Best National Parks To Visit in the Winter

A best-kept secret about National Parks is that many are better in winter. Feel the crunch of snow under your boots, or escape those chilly temperatures for a desert ramble without the crowds of summer. Be sure to pack a few extra layers, bring your face covering and double-check road conditions before heading out. Whether you are interested in privately guided adventure trips, train trips or a national park tour, there are a variety of vacation options available for 2021.

• Zion National Park, Utah is famous for sandstone walls. With a light dusting of snow, the rust-colored cliffs take on a magical quality. Savor your morning coffee in a cozy western cabin at Xanterrs’s Zion Lodge. Zion’s main road is normally closed to vehicles and serviced by a shuttle, but in January, February, and parts of December, you can drive your own car all the way through Zion Canyon. 
• Death Valley National Park, California is a treasure trove of colorful badlands, salt flats and miles of secluded sand dunes. Daytime highs average 6 degrees Fahrenheit in January and 73 in February with sun year-round. Rise early to view the rosy glow of sunrise from Zabriskie Point and hike the mustard-hued walls of Golden canyon before lounging poolside at Inn at Death Valley, a 1920s historic hotel.
• Grand Canyon National Park – The south Rim area remains open in the winter months, while the North Rim is closed. It already one of the 7 Wonders of the World, but there is something about the snow-capped view that is amazing.
• At Yellowstone National Park in the winter, skis, snowshoes, and snowmobiles can be seen everywhere as many roads close and rivers & lakes freeze over. One of the only roads that remain open is between Mammoth Hot Springs and the northeast entrance to the park. The only way to get to Old Faithful is by guided snowmobile or snowcoach, but it is worth the trip. Stay at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Mammoth Hotel, or Canyon Yurt Camp. 
• Arches & Canyonland National Park Utah offers some of the most breathtaking scenery. In winter the snow contrasts with the red rocks and blue skies to create some stunning photo ops.
• Acadia National Park, Maine is for the brave souls willing to venture into frigid Maine winter. The reward is the striking view of Mount Desert Island’s ragged Atlantic coastline. Follow Acadia National Park’s scenic Ocean Drive, which is plowed from Schooner Head to the Fabri Memorial. Snowshoers and cross-country skiers will love the crushed stone carriage roads with some of the best winter hiking.
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is popular with snowbirds in search of winter sunshine. The park experiences its peak season during the winter months with its black sand beaches and rainforests booming with plant life. The park is ripe with adventure with the recent lava flows. Snooze at Volcano Rainforest Retreat with floor to ceiling windows offering views of the lush foliage. Take a helicopter tour soaring over the national park for amazing views.
• Big Bend National Park, Texas is a natural wonder in this flat Lone Star State. Big Bend is named after a massive bend in the Rio Grande River that separates West Texas from Mexico. Stay at the Chisis Mountains Lodge and marvel at high elevation vistas of the craggy Window Formation as you hike through madrones and fragrant junipers. Soak in the hot springs as the sunset turns the famous Santa Elena Canyon a hundred shades of amber.
• Mount Rainier National Park, Washington has plenty of snow during the winter and is a great place for skiing, sledding, snowboarding, snowshoeing, climbing and camping.
• Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado is a sight to behold in winter. The nearby mountain town of Estes Park is transformed into a romantic holiday village, complete with twinkling lights and quaint storefronts and the park itself offers a multitude of winter activities. Kids will love sledding in Hidden Valley, a former ski area now dedicated to sledding. Grownups can venture into the front-country on a snowshoeing trip to Emerald Lake. Keep a lookout for elk and moose on the snowy hillsides and unwind with a glass of single malt at Stanley Hotel’s Whiskey Bar.
• Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona is a bucket list item for many with vintage cabins and a restaurant at Phantom Ranch, a 1920s lodge at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Backpackers can nab last-minute permits to camp at the storied Bright Angel Campground while enjoying the sunny weather near the Colorado River. Take in the panoramic views from the park’s south rim on the family-friendly Rim Trail that runs from South Kaibab to the stone ruins at Hermits Rest.

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