowds under 60% of the peak month. Check what is open in those months — quiet can also mean closed roads.
How to read this
These are NOAA’s official 1991–2020 climate normals for one weather station, not a model of the whole park. The station is the one with complete temperature and precipitation normals nearest to a visitor center. Highs and lows are daily averages for the month; “wet days” are days with at least 0.01 inch of precipitation. Mountain parks can be 10–20 °F cooler at their high points than at the station, and the NPS weather page for Capitol Reef is the place for current conditions and seasonal closures.
Sunrise and sunset are computed with the NOAA solar equations for the park’s coordinates and shown in America/Denver time for the 15th of each month of 2027; they are accurate to about a minute.
Sources · 3
- 1.U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — monthly normals station inventory · National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA)
- 2.Capitol Reef National Park — Weather (nps.gov) · National Park Service
- 3.Capitol Reef National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
FAQ
Capitol Reef weather questions
- What is the hottest month at Capitol Reef?
- July, with an average high of 91°F and an average low of 65°F at Capitol Reef NP (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The station averages 49 days a year at or above 90°F.
- How cold does Capitol Reef get in winter?
- January is the coldest month, averaging a low of 21°F and a high of 41°F at Capitol Reef NP. About 124 nights a year drop to freezing or below.
- Does it snow at Capitol Reef?
- Yes. Capitol Reef NP averages 10.9 inches of snow a year, mostly in January, February, March, November and December. Higher ground in the park gets more.
- When is the rainy season at Capitol Reef?
- August is the wettest month on average (1.1 inches of precipitation at Capitol Reef NP); the station's annual total is 7.9 inches.
- How many hours of daylight does Capitol Reef get?
- About 14h 49m on June 15 and 9h 31m on December 15 (sunrise 6:01 AM, sunset 8:50 PM in June; 7:34 AM to 5:06 PM in December, America/Denver time).
- What is the best month to visit Capitol Reef for weather?
- By NOAA's normals, average highs sit between 55°F and 85°F in March, April, May, September and October. Of those, March is also well below the park's peak crowds. Weather in the park varies with elevation; this is the Capitol Reef NP station.
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