High season is April–October (with an early blip in March on the South Rim during spring break). For the North Rim, high season doesn’t begin until mid-May—and it’s the only season, unless a snowy 50-mile trek sounds like fun.

But don’t let winter keep you from the canyon: The South Rim in winter can be magical, and the inner canyon is temperate for hikers and backpackers, though commercial river trips don’t run.

Winter is also an especially good time for watching wildlife. Deer and elk wander close to Grand Canyon Village, and ponderosa pines shelter juncos, nuthatches, and chickadees. Keep in mind that the higher North Rim can be inaccessible in winter months.

Autumn is a glorious time to visit Grand Canyon. Summer crowds have eased, and summer temperatures lose their grip on the South Rim and inner canyon. Warm, sunny afternoons and clear nights bring ideal hiking weather. On the North Rim, aspens begin to turn gold in September, peaking the first week of October. Summer lingers longer on the South Rim—fall doesn’t arrive with a burst of color, but with a musical crescendo, as the annual Grand Canyon Music Festival begins. If you’re a birder, bring your binoculars, because September and October are great months to watch migrating raptors use the canyon as a flyway.

Spring is a little chancier—snow can blanket North Rim locations into May, and spring snowstorms aren’t uncommon on either rim. Wildflowers begin blooming in the inner canyon desert, moving up to the South Rim by April, adding splashes of red, yellow, and purple along rocky rim overlooks. Temperatures are usually comfortable, though the rim can be windy, especially in March.

Summer at the South Rim and inner canyon requires coping strategies. Though mornings and evenings on both rims are relatively cool, the midday sun bakes trails and overlooks. Time hikes for early or late in the day, choose trails with afternoon shade, and pack plenty of water. Or head for the higher environs of the North Rim, where purple lupine lingers under a canopy of aspen and spruce, and mule deer graze in mountain meadows.

Be ready for anything. Even on the South Rim, it can snow in June, and it isn’t uncommon for temperatures to hit 90°F in October. Canyon roads, trails, and buildings may close temporarily for needed maintenance. But the afternoon thunderstorm that spoils your hike to Indian Garden might yield a rainbow during a sunset viewed from Yaki Point.