Grand canyon Camping Sept/Oct

[theallans]

I wondered if anyone could advise us whether it is reasonable weather at the end of Sept/start of October to camp at the Mather campground at the Grand Canyon. We'll have tent gear but not the high end mountain stuff and more wanted to be able to stay around the Grand canyon to see and experience the sunset/sunrise. I'm not sure whether we can expect snow or really cold night temperatures?

Would anyone recommend trying to book into the hotels instead for this experience? We're from the Uk so really unsure re weather patterns across the area.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

[roadie]

I wondered if anyone could advise us whether it is reasonable weather at the end of Sept/start of October to camp at the Mather campground at the Grand Canyon. We'll have tent gear but not the high end mountain stuff and more wanted to be able to stay around the Grand canyon to see and experience the sunset/sunrise. I'm not sure whether we can expect snow or really cold night temperatures?

Would anyone recommend trying to book into the hotels instead for this experience? We're from the Uk so really unsure re weather patterns across the area.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

We visited the Grand Canyon last year during Oct/Nov and there was snow
on the South Rim. The mornings were sub freezing, the days were nice.
The roads were no problem.

We stayed in a hotel at Tusayan which is about 10 miles south of
Grand Canyon. We woke up early to see the sunrise and it was darn
cold. Ice on the walkways made it a little treacherous in places.

Some pictures of our trip:
http://atenpo4.home.comcast.net/album/index.html

Here's some historical information:
http://www.hitthetrail.com/canyon_weather.htm

[Mark Sedenquist]

We visited the Grand Canyon last year during Oct/Nov and there was snow on the South Rim. The mornings were sub freezing, the days were nice. The roads were no problem.

I once spent the entire month of October inside the Grand and I remember that when it was raining on us (in the bottom) that it snowing at the rim.

Thanks for that link for the historical weather info -- great resource and your photos are exceptional.

Mark

[hobbit]

I just got back from the GC. I camped in Desert View in the South Rim. I think if you have decent cold weather sleeping bags and a tent heater, you should be fine. I am getting old and my fingers and hands (and feet) get awfully cold even at 60°, I did not have adequate equipment, so for me it was a bit cold even in mid-late sept in the South rim. It got into the 40s in the morning. It all depends how well you tolerate cold weather. I used to love the cold crisp winter mornings when I went skiing in CO, CA, NC and Switzerland... Now days it's tough trying to keep my hands and feet warm.

[Southwest Dave]

Thanks for sharing your experience hobbit, it will be handy for future readers, but this particular trip took place in 2005.

[hobbit]

Thanks for sharing your experience hobbit, it will be handy for future readers, but this particular trip took place in 2005.

Yes, I realized it after I posted. Oh well, as usual, I was too hasty.... I did the same thing in my trip which caused me to change tent locations more than once during my camping stays, LOL>