Month guide
Best national parks to visit in June
June opens the high country. Snow is leaving the Rockies and Utah's plateaus, the northern parks get long days, and Alaska's park season starts. The deserts are for early mornings only.
Short answer
In June, go to Bryce Canyon, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Great Basin, Grand Teton, Theodore Roosevelt, Denali, or Kenai Fjords. NOAA normals put June highs near 75F at Bryce Canyon and 65F at Denali's entrance area.
How the June picks were chosen
- Average daily highs at the park's NOAA station land in a comfortable hiking range for June, not a heat or cold extreme.
- June falls inside the park's own best season, or close to it, so the trip is not fighting the calendar.
- Main roads and visitor areas are typically open, with any seasonal closures called out below.
- Every number comes from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals, with the station named, so you can check the source.
Recommended parks
Each pick links to the full park guide with season tables, logistics, packing, and route context.
Cool rim, warm hoodoosBryce Canyon
- Best for
- Navajo Loop, Queens Garden, and sunrise at the rim
- Watch
- Nights are cold at this elevation. Bring a warm layer for sunrise at the rim.
Park headquarters averages 75F highs and 45F lows in June, which is why Bryce stays comfortable while lower Utah parks heat up.
June by the numbers
- Avg high
- 75F
- Avg low
- 45F
- Precip
- 0.5 in
- Snow
- 0.2 in
NOAA station BRYCE CANYON NP HQRS (USC00421008), the rim near park headquarters.
Pack for Bryce Canyon in June
Creek daysGreat Sand Dunes
- Best for
- Medano Creek, sandboarding, and dark skies
- Watch
- The sand surface gets dangerously hot on summer afternoons. Climb dunes early or late.
The visitor center averages 77F highs and 48F lows in June, and early June is the tail of the Medano Creek season.
June by the numbers
- Avg high
- 77F
- Avg low
- 48F
- Precip
- 0.7 in
NOAA station GREAT SAND DUNES NP & PRESERVE (USC00053541), the visitor center at the foot of the dunefield.
Pack for Great Sand Dunes in June
Rim views without the crowdsBlack Canyon of the Gunnison
- Best for
- South Rim overlooks and Painted Wall
- Watch
- Inner-canyon routes are steep and unmaintained, and they require a wilderness permit.
The South Rim averages 76F highs and 46F lows in June, when the South Rim Road and visitor center are fully open.
June by the numbers
- Avg high
- 76F
- Avg low
- 46F
- Precip
- 0.7 in
NOAA station BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON (USC00050754), the South Rim.
Pack for Black Canyon of the Gunnison in June
High desert and bristleconesGreat Basin
- Best for
- Lehman Caves, Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, and ancient pines
- Watch
- Cave tours are small and ticketed. Reserve before the long drive out.
Lehman Caves averages 76F highs and 49F lows in June, and summer is when the scenic drive and high trails are fully open.
June by the numbers
- Avg high
- 76F
- Avg low
- 49F
- Precip
- 1.1 in
NOAA station GREAT BASIN NP (USC00263340), Lehman Caves and the lower Wheeler Peak road.
Pack for Great Basin in June
Peaks at their greenestGrand Teton
- Best for
- Jenny Lake, Taggart Lake, and wildlife at dawn
- Watch
- Lows average 39F on the valley floor. High passes may need traction early in the month.
Moose averages 71F highs and 39F lows in June. Valley trails are mostly clear while higher trails still hold snow.
June by the numbers
- Avg high
- 71F
- Avg low
- 39F
- Precip
- 1.8 in
NOAA station MOOSE (USC00486428), Moose, the park headquarters on the valley floor.
Pack for Grand Teton in June
Badlands in greenTheodore Roosevelt
- Best for
- Wild horses, bison, and Painted Canyon
- Watch
- Parts of the Scenic Loop Drive have been closed for repairs in recent years. Check current road status.
Medora averages 77F highs and 50F lows in June with 2.9 inches of rain, which is why the badlands look green now instead of brown.
June by the numbers
- Avg high
- 77F
- Avg low
- 50F
- Precip
- 2.9 in
NOAA station MEDORA (USC00325813), Medora, at the South Unit entrance.
Pack for Theodore Roosevelt in June
Buses are rollingDenali
- Best for
- Park road bus trips, wildlife, and Savage River
- Watch
- Check how far the park road is open this year. A landslide repair has limited access to the west end in recent seasons.
The entrance area averages 65F highs and 41F lows in June, and bus trips along the park road are running.
June by the numbers
- Avg high
- 65F
- Avg low
- 41F
- Precip
- 2.4 in
- Snow
- 0.1 in
NOAA station MCKINLEY PARK (USC00505778), the park entrance and headquarters area.
Pack for Denali in June
Glaciers by boatKenai Fjords
- Best for
- Fjord cruises, Exit Glacier, and marine wildlife
- Watch
- It is colder and wetter on the water than in town. Pack a warm layer and a rain shell on sunny days too.
Seward averages 59F highs and 46F lows in June, with long days for fjord cruises and Exit Glacier hikes.
June by the numbers
- Avg high
- 59F
- Avg low
- 46F
- Precip
- 2.3 in
NOAA station SEWARD AP (USW00026438), Seward, where the fjord tours depart (gateway station).
Pack for Kenai Fjords in JuneWhat to pack for the national parks in June
Built from the NOAA averages for the parks above, so it covers the whole spread, from the coldest morning to the warmest afternoon on this list.
A warm layer for mornings
The coldest pick, Grand Teton, averages 39F lows in June. A light puffy or fleece covers sunrise starts.
Layers for a big daily swing
Grand Teton swings from about 39F at dawn to 71F in the afternoon. Dress in layers you can peel off on the trail.
Sun cover and a water plan
Great Sand Dunes averages 77F highs in June. Carry more water than feels necessary and cover up from the sun.
A real rain shell
Theodore Roosevelt averages 2.9 inches of precipitation in June. A waterproof shell is not optional there.
June at every national park, by the numbers
Average June highs, lows, and precipitation for the 61 national parks with a usable NOAA station, warmest first. "Best season" marks parks whose own peak window includes June. Tap a park for its full guide, or a pack link for a June packing list.
| Park | High | Low | Precip | Snow | Best season | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warm: average highs 75F and up | ||||||
| Death Valley | 111F | 84F | 0.1 in | Pack list | ||
| Saguarogateway station | 101F | 71F | 0.2 in | Pack list | ||
| Joshua Tree | 99F | 71F | 0.0 in | Pack list | ||
| White Sands | 97F | 60F | 0.7 in | Pack list | ||
| Zion | 95F | 62F | 0.2 in | Pack list | ||
| Big Bend | 94F | 68F | 1.7 in | Pack list | ||
| Arches | 93F | 63F | 0.4 in | Pack list | ||
| Carlsbad Caverns | 92F | 66F | 1.2 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Everglades | 91F | 72F | 9.0 in | Pack list | ||
| Biscaynegateway station | 91F | 73F | 9.3 in | Pack list | ||
| Congareegateway station | 90F | 70F | 4.8 in | Pack list | ||
| Dry Tortugas | 89F | 77F | 4.3 in | Pack list | ||
| Virgin Islandsgateway station | 89F | 79F | 2.4 in | Pack list | ||
| Pinnacles | 89F | 47F | 0.1 in | Pack list | ||
| Petrified Forest | 89F | 53F | 0.3 in | Pack list | ||
| Hot Springs | 88F | 68F | 4.3 in | Pack list | ||
| Mammoth Cave | 88F | 64F | 4.8 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Guadalupe Mountains | 88F | 64F | 1.5 in | Pack list | ||
| Capitol Reef | 86F | 58F | 0.4 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Gateway Archgateway station | 86F | 67F | 4.5 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| American Samoagateway station | 85F | 78F | 6.4 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Canyonlands | 85F | 62F | 0.4 in | Pack list | ||
| Badlands | 83F | 56F | 3.5 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Grand Canyon | 82F | 43F | 0.2 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Mesa Verde | 81F | 52F | 0.5 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Yosemite | 81F | 51F | 0.5 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Great Smoky Mountains | 80F | 59F | 6.0 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Cuyahoga Valleygateway station | 80F | 61F | 3.8 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| New River Gorgegateway station | 79F | 58F | 5.6 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Indiana Dunes | 78F | 60F | 4.3 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Great Sand Dunes | 77F | 48F | 0.7 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Wind Cave | 77F | 50F | 3.3 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Theodore Roosevelt | 77F | 50F | 2.9 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Black Canyon of the Gunnison | 76F | 46F | 0.7 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Great Basin | 76F | 49F | 1.1 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Bryce Canyon | 75F | 45F | 0.5 in | 0.2 in | Yes | Pack list |
| Mild: average highs 60F to 74F | ||||||
| Acadia | 74F | 54F | 4.3 in | Pack list | ||
| Rocky Mountaingateway station | 74F | 43F | 1.4 in | Pack list | ||
| Voyageursgateway station | 74F | 48F | 3.8 in | Pack list | ||
| Hawaii Volcanoes | 71F | 54F | 5.1 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Grand Teton | 71F | 39F | 1.8 in | Pack list | ||
| Kings Canyon | 71F | 46F | 0.5 in | 0.6 in | Pack list | |
| Glacier | 70F | 45F | 3.8 in | Pack list | ||
| North Cascades | 70F | 50F | 2.6 in | Pack list | ||
| Shenandoah | 70F | 54F | n/a | Pack list | ||
| Gates of the Arcticgateway station | 70F | 47F | 1.5 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Wrangell-St. Elias | 70F | 39F | 1.6 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Channel Islandsgateway station | 70F | 58F | 0.1 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Lassen Volcanic | 70F | 41F | 1.3 in | Pack list | ||
| Sequoia | 68F | 40F | 0.7 in | 1.1 in | Pack list | |
| Lake Clark | 67F | 47F | 0.7 in | Pack list | ||
| Haleakala | 66F | 48F | 1.6 in | Pack list | ||
| Denali | 65F | 41F | 2.4 in | 0.1 in | Yes | Pack list |
| Yellowstone | 65F | 35F | 2.4 in | 0.6 in | Pack list | |
| Redwood National and State Parks | 64F | 47F | 1.8 in | Pack list | ||
| Olympicgateway station | 63F | 51F | 1.1 in | Pack list | ||
| Katmaigateway station | 62F | 44F | 1.8 in | Pack list | ||
| Cool: average highs 45F to 59F | ||||||
| Glacier Bay | 59F | 45F | 2.8 in | Pack list | ||
| Kenai Fjordsgateway station | 59F | 46F | 2.3 in | Yes | Pack list | |
| Crater Lake | 57F | 34F | 2.3 in | 3.7 in | Pack list | |
| Mount Rainier | 54F | 37F | 3.8 in | Pack list | ||
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020 monthly averages, one station per park at or near its main visitor area (each park guide names its station and distance). Gateway stations sit outside the park where no in-park station publishes normals. Isle Royale and Kobuk Valley have no representative station and are left out. Averages describe a typical year, not a forecast.
Planning notes
Early June still has snow up high
Valley floors are green while passes and upper trails can hold snow into July. Ask rangers about trail conditions before a big day.
Mountain storms keep a schedule
High-country thunderstorms tend to build in the afternoon. Summit and ridge routes are safest when you are heading down by midday.
Mosquito season starts north
Alaska, Grand Teton, and the northern plains get buggy as snow melts. Repellent and a head net are cheap insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Is June a good time to visit national parks?
Yes, especially the high-country and northern parks, where roads and trails are opening and days are longest. Low desert parks are already hot, so save them for fall.
What is the warmest national park in June?
Death Valley has the warmest June normals of any park with a NOAA station, averaging 111F highs and 84F lows. In the lower 48 the warmest are Death Valley (111F), Saguaro (101F), and Joshua Tree (99F), based on NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals.
Which national parks stay coolest in June?
In the lower 48, the coolest June normals belong to Mount Rainier (54F average highs), Crater Lake (57F average highs), and Olympic (63F average highs). Figures are for each park's NOAA station, named in its park guide. High elevation and ocean air do the work.
Pack and plan this trip
Gear keyed to what these parks are for, the tools to size your days and budget, and explainers worth a read before you go.
What to pack
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