D N N TRAVEL: 11 of the best national parks to visit during winter

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Ken Burns was one of the many who’ve said it: The national parks were America’s best idea.

America’s national parks continue to draw big crowds, and visiting one (or more) of our U.S. park sites remains an incredibly popular choice for travelers across the age and budget spectrum.

High demand means some parks get very crowded, especially during the peak summer travel season and when specific entry requirements are in place.

Fortunately, you can usually get a reprieve from the crowds — and still enjoy spectacular scenery — by visiting a national park in winter when many parks reveal their own unique beauty.

These are the national parks best seen in the wintertime, from striking snowscapes to secluded retreats.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park. NOPPAWAT TOM CHAROENSINPHON/GETTY IMAGES

For travelers who’d prefer to commune with nature versus a bunch of other tourists, winter is an excellent time to visit Bryce Canyon.

While the weather in winter can be pretty chilly, the cold temperatures and high elevation offer winter visitors a fun opportunity: cross-country skiing. Outdoor enthusiasts can lay their own tracks or glide up groomed trails to check out the snow-capped hoodoos.

Entry to the park is $35 per vehicle for seven consecutive days. We recommend getting an $80 annual national park pass if you plan to visit more than one park a year. A pass is an excellent idea if you’re traveling to Bryce since it can be easily combined with Zion National Park and Grand Canyon National Park.

Crater Lake National Park

An aerial view of Crater Lake at Crater Lake National Park. BRINLEY CLARK/EYEEM/GETTY IMAGES

With approximately 40 feet of snow falling on Crater Lake National Park every year, it’s a wonder more people don’t visit Oregon’s only national park in winter.

During the winter season, which stretches from approximately November all the way into May (and it can stay quite cold even late in summer), travelers can explore the vast landscape on snowshoes, skis, snowmobiles, snowboards and sleds.

In fact, the park is anchored by the deepest lake in the U.S., which fills an ancient caldera in the Cascade Mountains and may provide even more recreational freedom than what you’d find in summer when scenic roads are packed with sightseeing drivers.

Just keep in mind that many roads, including the North Entrance Road, close to vehicles on Nov. 1 or earlier, depending on snowfall. Though the road to Rim Village is typically plowed, visitors may still need tire chains or all-wheel-drive vehicles with winter tires in order to safely enter the park. Make sure your vehicle is able to handle the snowy and icy roads, or plan on entering the park on a snowmobile or with other snow equipment.

Everglades National Park

A resident of Everglades National Park. CASSIDY ATHOS/EYEEM/GETTY IMAGES

Everglades National Park is actually busiest in the winter months, but it’s hotter than Hades when the wet season hits — and the ubiquitous mosquitos are the size of golf balls, so winter still reigns supreme at this southern national park.

Head over to the Gulf Coast side of the park to canoe through extraordinary coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and pine flatwoods. There’s a world-renowned variety of migrating birds and manatees, plus it’s the only place on the planet where both gators and crocodiles coexist.

You can have a luxury stay on points and still be within driving distance of Everglades National Park by booking a room at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort or Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo, a Curio Collection property by Hilton.

Related: 10 of the best national parks to visit in the fall

Yosemite National Park

A winter scene in Yosemite. BENJEEV RENDHAVA/GETTY IMAGES

Yosemite was one of the first tracts of land to receive the national park denomination and is considered one of the most majestic places in the country. Millions of people make the pilgrimage every year to the home of the Half Dome and El Capitan — two iconic monoliths made even more famous by the popularization of rock climbing.

While most visitors stroll around the valley or hike the arduous Mist Trail in the warmer months, the park offers just as many outdoor activities during winter, with snow sports ranging from downhill and cross-country skiing to tubing and sledding, snowshoeing and ice skating. Outfitters will even take you snowmobiling. You’ll face far fewer crowds than in the warm-weather months, no matter which diversion you choose.

Keep in mind that Tioga Road closes from about November to late May or early June every year. Otherwise, much of the rest of the park remains accessible. The park is also home to a ski resort, Badger Pass, which is far more affordable (and less overwhelming) than popular megaresorts elsewhere in California, such as those in Lake Tahoe or Mammoth.

Grand Canyon National Park

Looking down into the Grand Canyon. MICHAEL DEYOUNG/GETTY IMAGES

There’s a reason why the Grand Canyon is one of the most visited national parks in the nation: It’s one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World due to its awe-inspiring scale and size. However, the summer crowds and corresponding traffic can put a damper on the wonderment.

So, many visitors consider winter an underrated and particularly special time to visit the Grand Canyon. Take in the view from the popular Bright Angel Trail. That’s when the dramatic red rocks pop beneath a dusting of snow, and you’ll share the scenery with just a fraction of the number of tourists here in summer. You’ll also see more animal activity during the cooler months because of the weather and because the wildlife is emboldened in the absence of humans.

While the North Rim of the canyon does close every winter, the South Rim area remains open, with temperatures at the rim generally peaking in the 40s and dropping into the 20s. Temperatures on the canyon floor are a bit higher, between the 30s and high 50s.

Consider bedding down at the elegant (by national park lodge standards) El Tovar Hotel located directly on the canyon rim. It offers the best views and is home to the only fine-dining restaurant inside the park. It’s also the most expensive, with standard rooms starting around $300.

Related: What to pack and where to stay: TPG’s ultimate Grand Canyon family vacation guide

Death Valley National Park

Looking across Death Valley. DENISE TAYLOR/GETTY IMAGES

Death Valley is infamous for its drought and scalding summer temperatures that consistently exceed 100 degrees. So, it’s no surprise that travelers drawn to this sprawling desert landscape often come here in winter when the daytime temperatures are decidedly less deadly and snow has dusted the surrounding peaks.

Located in eastern California, Death Valley National Park is a great road trip destination from Las Vegas. Just a 2.5-hour drive from Sin City, travelers can visit Badwater Basin (a salt flat with the lowest elevation on the continent). In winter, it’s cool enough for visitors to walk out onto the salt flat and see the iconic “salt polygons” — geometric formations on the earth — up close.

Another can’t-miss sight is Artist’s Palette on Artist’s Drive, a 9-mile scenic route that snakes through the multicolored badlands. The kaleidoscopic hues, formed by various metals oxidizing in the mountains, are best seen in the late afternoon light.

If you want to spend the night in the park, book a stay at Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel. Rooms have a classic Western feel, and there are on-site amenities such as a pool, a saloon and a general store. There are also campsites and recreational vehicle hookups available.

Yellowstone National Park

Steam from geysers and hot springs at Yellowstone. TCYUEN/GETTY IMAGES

If you’ve visited Yellowstone in summer, you were likely met with hordes of tourists (irresponsibly) stopping to take selfies with bison and had your view of Old Faithful impeded by hundreds of selfie sticks. But in winter, visitors are rewarded with a different kind of experience.

Steam from erupting geysers and hot springs creates an impressive contrast to the snow-covered backdrop. Wolves and bighorn sheep make their appearance — definitely participate in a wolf-viewing tour. Meanwhile, skiers can enjoy a serene experience that can’t be found at any ski resort on Earth.

Search Cook City, Gardiner, Red Lodge or West Yellowstone in Montana for hotels or rental properties near the trio of Montana entrances. The Kimpton in Bozeman is another option if you want a more luxurious lodging experience using your points. It’s about 90 miles away from Yellowstone.

There are also many places to bed down at the two Wyoming entrances (especially by the one near Cody, Wyoming). If you’re looking for a place to stay with points, consider the Holiday Inn West Yellowstone, the Ridgeline Hotel at Yellowstone (an Ascend property by Choice Hotels), the Days Inn by Wyndham West Yellowstone, the Best Western Desert Inn or the Best Western Weston Inn.

Related: Where to stay when visiting Yellowstone National Park: Best hotels and lodges

Glacier National Park

Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park, Montana. FENG WEI PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES

Thanks to social media and the popularity of adventure travel, many of us are convinced we have to catch a flight to Iceland or Alaska for a chance to see the northern lights.

But you can simply head to Glacier National Park — a designated Dark Sky Park — in winter for a solid shot at witnessing the celestial phenomenon. Lake MacDonald, which stretches 10 miles to the north, is surrounded by high peaks and offers an unobstructed sky view.

Glacier National Park normally charges a $35 entrance fee per vehicle in summer, but travelers who brave the cold will get a discounted rate of $25 in winter.

However, if you visit Glacier in winter, you’ll want to stay just outside the park. There are a few luxury hotels, including the Firebrand Hotel in Whitefish, and travelers can use points to stay at the TownePlace Suites Whitefish Kalispell; the SpringHill Suites Kalispell; or one of Hilton’s four properties in the area, including a Hilton Garden Inn, a Hampton Inn, a Homewood Suites and a Hampton Inn and Suites.

Related: Here’s how you can visit national parks for free in 2024

Big Bend National Park

Snowfall in Big Bend. MATTHEW A. BARRETT/GETTY IMAGES

Discover impossibly dark skies and crowd-free, wide-open spaces at Big Bend National Park in West Texas. Visit during winter to escape the South’s blistering heat and stargaze in solitude.

Spend your days hiking in the Chisos Mountains (just be mindful of trail closures for peregrine falcon nesting season) or soaking in the area’s natural hot springs near Rio Grande Village.

Plan far in advance, and you can stay at the Chisos Mountains Lodge — but travelers can also take advantage of the park’s vast campgrounds. After all, the lows rarely drop below the low 40s even in the height of winter, making it the perfect time to cozy up in an RV or tent.

Saguaro National Park

Saguaro cactus in snow after a rare winter storm in the desert at Saguaro National Park. MDESIGNER125/GETTY IMAGES

Winter storms may be sporadic in Saguaro National Park, but even if you don’t see towering cactuses dusted with snow, winter may still be one of the best times to visit this underrated parkland.

Less than a half-hour from Tucson, Arizona, this national park is in the center of the Sonoran Desert, meaning daytime temperatures during summer can exceed 110 degrees. That’s what makes winter a delightful time to visit, as the mild temperatures hover around the mid-60s and 70s.

In addition to having the nation’s largest cactuses, saguaros, which can grow up to 60 feet in height and can live to be over 200 years old, the park features ancient petroglyphs, is close to a family-friendly museum and has several scenic drives and mountain trails that vary in duration and difficulty.

Grand Teton National Park

John Moulton Barn at Grand Teton National Park. FRANK1CRAYON/ADOBE STOCK

Discover a crowd-free version of Wyoming’s striking Grand Teton National Park by visiting in winter. After the final leaf peepers leave, the park becomes a winter wonderland where you can cross-country ski, snowshoe or even snowmobile through the snowdrifts.

For a more leisurely experience, dog sled tours take visitors through the silver-white wilderness. Whether you’re on a sled or skis, watch out for wildlife: Winter is a great time to spot elk, moose, bison, deer, bald eagles and wolves.

Just note that there are no lodges or services open in the park during the offseason, so you’ll want to stay in the nearby towns of Jackson and Teton Village. Consider The Cloudveil, an Autograph Collection property in Jackson. You might even find some off-peak award availability.

D N N TRAVEL

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

11 of the best national parks to visit during winter