Best time to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
The best time to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is May–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado, United States
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.9 °C / 35 °F | -13 °C / 9 °F | 30 mm / 1.2 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 4.3 °C / 40 °F | -9.3 °C / 15 °F | 37 mm / 1.5 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 9.1 °C / 48 °F | -4.6 °C / 24 °F | 41 mm / 1.6 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 13.3 °C / 56 °F | -1.1 °C / 30 °F | 39 mm / 1.5 in | good month |
| May | 19.2 °C / 67 °F | 3.5 °C / 38 °F | 32 mm / 1.3 in | best month |
| June | 26.9 °C / 80 °F | 9.2 °C / 49 °F | 14 mm / 0.6 in | best month |
| July | 29.2 °C / 85 °F | 13 °C / 55 °F | 20 mm / 0.8 in | best month |
| August | 27.6 °C / 82 °F | 11.8 °C / 53 °F | 19 mm / 0.7 in | best month |
| September | 23.7 °C / 75 °F | 7.5 °C / 46 °F | 24 mm / 0.9 in | best month |
| October | 15.9 °C / 61 °F | 0.8 °C / 33 °F | 35 mm / 1.4 in | good month |
| November | 9 °C / 48 °F | -5.6 °C / 22 °F | 29 mm / 1.2 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 2.8 °C / 37 °F | -11.6 °C / 11 °F | 39 mm / 1.5 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–September
- Good
- April, October
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: precipitation 39 mm / 1.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, wet days 8.3 days, average daily high 13.3 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 49%.
Against: feels like (high) 10 °C / 50 °F, average daily low -1.1 °C / 30 °F.
May · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.4 °C / 62 °F, average daily high 19.2 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 32 mm / 1.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, wet days 7.9 days, relative humidity 42%.
Against: average daily low 3.5 °C / 38 °F.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 24.4 °C / 76 °F, precipitation 14 mm / 0.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, average daily high 26.9 °C / 80 °F, wet days 3.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily low 9.2 °C / 49 °F, relative humidity 32%.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 28 °C / 82 °F, precipitation 20 mm / 0.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wet days 5 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily high 29.2 °C / 85 °F, average daily low 13 °C / 55 °F, relative humidity 40%.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 26 °C / 79 °F, precipitation 19 mm / 0.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, average daily high 27.6 °C / 82 °F, wet days 5.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 11.8 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 43%.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.1 °C / 70 °F, average daily high 23.7 °C / 75 °F, precipitation 24 mm / 0.9 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, wet days 4.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, relative humidity 43%, average daily low 7.5 °C / 46 °F.
October · good
In its favour: precipitation 35 mm / 1.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, wet days 6.8 days, relative humidity 50%.
Against: feels like (high) 12.3 °C / 54 °F, average daily low 0.8 °C / 33 °F.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: good
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April–June, September–October
- Good
- March, July–August, November
Why these months
March · good
In its favour: precipitation 41 mm / 1.6 in, average daily high 9.1 °C / 48 °F, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, daylight per day 12 h, wet days 10.1 days, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph, feels like (high) 5.5 °C / 42 °F.
Against: average daily low -4.6 °C / 24 °F.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.3 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 39 mm / 1.5 in, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, wet days 8.3 days, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, daylight per day 13.2 h, feels like (high) 10 °C / 50 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
Against: average daily low -1.1 °C / 30 °F.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 19.2 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 32 mm / 1.3 in, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, wet days 7.9 days, feels like (high) 16.4 °C / 62 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 14.3 h, average daily low 3.5 °C / 38 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
June · best
In its favour: precipitation 14 mm / 0.6 in, wet days 3.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily low 9.2 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, daylight per day 14.8 h, feels like (high) 24.4 °C / 76 °F, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
Against: average daily high 26.9 °C / 80 °F.
July · good
In its favour: precipitation 20 mm / 0.8 in, wet days 5 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 13 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 14.5 h, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: average daily high 29.2 °C / 85 °F, feels like (high) 28 °C / 82 °F.
August · good
In its favour: precipitation 19 mm / 0.7 in, wet days 5.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 11.8 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, daylight per day 13.6 h, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: average daily high 27.6 °C / 82 °F, feels like (high) 26 °C / 79 °F.
September · best
In its favour: precipitation 24 mm / 0.9 in, average daily high 23.7 °C / 75 °F, wet days 4.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, feels like (high) 21.1 °C / 70 °F, average daily low 7.5 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, daylight per day 12.4 h, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 7 mph.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, precipitation 35 mm / 1.4 in, wet days 6.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, feels like (high) 12.3 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 11.2 h, average daily low 0.8 °C / 33 °F, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 7 mph.
November · good
In its favour: precipitation 29 mm / 1.2 in, wet days 6.3 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, average daily high 9 °C / 48 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, wind (daily max) 10 km/h / 6 mph, daylight per day 10.1 h.
Against: average daily low -5.6 °C / 22 °F, feels like (high) 4.9 °C / 41 °F.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Cimarron Mountain Club, 31 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | -2 °C | 0.4 °C | 5.5 °C | 10 °C | 16.4 °C | 24.4 °C | 28 °C | 26 °C | 21.1 °C | 12.3 °C | 4.9 °C | -1.1 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 0.4 days | 0.6 days | 0.7 days | 0.7 days | 0.2 days | 0.2 days | 0.1 days | 0.1 days | 0.5 days | 0.7 days | 0.5 days | 0.6 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 5 pm | 2 pm | 6 pm | 6 pm | 6 pm | 6 pm | 6 pm | 6 pm | 3 pm | 3 pm | 4 am | 8 am |
| Sunshine per day | 8.4 h | 9.3 h | 10.6 h | 12 h | 13.1 h | 13.8 h | 13.4 h | 12.6 h | 11.6 h | 10.2 h | 9.1 h | 7.9 h |
| Relative humidity | 68% | 65% | 58% | 49% | 42% | 32% | 40% | 43% | 43% | 50% | 55% | 67% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 3.9 µg/m³ | 4.9 µg/m³ | 5.5 µg/m³ | 5.5 µg/m³ | 5.7 µg/m³ | 4.3 µg/m³ | 5.1 µg/m³ | 4.8 µg/m³ | 3.5 µg/m³ | 2.5 µg/m³ | 3.3 µg/m³ | 3.4 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 7 µg/m³ | 8.3 µg/m³ | 8.9 µg/m³ | 8.8 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | 6.6 µg/m³ | 7.8 µg/m³ | 7.3 µg/m³ | 5.3 µg/m³ | 4.2 µg/m³ | 5.9 µg/m³ | 6.3 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.