Moab in Winter: What Is Open at Arches and Canyonlands

What is open at Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point in winter

The parks stay open all winter, and most of what changes is staffing, services and conditions. This table lists the hours and closures the land managers publish for the colder months.

Sources: NPS Arches winter, NPS Arches hours, NPS Arches camping, NPS Canyonlands winter, NPS Canyonlands hours, Utah State Parks, Dead Horse Point. Checked November 1, 2026.

Our Arches guide, Canyonlands guide and Dead Horse Point guide cover the parks themselves. This page covers what changes between November and February.

Winter days are short: plan around 4 pm and sunset

Visitor centers close early, and daylight is short. On November 1, 2026 the sun rises at 6:45 am and sets at 5:18 pm in Moab. The earliest sunset of the year is December 6, at 4:56 pm, and the shortest day is December 21, with 9 hours and 28 minutes of daylight.

Sunrise and sunset from sunrisesunset.io; visitor center hours from the park pages above. Checked November 1, 2026.

Trails and park roads stay open after the visitor centers close, so a 4 pm closing is not a trail deadline. It is a deadline for getting a permit, buying firewood, asking a ranger about conditions or picking up a Junior Ranger booklet. The real deadline is daylight, so start early.

Arches in winter: snow, ice and fewer rangers

Winter is the quiet season at Arches. Highs average 30 to 50°F and lows average 0 to 20°F, according to the Park Service. Large snowfalls are uncommon, but a little snow or ice can make trails and roads hard to use.

• Roads: after snowfall the park road may close for several hours while crews plow. Roads and pullouts can stay icy, especially in shade.
• Trails: most hiking trails stay open. Delicate Arch and Devils Garden trails become slippery after snowfall, drifting snow can hide trail markers, and shaded trails can stay icy into early spring. The Park Service recommends traction devices and trekking poles.
• Rangers: ranger led hikes and campfire talks are not offered in winter. Kids can still earn a Junior Ranger badge with the booklet from the visitor center.
• Fiery Furnace: rangers normally offer hikes spring through fall. Reservations are required, and the Park Service page has the current rules.
• Entry: Arches did not require timed entry in 2026, and the past pilot seasons ended October 31 or earlier, so winter visits have not needed a reservation. The 2027 rule is not announced.

Sources: NPS Arches winter, NPS Fiery Furnace, NPS news release, Feb 18 2026. Checked November 1, 2026. Our Delicate Arch guide and Fiery Furnace guide cover those two routes.

The Park Service describes the winter season as quieter than the March through October peak (NPS hours page), though it gives no crowd numbers.

Canyonlands in winter: three districts, very few services

Canyonlands is large and its districts are far apart. In winter, plan on bringing everything you need. Island in the Sky, The Needles and The Maze have no gas, food or lodging, and water at the campgrounds is not available.

Source: NPS Canyonlands winter page, last updated September 21, 2026. Checked November 1, 2026.

Paved roads at all three districts may close briefly while crews plow, and unpaved backcountry roads can stay impassable longer. The Needles visitor center is closed for much of the winter, while the Island in the Sky center stays open, so Island in the Sky is the easier district to visit between November and February.

Getting around Moab in winter

Seasonal services change in winter, so do not count on summer options.

• Arches shuttle: the free Moab to Arches shuttle finished its fall season on October 31, 2026. Spring service is planned for March 1 to June 30, 2027, subject to a county review (Salt Lake Tribune, Oct 25 2026). Our shuttle guide has the details.
• Moab Area Transit: the city lists an off peak season from October 16 to March 15. On demand rides run 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, and the Main Street route does not run (City of Moab). The city page still labels the 2025 to 26 season, so confirm hours before you rely on it. Our Moab Area Transit guide covers how to ride.
• Road conditions: for conditions outside the parks, check the Utah Road Weather Forecast or call 1 866 511 8824 (NPS Arches winter).
• Fuel and food: there is no gas, food or lodging inside Canyonlands. Fill up in Moab before you drive in.

Checked November 1, 2026. See our Moab transportation guide for other ways to get around.

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's closures

Holiday hours are where winter plans most often go wrong. These are the closures the land managers list.

Sources: NPS Canyonlands, NPS Arches, Utah State Parks. Checked November 1, 2026. The Arches winter page lists only December 25.

Our holiday events guide covers Thanksgiving week and the December events in town. Local restaurants and shops may change their holiday hours, so call ahead.

A winter day at Arches or Canyonlands, step by step

1. Check conditions the night before. Look at the Utah road forecast and the Arches entrance webcam at go.nps.gov/archeswebcam.
2. Pack for ice. Bring traction devices and trekking poles, as the Park Service recommends, plus a headlamp and extra water.
3. Start early. Sunrise on November 1 is 6:45 am and sunset is 5:18 pm, and daylight shrinks until December 21.
4. Do the visitor center first if you need a permit or advice. It opens at 9 am at Arches and 9 am at Island in the Sky from November 30.
5. Ask about trail conditions before you hike. The Park Service says updated trail photos are available at the visitor center, and Delicate Arch and Devils Garden trails get slippery after snow.
6. Have a backup in Moab if the park road closes for plowing. Our seasonal activities guide lists other options.

For the feel of each month, read our December guide, January guide and February guide. This page covers logistics; those cover what the month is like.

Moab in winter: common questions

Keep planning