Booking choice: The Signature Hummer Tour, from $139 per person. Check dates Tour details
The South Rim stays open every day of the year, 24 hours a day, per the park's FAQ. Tours keep running through the winter too. What changes is the clock, the cold and a couple of roads.
This post covers the 2026-27 season: when the sun sets, when the sunset tours leave, what the Hummer looks like in the cold, and what opens and closes.
The quick answer
Sunset at the South Rim falls to about 5:15 p.m. in December and climbs back past 6:00 p.m. by mid February. Sunset tours start earlier to match. The Hummer is enclosed in the cold months. Hermit Road opens to private cars from December to February, and the North Rim entrance closes at sunset on 30 November 2026 or after the first big snowstorm.
What time is sunset at the Grand Canyon in winter 2026-27?
About 5:22 p.m. in mid November, 5:15 p.m. through December, and after 6:00 p.m. again by mid February.
The times below are computed for Mather Point with the NOAA solar calculator method, in local time. Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year (no daylight saving), so there is no clock change in November or March to trip you up. The Navajo Nation, to the east, does change its clocks.
| Date | Sunset (about) | Date | Sunset (about) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 2026 | 5:34 p.m. | 15 Jan 2027 | 5:36 p.m. |
| 15 Nov 2026 | 5:22 p.m. | 1 Feb 2027 | 5:54 p.m. |
| 1 Dec 2026 | 5:15 p.m. | 15 Feb 2027 | 6:09 p.m. |
| 15 Dec 2026 | 5:15 p.m. | 1 Mar 2027 | 6:23 p.m. |
| 1 Jan 2027 | 5:24 p.m. | 15 Mar 2027 | 6:35 p.m. |
When do sunset tours leave in winter?
Earlier. The Sunset Safari leaves two hours before sunset, about 3:15 p.m. in December; Buck Wild's sunset Hummer starts between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. depending on the date.
The Sunset Safari always departs two hours before sunset, so in December you meet in Tusayan at about a quarter past three. Buck Wild's Signature Sunset tour lists start times from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. depending on the date, with the early end in winter. Your confirmation has the exact time.
An earlier sunset frees the evening. Dinner in Tusayan at 6:30 p.m. is realistic after a December sunset tour. Our sunset Hummer guide covers the stops.
Sunset at Grandview Point by forest back roads, two hours from start to the last light.
Check dates for the Sunset SafariIs the Grand Canyon Hummer open-air in winter?
No. The listing says the Hummer is open-air in the warmer months and enclosed in the colder months.
Buck Wild's Hummers swap to an enclosed setup for the cold season, so you ride with a roof and sides, and the stadium-style seats still give the back rows a view. You get out at every viewpoint, and that is where the cold bites.
The NPS weather page gives December to February highs in the 40s F (4 to 9 C) and lows generally in the teens along the rim. Dress for the stops, not the vehicle: hat, gloves, a warm jacket and shoes with grip.
Three or four South Rim viewpoints in about 2.5 hours, in an enclosed Hummer through the cold months.
Explore the Signature Hummer Tour Tour detailsCan you drive Hermit Road in winter?
Yes, from December to February, in a vehicle under 22 feet. The rest of the year it's shuttle only.
Hermit Road, which runs west from the village to Hermits Rest, is closed to private vehicles from 1 March to 30 November. In December, January and February it opens to cars under 22 feet, and the red shuttle route stops running, per the Hermit Road page.
It's a good add-on after a morning tour: the shuttle route has nine overlooks, and in winter you can stop at each in your own car. Drive slowly; the road can be icy.
Does snow cancel Grand Canyon tours?
It can close roads for a while. The park warns of snow, icy roads and possible closures; tours with 24-hour free cancellation give you room to wait for the forecast.
The South Rim averages 50 to over 100 inches of snow a year, per the NPS. After a storm, roads such as Desert View Drive may close while crews clear them. The park's road line is 928-638-7496.
All tours on this site except the helicopter flight cancel free up to 24 hours before. Book, watch the forecast, and decide the day before. Snow days are also the days with the best photos, if the road is open.
| Tour | Winter note | Cancel free until |
|---|---|---|
| Signature Hummer | Enclosed vehicle in cold months | 24 hours before |
| Sunset Safari | Starts about 3:15 p.m. in December | 24 hours before |
| Back-Road Safari | 9:30 a.m. start, rim walk in the cold | 24 hours before |
| Helicopter flight | Free cancellation ends earlier | 3 days before |
Is the North Rim open in winter 2026-27?
No. The North Rim entrance gate closes at sunset on 30 November 2026, or earlier after the first major snowstorm.
The park's fall update started modified operations on 15 October 2026: the store and campground close on 15 and 16 October, and Cape Royal and Point Imperial roads close for repairs until 3 November. Day use continues until the gate shuts on 30 November, with winter driving on State Route 67 and no fuel at the North Rim.
None of the tours here go to the North Rim. The helicopter flight passes over toward it, which is as close as most South Rim visitors get in winter.
Frequently asked questions
What time is sunset at the Grand Canyon in December 2026?
About 5:15 p.m. Mountain Standard Time at Mather Point. Arizona does not use daylight saving time, so the clock does not change.
Do Hummer tours run in winter?
Yes. The South Rim is open all year, and Buck Wild's Hummers are enclosed in the colder months.
How cold is the South Rim in winter?
The NPS gives December to February highs in the 40s F (4 to 9 C) and lows generally in the teens along the rim.
When does the North Rim close for 2026?
The North Rim entrance gate closes at sunset on 30 November 2026, or after the first major snowstorm if that comes first.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Each option shows its own cancellation terms. Prices are from-prices in USD per person and move with the season.
Signature Hummer Tour, Optional Sunset
- A guide and 3 to 4 South Rim viewpoint stops (the operator's list includes Yavapai, Duck on a Rock, Grandview, Mather and Moran points)
- Custom sightseeing Hummer with stadium-style seats: open-air in warm months, enclosed in cold months
- Meet at the Tusayan terminal, or request pickup from listed Tusayan and in-park hotels
Sunset Safari with Entrance Gate Bypass
- Sunset tour in a 4WD safari vehicle on forest back roads, bypassing the south entrance gate
- Stops at Yavapai Point and Pipe Creek Vista, with sunset at Grandview Point
- Bottled water; small group of up to 12 (minimum 2)
Back-Road Safari and Entrance Gate Bypass
Forest back roads in the morning, then a guided rim walk
