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Best Time to Ride ATVs and UTVs in Utah
Utah has great riding somewhere every month of the year. Southern Utah shines from fall through spring, the mountains open up in summer, and the right time of day matters as much as the month. Here is when to ride each area, what the weather is really like, and how to plan around the busy weekends.
On this pageRiding calendarAverage temperaturesMonth by monthBig events and busy weekendsWhat to rent each seasonWeather safetyQuestions
Utah riding calendar
Find your riding area, then look across the months. Scroll sideways on a phone to see the whole year.
| Riding area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. George & Sand Hollow | Cool | Good | Best | Best | Good | Hot | Hot | Hot | Good | Best | Good | Cool |
| Coral Pink Sand Dunes | Cool | Cool | Good | Best | Best | Good | Hot | Hot | Best | Best | Good | Cool |
| Moab | Cool | Cool | Good | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Hot | Good | Best | Good | Cool |
| Little Sahara | Cool | Cool | Cool | Good | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Best | Best | Cool | Cool |
| Mountain trails (American Fork Canyon, Park City) | Snow | Snow | Snow | Snow | Snow | Good | Best | Best | Best | Good | Snow | Snow |
Best ideal temperatures Good comfortable most of the day Hot ride early, late or at night Cool bring layers, ride midday Snow high roads closed or snowed in
Know when you want to go? Use the Utah trail finder to match trails to your skill level and drive time, with a map.
Average temperatures by month
These are long-term average daytime highs for the town closest to each riding area. Nights are 20 to 40 degrees cooler in the desert, and the higher dunes at Coral Pink and Little Sahara run a little cooler than the nearby towns.
| Town near the riding | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. George (Sand Hollow) | 54° | 60° | 69° | 77° | 87° | 97° | 102° | 100° | 92° | 79° | 63° | 53° |
| Kanab (Coral Pink Sand Dunes) | 49° | 54° | 62° | 69° | 79° | 90° | 94° | 92° | 85° | 73° | 59° | 49° |
| Moab | 44° | 52° | 64° | 71° | 82° | 93° | 100° | 97° | 89° | 74° | 58° | 45° |
| Delta (Little Sahara) | 39° | 46° | 58° | 65° | 75° | 86° | 94° | 92° | 82° | 67° | 51° | 39° |
Utah riding, month by month
January: Mild in the south, snow up high
St. George and Sand Hollow are the warmest riding in Utah this month, with afternoons in the mid-50s and frosty mornings. Moab, Coral Pink and Little Sahara are cold, and mountain trails are under snow.
Tip: Ride from late morning to mid-afternoon, dress in layers and plan around early sunsets. A side-by-side with doors, like the Can-Am Commander, helps keep the cold wind off.
February: Warming up in Southern Utah
Highs reach about 60 in St. George, so Sand Hollow, Warner Valley and the Hurricane trails ride great. Moab and Coral Pink are still chilly, and Little Sahara is cold.
Tip: Weekday rides are quiet. It is a good month for first-timers who want calm trails before spring break.
March: Spring arrives, and so do the crowds
St. George warms to the high 60s, Moab to the mid-60s and Coral Pink to the low 60s. Spring break fills Sand Hollow and Moab, and desert wildflowers start to bloom on routes like Sun River to Bonnie.
Tip: Book early for spring-break weeks. Booking online is the fastest way to check availability.
April: Prime time across Southern Utah
Highs from the mid-60s to the 70s make April one of the two best months to ride. Moab hosts the Easter Jeep Safari over the nine days leading up to Easter, and Easter weekend is the biggest weekend of the year at Little Sahara, with around 20,000 visitors.
Tip: If you want quiet trails, avoid Easter weekend at Little Sahara and Easter week in Moab, or ride early in the day.
May: Last great month before the heat
Moab, Coral Pink and Little Sahara are at their best, while St. George climbs into the high 80s by late May. Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest at Little Sahara. The water at Sand Hollow is warming up, so dunes in the morning and the boat or jet ski in the afternoon is a great combo.
Tip: In St. George, start rides early and save the afternoon for the water.
June: Hot in the south, mountains opening
St. George averages close to 100, so ride at sunrise or book a sunset or stargazing tour. Mountain roads like the Alpine Loop in American Fork Canyon usually reopen around Memorial Day or in June, depending on snow.
Tip: Carry more water than you think you need. Little Sahara and the mountains are the cooler choices.
July: Mountain season and night rides
July is the hottest month in Southern Utah (about 102 in St. George and 100 in Moab). The high country around American Fork Canyon and Park City is at its best, and Sand Hollow’s water is at its warmest for swimming and wake surfing.
Tip: Late-summer storms can bring flash floods in Moab and Southern Utah. Stay out of washes and slot canyons when storms are around.
August: Ride early, ride high or ride at night
Southern Utah stays very hot, with afternoon storms some days. Mountain trails are still open and green, and early-morning dune rides at Sand Hollow and Coral Pink are cool and calm.
Tip: Labor Day weekend, at the start of September, is one of the busiest at Little Sahara, so book ahead.
September: The heat breaks
Highs drop through the month: low 90s in St. George, high 80s in Moab and the low 80s around Little Sahara. Mountain aspens turn gold late in the month. Trail Hero, a big off-road event, fills Sand Hollow from late September into early October.
Tip: Event weeks book up fast in Hurricane. Reserve your machine early if your trip overlaps Trail Hero.
October: Many riders’ favorite month
Comfortable days nearly everywhere: high 70s in St. George and mid-70s in Moab and Kanab. Clear fall skies make Top of the World and the Sand Hollow dunes stunning at sunset.
Tip: Mountain roads such as the Alpine Loop and Guardsman Pass usually close for the winter in late October or early November.
November: Quiet trails, great light
St. George still averages the low 60s, with cool mornings and calm afternoons, and the crowds are gone. Moab cools into the 50s, Little Sahara turns cold and the mountain roads are closed.
Tip: Thanksgiving week is a fun time to ride Sand Hollow. Plan for earlier sunsets.
December: Winter riding in the sun
Southern Utah is the place to ride, with highs in the low 50s around St. George and Hurricane. Coral Pink and Moab can see snow and ice, and northern mountain trails are closed.
Tip: Holiday weeks are popular, so book ahead. Pair a ride with a winter visit to Zion.
Big events and busy weekends
- Easter weekend at Little Sahara: the busiest weekend of the year there, with around 20,000 visitors. Expect long lines at the entrance.
- Easter Jeep Safari in Moab: nine days of group trail rides ending on Easter Sunday. Popular Moab trails are crowded that week.
- Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends: among the busiest weekends at Little Sahara.
- Trail Hero at Sand Hollow: a week of guided trail rides and rock crawling from late September into early October. Hurricane fills up, so book early.
- Spring break (March and April): Sand Hollow, St. George and Moab are at their busiest.
What to rent each season
- Winter: a side-by-side with doors, like the Can-Am Commander, for chilly mornings. See all our side-by-sides and ATVs.
- Spring and fall: anything goes. Turbo Mavericks for big dunes, 4 to 6 seat models for families and groups.
- Summer: ride early, then cool off with a surf boat or jet ski at Sand Hollow, or join a sunset or stargazing tour.
- First time? A guided tour shows you the best trails for the season.
Weather safety
- Heat: in June, July and August, carry plenty of water, wear sunscreen and ride in the cooler hours.
- Storms: late-summer storms can cause flash floods. Stay out of washes and slot canyons when rain is in the forecast.
- Winter: even a little snow or ice can make high trails impassable, so check conditions before heading to Moab or Coral Pink.
- Flags: dune areas like Sand Hollow and Little Sahara require a safety whip flag on every machine. Learn more about flags and whips and Utah ATV laws.
- Before you ride: helmets and goggles are included with our rentals, and every driver completes Utah’s free online OHV education course.
Planning where to go? See our list of the best ATV trails in Utah.
Questions about the best time to ride
What is the best month to ride ATVs in Utah?
For Sand Hollow, St. George, Moab and Coral Pink, April and October are the sweet spots, with March, May, September and November close behind. For mountain trails, July through September is best.
Can you ride ATVs in Utah in the winter?
Yes. The St. George and Hurricane area stays in the 50s and 60s most winter days, so Sand Hollow and the nearby trails ride well all winter. Northern mountain trails and high roads are snowed in from about November to late May.
Is Sand Hollow too hot to ride in the summer?
Midday is very hot, with St. George averaging about 102 in July. Ride at sunrise, in the evening or on a night tour, and spend the middle of the day on the water.
When is Little Sahara the busiest?
Easter weekend is the biggest, with around 20,000 visitors. Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends are also among the busiest of the year.
When do the mountain trails open?
High roads such as the Alpine Loop in American Fork Canyon usually open around Memorial Day or in June, depending on snow, and close in late October or early November.
Booking online is the fastest way to check availability for your dates.