Month guide

Bryce Canyon in March: Weather, Snow & What's Open

Snow on the hoodoos, freezing nights, no shuttle and a fraction of the summer crowds.

Bryce Canyon weather in March, in short

At a glance

The short version

Bryce Canyon in March averages a high of 46°F and a low of 23°F on the Bryce Canyon rim (7,890 ft), with 1.27 in of precipitation and 13.2 in of snow for the month, by NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals. At nearly 8,000 ft, Bryce is still a winter park in March. Expect snow on the rim and in the amphitheater, nights well below freezing and roads that can close for a day after a storm. It is also quiet: 106,961 visits in March 2025, about 3,450 a day.

March normals

Average high	46°F
Average low	23°F
Precipitation	1.27 in
Snowfall	13.2 in

Good to know

Normal range 23°F to 46°F; 1.27 in of precipitation; 13.2 in of snow.
106,961 recreation visits in March 2025, about 3,450 a day.
Sunrise 7:41 AM, sunset 7:36 PM on March 15, 2027.
Duck Creek Village, at 8,400 ft, runs about 21°F to 45°F in March.

Average high: 46°F at 7,890 ft
Average low: 23°F, below freezing
Precipitation: 1.27 in for the month; 13.2 in of snow
Daylight on the 15th: 11 hr 55 min, sunrise 7:41 AM
Visits, March 2025: 106,961, about 3,450 a day
Duck Creek Village: About 21°F to 45°F at 8,400 ft

What March weather is actually like

The normal range at park headquarters is 23°F to 46°F. NPS says temperatures fall below freezing nearly every night from October to May.
Snowfall normal for the month is 13.2 in. NPS warns that spring storms in March and April can still bring heavy snow.
Total precipitation is 1.27 in.
The freeze and thaw of these nights is what carves the hoodoos. NPS counts over 170 freeze-thaw nights a year.

Bryce Canyon: Bryce Canyon rim, 7,890 ft
Duck Creek Village, 8,400 ft

NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals: normal daily low to normal daily high. The park bars are the Bryce Canyon NP headquarters station by the visitor center (USC00421008). The village figures are interpolated between the Alton (7,100 ft) and Brian Head (9,770 ft) stations, which bracket it, so treat them as estimates.

Up on the plateau

Duck Creek Village, an hour west at 8,400 ft, is in the same weather: highs in the mid 40s, lows around 20°F and a median of more than two feet of snow on the ground in March. The drive between the two runs on SR-14, US-89 and SR-12, which stay open in winter and close only briefly in storms. Zion, by contrast, is in the 60s by afternoon.

Duck Creek weather and forecast Road conditions and cameras

What is open in March

Checked against National Park Service pages on November 9, 2026. Dates that change every year are given for 2026 where 2027 has not been announced yet. Confirm on the park's conditions page before you go: Bryce Canyon conditions.

Main park road Check first

Open and plowed, but NPS closes it beyond mile 3 after storms so plows can clear the southern drive. Those closures usually last a day or more. Details
Fairyland Point and Paria View roads Closed

Both spur roads close to cars for the winter. You can still walk, ski or snowshoe in.
Park shuttle Closed

Not running. In 2026 it started on April 3. It is optional in any case; you can drive the park road yourself.
Trails below the rim Check first

Open, but icy. NPS recommends traction devices across the park. The Wall Street side of the Navajo Loop closes when it is icy; the Two Bridges side stays open. Details
Visitor center and ranger talks Open

The park is open 24 hours a day all year. The 11 a.m. geology talk at Sunset Point typically runs year-round; check the park calendar.
Cedar Breaks (SR-148) Closed

The road through Cedar Breaks closes for snowpack from about mid-November to mid-May on average, and the visitor center from mid-October to late May (NPS). Details

How busy Bryce Canyon is in March

Bryce had 106,961 recreation visits in March 2025, about 3,450 a day, against 265,048 in September. Only November through February are quieter. Spring break and Easter (March 28, 2027) bring more people late in the month, but parking at the main viewpoints is rarely the problem it is in summer.

2022 101,308

2023 79,911

2024 103,536

2025 106,961

Recreation visits in March (solid bar) against that year's busiest month (pale bar). NPS visitor use statistics; 2025 is the latest full year published. Bryce changed how it counts visitors in 2025, from shuttle boardings to unique passengers, so 2025 reads lower than earlier years for that reason as well as any real change.

Daylight and the March calendar

Sunrise and sunset at Bryce Canyon in March 2027
2027	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight
March 1	7:01 AM	6:23 PM	11 hr 21 min
March 15	7:41 AM	7:36 PM	11 hr 55 min
March 31	7:17 AM	7:51 PM	12 hr 34 min

Computed for the Bryce Canyon visitor center with the standard sunrise equation, Mountain Time.

The Bryce Canyon Winter Festival is in February, not March: it is held over Presidents Day weekend (February 14 to 16 in 2026).
Daylight saving time begins March 14, 2027.
Easter is March 28, 2027.
The park shuttle is not running; in 2026 it started on April 3.

Best hikes in Bryce Canyon in March

Stick to short, well-used trails and turn back where it is icier than you planned for. Snowshoeing is allowed on every trail in the park.

Rim Trail, Sunset Point to Sunrise Point

The safest snow walk in the park, along the edge of the amphitheater. Dogs are allowed on this section.

1 mi round trip, 40 ft of climbing, paved
Rim Trail guide
Queen's Garden

The gentlest way below the rim. With traction it is a good winter hike.

1.8 mi round trip, 450 ft of climbing
Queen's Garden and Navajo Loop guide
Mossy Cave

Outside the main entrance on SR-12 and lower than the rim. A short walk to a mossy grotto and a small waterfall fed by a historic irrigation ditch.

0.8 mi round trip, 150 ft of climbing
Bristlecone Loop

At Rainbow Point, the end of the road at 9,115 ft. Only if the road is open past mile 3; snowshoes are often the right tool.

1 mi round trip, 200 ft of climbing
Scenic drive guide

Distances and climbing are National Park Service figures. The full list is on our best hikes in Bryce Canyon page.

What to pack for Bryce Canyon in March

A real winter jacket, hat and gloves. The normal March low is in the low 20s, and sunrise is the coldest hour.
Microspikes or similar traction for your boots. The switchbacks below Sunset Point are often packed snow and ice.
Waterproof boots. Trails that thaw in the afternoon turn to mud.
Sunglasses: snow on pale rock is bright.
For the car: a scraper, a blanket, and tires suited to snow.

Staying at Duck Creek Village in March

Duck Creek Village is 49 miles and about 68 minutes from the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center.

In March you are driving from one snowy plateau to another, and the drive is only as good as the last storm. If you are not comfortable on winter roads, stay close to the park. If you are, the village gives you Bryce and the warmer canyon at Zion from one base.

Duck Creek Village Inn Hotel rooms Cabins The Zion to Bryce Canyon drive

Other months

Bryce Canyon in March: common questions

Answers drawn from the same NOAA, NPS and UDOT sources as the rest of this page.

What is the weather like in Bryce Canyon in March?

Wintry. The NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at park headquarters are a high of 46°F and a low of 23°F, with 13.2 inches of snow and 1.27 inches of total precipitation. Nights are below freezing almost every night.

Is there snow in Bryce Canyon in March?

Often, yes. The March snowfall normal is 13.2 inches, and NPS notes that March and April storms can still bring heavy snow. Snow on the hoodoos is one of the reasons to come this time of year.

Are the roads open in Bryce Canyon in March?

The main road is open and plowed, but it closes beyond mile 3 after storms until the plows clear it, usually for a day or more. The Fairyland Point and Paria View spur roads are closed to cars for the winter. The highways in, SR-12 and SR-63, stay open.

Is the Bryce Canyon Winter Festival in March?

No. It is held in February over Presidents Day weekend. The 2026 festival ran February 14 to 16.

Do I need traction devices to hike in Bryce Canyon in March?

For anything below the rim, yes. NPS recommends traction devices throughout the park in winter, including parking lots and paved areas. The switchbacks on the Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden are often packed ice.

9 November 2026

Why trust this page

Temperatures, precipitation and snowfall are NOAA 1991 to 2020 monthly normals for the Bryce Canyon NP headquarters station by the visitor center (USC00421008). Duck Creek Village figures are our estimate, interpolated from the NOAA normals of the stations above and below it, with snow depth from the NRCS SNOTEL record. Visitor numbers are National Park Service recreation visits by month. Shuttle, road and trail conditions were checked on the National Park Service pages on November 9, 2026, and sunrise and sunset are computed. Where we could not confirm a 2027 date, we give the 2026 one and say so.