Illustration
State guide
When to catch Utahthrough the year
We follow 7 places in Utah for wildflowers, spring migration, fall foliage and winter wildlife: fall at Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, winter at Fish Springs Refuge and spring at Arches and Bear River Refuge. Each timing below is the place's own source, in its words; none is a forecast.
When are you going?
Winter in Utah
Good in winter
- Bear River RefugeOver 30,000 tundra swans, arriving in mid-October and staying through December
- Bear River RefugeNorthern harriers, rough-legged hawks and prairie falcons hunting the marsh, December to March
- Fish Springs RefugeTundra swans (mid-October into January)
- Fish Springs RefugeNorthern harriers, rough-legged hawks and short-eared owls hunting the frozen marsh
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Spring in Utah
- SEASON · WILDFLOWERSGenerally the best months: April and MayArches · Utah
- SEASON · SPRING MIGRATIONEarly April through mid-MayBear River Refuge · Utah
Good in spring
- ArchesWildflowers: April and May are generally the best months
- ArchesCliffrose blooms, April to early November
- Bear River RefugeGeese and ducks begin to arrive, early March
- Bear River RefugeSpring shorebird migration, early April through mid-May
- Bear River RefugeYoung birds: Canada goose goslings from May, then ducklings and young avocets and stilts in June and July
- Bear River RefugeNorthern harriers, rough-legged hawks and prairie falcons hunting the marsh, December to March
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Summer in Utah
Good in summer
- ArchesCliffrose blooms, April to early November
- Bear River RefugeYoung birds: Canada goose goslings from May, then ducklings and young avocets and stilts in June and July
- Bear River RefugeFall shorebird migration from late July, with numbers peaking in mid-August
- Bryce CanyonAstronomy Festival
- Bryce CanyonAfternoon thunderstorm season
- Capitol ReefApricot harvest
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Places in Utah
Pin color: each place's season now or next
- Spring
- Fall
- Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Planning a Utah trip
Towns to stay in
Sources: National Park Service · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · checked Sep 30 · How we know