Mid-winter · Weather & things to do
Arches in January
Little changes in Arches from December: highs stay near 42°F (6°C), lows near 24°F (-4°C), and about 0.9 in (23 mm) of rain or snow falls.
With a comfort score of 55/100 (11th of 12), it's one of the toughest months, held back mainly by cool days.
- Avg high
- 42°F (6°C)
- Avg low
- 24°F (-4°C)
- Rain or snow
- 0.9 in (23 mm)
- Humidity
- 65%
- Cloud cover
- 54%
- Daylight
- ~9 h 35 min
- Comfort score
- 55/100 · Fair
What January feels like
It's cool, with highs near 42°F (6°C), so a proper jacket stays on most of the day.
Average lows of 24°F (-4°C) mean frosty nights and icy mornings.
Precipitation is light, about 0.9 in (23 mm) of rain or snow, and since nights fall well below freezing, what does fall may well be snow.
Plan around January
January is one of the lower-scoring months here; the best are April & May and September & October.
- Comfort holds steady from December (54 → 55/100).
- Our Utah Mighty Five route recommends Mar – May, so January falls outside its suggested window.
What to pack for January
- Insulated jackethighs only 42°F
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 24°F
- Insulated, waterproof bootssnow is likely on some days
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Arches in January
Weather can go either way, so the picks below mix open-air spots with indoor backups.
Devils Garden Trail
Trail to Landscape Arch, with an optional primitive loop past several more arches.
Park Avenue Trail
Short walk between tall fins that look like a city skyline.
Moab Brewery
Moab's original brewpub with house beers and a big menu.
Balanced Rock
A 128-ft rock pinnacle with a big boulder on top, with a short loop trail around it.
Arches Visitor Center
Park entrance with exhibits and ranger trail updates.
Nearby in January
- Canyonlands in January~32 mi · highs 40°F, 0.6 in rain or snow · 1°C (3°F) cooler by day, about as wet
- Capitol Reef in January~95 mi · highs 42°F, 0.7 in rain or snow · similar daytime temperatures, about as wet
- Aspen in January~152 mi · highs 30°F, 1.9 in rain or snow · 7°C (12°F) cooler by day, wetter
- Bryce Canyon in January~161 mi · highs 34°F, 0.9 in rain or snow · 5°C (9°F) cooler by day, about as wet
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid, temperatures adjusted from the grid cell's ~1,819 m to Arches's ~1,428 m elevation (standard lapse rate). Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Arches in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Arches?
It's one of the tougher months here, scoring 55/100, held back mainly by cool days. The best months are April & May and September & October. Expect highs of 42°F (6°C) and 0.9 in (23 mm) of rain or snow. Our Utah Mighty Five route recommends Mar – May, so January is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Arches in January?
Average highs are 42°F (6°C) and average lows 24°F (-4°C), making it the 2nd-coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it snow a lot in Arches in January?
Not much: about 0.9 in (23 mm) of rain or snow falls across January on average, the 6th-driest month of the year. With temperatures this low, much of it may fall as snow. The annual total is about 11.9 in (302 mm).
What should I pack for Arches in January?
Bring insulated jacket (highs only 42°F), hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 24°F), insulated, waterproof boots (snow is likely on some days) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
Planning Arches in January?
Share this January plan with your group, poll everyone on dates and keep the packing list in one place.