Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the best seasons for Hanksville and the surrounding canyon country. Temperatures are manageable, the light is beautiful, and the desert plants are at their best. Summer brings brutal heat — July temperatures regularly exceed 38°C in the valley floor, and the Mars-like terrain offers no shade. Flash floods can close dirt roads without warning during summer thunderstorms.
Winter is cold and snow can close high routes into the Henry Mountains and Capitol Reef's backcountry. The main highway remains open year-round, but be prepared for freezing temperatures at night from November through March.
The bison herd in the Henry Mountains is most easily spotted in late spring and early autumn when the animals move between elevations.