File:Grand Canyon National Park Winter Storm Approaching 2333 (6749692359).jpg

(6000 x 3000) January 21, 2012. Winter storm moving into the canyon as seen from Ohh Ah Point on the South Kaibab Trail. The view is across Cremation Creek at Zoroaster, Brahma and Deva Temples on the North Rim. NPS Photo by Michael Quinn

Winter conditions on the South Rim can be extreme. Be prepared for snow, icy roads and trails, and possible road closures. Winter weather typically begins by November and becomes well entrenched by December and January, with frequent light to moderate snows and increasingly colder weather. Low temperatures are generally in the teens along the Rim; however afternoon high temperatures still average in the 40s (4-9°C), due to the amount of sunshine the area receives.

For current Grand Canyon weather and road conditions follow: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/weather-condition.htm" rel="nofollow">www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/weather-condition.htm</a>

Hikers seeking panoramic views unparalleled on any other trail at Grand Canyon will want to consider a hike down the South Kaibab Trail. It is the only trail at Grand Canyon National Park that so dramatically holds true to a ridgeline descent. But this exhilarating sense of exposure to the vastness of the canyon comes at a cost: there is little shade and no water for the length of this trail. During winter months, the constant sun exposure is likely to keep most of the trail relatively free of ice and snow. For those who insist on hiking during summer months, which is not recommended in general, this trail is the quickest way to the bottom (it has been described as "a trail in a hurry to get to the river"), but due to lack of any water sources, ascending the trail can be a dangerous proposition.