Best National Parks to Visit in Winter

Winter alters access to U.S. national parks, on-site conditions, and visitors’ patterns. Snow, road closure, and seasonal services limitations reduce the number of parks that are reasonable to visit in the winter. On the other hand, winter offers benefits such as fewer people, better wildlife sightings in some places, and opportunities to do activities not available during the summer.

The Best National Parks for Winter Travel

This guide helps you choose the best parks for a winter vacation according to the kind of activity or purpose of the trip. The national parks to visit in winter differ in terms of accessibility, weather, and visitor preferences.

• Best overall for winter scenery

Yellowstone and Yosemite are some of the most beautiful places in winter: their scenery consists of snow-covered mountains, frozen lakes, and cloudy valleys. Tourists can enjoy photography with short and easy hiking on the open trails.

• Best for wildlife viewing

Yellowstone, Everglades, and Rocky Mountain are hotspots where one can witness wild animals in their natural habitats.

• Best for winter hiking

Rocky Mountain, Bryce Canyon, and Olympic all boast clearly marked winter hiking and snowshoeing paths.

• Best for sunny winter getaways

Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and the Everglades are the ultimate destinations for those who do not want to face the cold but still enjoy dry and mild winter weather for hiking.

• Best for solitude

Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Olympic are among the national parks that experience a significant decline in visitor numbers during winter.

What Makes a National Park “Great in Winter”?

When organizing a trip, it is necessary to weigh the elements that make a winter park appealing and safe for winter visits.

• Accessibility

The state of the roads, snow closures, shuttle service availability, and parking resources are among the factors considered. For instance, in winter, Trail Ridge Road in the Rocky Mountain is partially closed, while in Yellowstone National Park, some trails are accessible only by snowmobile.

• Winter activities

Snowshoeing, skiing, ice skating, and hot springs are the main activities in the best national parks to visit in the winter.

• Lodging & services

It is wise to verify the lodging situation not only in the park but also in the nearest towns.

• Safety factors

A map, GPS, and the right clothing and equipment are essential.

Best National Parks to Visit in Winter — By Type of Experience

Snowy mountains, desert trails, and hot springs offer diverse winter experiences with their own charm.

1. Snow-covered mountains and alpine panoramas

Rocky Mountain, Yosemite, and Olympic offer majestic mountain views, the uplifting sight of the peaks in winter, and easy access to picturesque hiking trails and photo opportunities.

2. Desert parks with mild winter temps

Death Valley and Joshua Tree offer comfortable walks in cooler temperatures and dry weather while exploring desert landscapes.

3. Coastal and rainforest winter escapes

Olympic and Everglades offer a mix of rainforest, coastline, and warm winter weather.

4. Geothermal & “steam-in-the-cold” landscapes

Yellowstone — unique for its geysers and hot springs, which create a contrast of steam and snow.

Top Winter National Parks

This subsection lists the national parks to visit in the winter, along with their main attributes. After a trip, you can use a special wood travel map where you can track all the national parks you have visited.

Yellowstone	snow-covered landscapes, bison, geothermal areas; partly car-accessible, otherwise by snowmobile
Yosemite	valley covered in snow, open viewpoints, and winter scenery, attracting photographers
Grand Canyon	no clouds, minimal number of tourists, and some rims are closed because of snowfall
Zion	winter access to trails, moderate climate, and safety measures advised
Bryce Canyon	excellent photo opportunities
Death Valley	cool temperatures and opening up of the main trails
Joshua Tree	cold nights, and perfect conditions for stargazing
Everglades	dry season, animal watching, and water trips
Olympic	coast, rainforest, and mountains in one place; different weather in different areas
Rocky Mountain	new trails for winter hiking, some roads closed; planning is time-consuming

Best Winter Activities in National Parks

Winter parks offer opportunities to experience nature and landscapes peacefully through unique activities not accessible in summer.

• Cross-country skiing areas—Yellowstone, the Rocky Mountain—and trails prepared for snow activities.
• Watching & tracking of animals—Yellowstone, Everglades, and the Rocky Mountain.
• Nighttime skygazing and photo shoot—Joshua Tree, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley.
• Scenic winter drives; only at open places, the road to Trail Ridge is partially shut down in winter.