The Grand Canyon Gets More Snow Than Minneapolis

When you picture the Grand Canyon, you probably imagine sun-baked desert vistas and scorching Arizona heat. Snow? Not so much. But here's a winter weather fact that'll flip your assumptions upside down: the Grand Canyon receives more snow annually than Minneapolis, Minnesota—a city synonymous with brutal winters.

Minneapolis averages around 45-54 inches of snow per year, depending on the measurement period. Respectable numbers for a Midwestern city. But the Grand Canyon's North Rim gets absolutely buried with 140-144 inches annually—nearly three times as much. Even the more accessible South Rim sees 58-60 inches, still outpacing the Twin Cities.

Why Arizona Outsnows the Midwest

The secret is elevation. The North Rim sits at 8,297 feet above sea level, a full 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim. At that altitude, winter storms dump massive amounts of snow, and temperatures stay cold enough to keep it piling up. The North Rim receives 24.2 inches of annual precipitation—nearly double the South Rim's 13.4 inches—and most of it falls as snow between October and May.

Minneapolis, despite its reputation for endless winter, sits at just 830 feet elevation. It's cold, sure, but it doesn't have the high-altitude advantage that turns storms into snowpocalypses.

The North Rim's Winter Shutdown

That extreme snowfall has real consequences. The North Rim closes completely from mid-October through mid-May every year because Highway 67 becomes totally impassable. Meanwhile, the South Rim stays open year-round, serving tourists who want to see the canyon dusted with snow without needing snowshoes.

The inner canyon, down at Phantom Ranch, rarely sees snow at all—less than an inch annually. Within a single national park, you can experience three completely different winter climates depending on where you stand.

Desert Snow Is Real

This fact beautifully illustrates how latitude isn't everything when it comes to weather. Arizona might be known for saguaro cacti and triple-digit summers, but its high country gets legitimately buried each winter. Northern Arizona's mountains regularly see heavy snow, with Flagstaff (elevation 6,910 feet) averaging over 100 inches per year.

So next time someone scoffs at the idea of Arizona snow, remind them: the Grand Canyon would fit right in at a Minnesota ski resort. Actually, it'd probably shut the resort down for being too extreme.