10 Best National Parks To Visit In Winter
Winter is one of the best times to visit National Parks. You can avoid the crowds and scorching heat at these 10 best National Parks to visit in winter!
Additionally, most of the vehicle reservation and timed-entry restrictions at parks are only for the busy summer months, so you’ll have one less thing to worry about!
In this article I share the absolute best National Parks to visit in the winter – and why!
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The Best National Parks To Visit In Winter – Southwest
The Southwest can have scorching heat during the summer, and most of these parks have massive crowds and/or timed-entry requirements during peak season. That’s why they’re perfect National Parks to visit in the winter! The weather is mild, crowds are far more manageable and there aren’t any entry reservations required.
1. Arches National Park (Utah)
- Why Visit in Winter: Winter is the best time to visit Arches if you want to avoid crowds and enjoy cooler weather while hiking among the park’s iconic rock formations.
- Winter Activities: Hiking among the park’s 2,000+ arches, photography, and stargazing.
- Highlights: Snow adds a striking contrast to the red rock arches, particularly at Delicate Arch, Double Arch, and Landscape Arch.
Arches National Park is one of the most crowded parks in the US. Mostly due to it’s smaller size and explosion in popularity. If you come to Arches during the summer you’ll fight for parking at the limited trailhead parking lots. Unfortunately, Arches does not have a shuttle system yet, which means driving your own vehicle is the only way to see the park. But you won’t have to worry about any of that if you visit Arches in the winter!
I recommend spending at least one day in Arches National Park. If you’re visiting during the off-season it’ll be much easier to see everything in the park, including the best hikes in Arches, in a shorter visit because you won’t be waiting on crowds and parking to clear.
While Arches has a timed-entry vehicle reservation system during the summer, you won’t have to worry about that during the winter! And since it’s just 5 minutes from Moab there are plenty of things to do and great places to stay near Arches National Park.
One final benefit to a winter visit is that sunrise at Arches isn’t quite as brutally early, which means you can sleep in a bit and still catch the sunrise over Delicate Arch.
2. Zion National Park (Utah)
- Why Visit in Winter: Zion is much quieter in winter, with daytime temperatures that are perfect for hiking, and dramatic cliffs often dusted with snow.
- Winter Activities: Hiking famous trails like Angels Landing (with extra caution), The Narrows (if water conditions allow), and scenic drives.
- Highlights: Snow-covered red rock formations and fewer visitors make Zion a peaceful winter destination.
It’s a quick road trip from Arches to Zion National Park. And while Zion is mobbed in the summer months, it’s much more enjoyable from November through February.
The park’s shuttle service is usually not running in winter, so you can drive yourself through Zion Canyon (something you aren’t permitted to do during the summer).
I recommend spending at least three days in Zion National Park. Plan ahead and get permits to hike Angels Landing, and (weather permitting) I also recommend hiking The Narrows. Since the water will likely be chilly, you can rent gear from Zion Outfitters (like neoprene socks and waterproof pants) to make it more enjoyable.
3. Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah)
- Why Visit in Winter: Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos are even more magical when capped with snow, creating a striking contrast against the bright blue sky.
- Winter Activities: Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ranger-led astronomy programs (Bryce is known for its dark skies).
- Highlights: Winter brings a sense of serenity to the amphitheaters, with fewer visitors and amazing sunrise and sunset views over snow-capped hoodoos.
Bryce Canyon sits at higher elevation than the other Utah National Parks, which means it’s colder and frequently has more snowfall than the other parks. If you’re not sure whether to visit Bryce or Zion check out this article.
Bryce Canyon often has special winter events, including a winter festival with snowshoe hikes and astronomy programs. If you’re visiting Bryce Canyon in December be sure to check out their annual Christmas Bird Count event. See all of Bryce Canyon’s winter activities here.
There are several great hikes in Bryce Canyon – my favorite is the Navajo and Queens Garden Loop trail, which takes you into the amphitheater so you can see the hoodoos up close.
Ideally, I recommend spending at least one day in Bryce Canyon. Read my complete Bryce Canyon Travel Guide here.
The Best National Parks To Visit In Winter – East Coast
While there are fewer parks on the east coast the short list has some spectacular National Parks to visit in winter. The east coast is also home to the newest National Park – New River Gorge in West Virginia!
4. Acadia National Park (Maine)
- Why Visit in Winter: Acadia is known for its rugged coastal beauty, and in winter, it offers a peaceful, snow-covered landscape with fewer crowds.
- Winter Activities: Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking, and scenic drives along Ocean Drive and Cadillac Mountain (when open).
- Highlights: Acadia’s cliffs and coastal views take on a quiet beauty under the snow, with winter sunrises at Cadillac Mountain being particularly breathtaking.
While Acadia is beautiful in the fall, it’s also wildly crowded. If you’re looking for a more peaceful trip, Acadia is best seen in the winter. Acadia is also dog friendly, so bring your pup and make a road trip out of it!
Some of the primary roadways in Acadia close for the season from December through March. Instead, the roads are open to snowmobiles, cross-country skiers, hikers, snowshoers and horses.
5. New River Gorge National Park (West Virginia)
- Why Visit in Winter: As the nation’s newest national park, New River Gorge provides an under-the-radar winter escape with stunning views, less foot traffic, and excellent hiking.
- Winter Activities: Hiking, scenic drives, birdwatching, and mild snow sports like cross-country skiing.
- Highlights: New River Gorge Bridge, dusted with snow, is an iconic sight, and the park’s cliffs and trails become more serene during winter months.
New River Gorge was just added as a National Park in 2020. With mild winters, this is a great park to explore in the colder months. There’s a good chance you’ll experience some snow on your hikes, too!
There is no camping in New River Gorge during the winter, but there are plenty of vacation rentals within a short drive of the park.
6. Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
- Why Visit in Winter: Shenandoah is beautiful in every season, but winter brings quiet, frosty landscapes and peaceful trails without the crowds.
- Winter Activities: Winter hiking, scenic drives along Skyline Drive (conditions permitting), and wildlife viewing.
- Highlights: Snow-covered peaks and scenic overlooks along Skyline Drive, paired with fewer visitors and crisp winter air.
I spent Thanksgiving week in Shenandoah National Park and it was perfect. Fewer crowds, and hiking was brisk but enjoyable. It’s unusual to have an entire trail to yourself, but we did! In fact, we only came across a handful of other people during the entire trip.
Occasionally, Skyline Drive may close due to weather, so I recommend checking the road conditions ahead of your visit.
The Best National Parks To Visit In Winter – Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a great place to visit any time of the year, but especially in the winter when the snow caps the mountains! One of my favorite parks, Olympic National Park, has such a vast ecosystem it’s possible to experience snow and temperate rainforest on the same trip.
7. Olympic National Park (Washington)
- Why Visit in Winter: Olympic offers a unique combination of ecosystems, from snowy mountains to temperate rainforests and rugged coastlines, all of which are stunning in winter.
- Winter Activities: Snowshoeing, skiing in the Hurricane Ridge area, beachcombing, and rainforest hikes.
- Highlights: Snow-covered peaks at Hurricane Ridge, the lush and quiet rainforests, and misty coastal scenes along Rialto Beach.
Winter in Olympic National Park is a unique experience. Hurricane Ridge is open from Friday through Sunday during the snowy season and there’s lots of fun winter activities you can do there, like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and winter hiking. I recommend at least two days in Olympic National Park.
The Hoh rainforest is fairly temperate, even in the winter, so it’s a nice contrast to Hurricane Ridge. The winter is also the rainy season, so be sure to pack a rain jacket.
8. Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
- Why Visit in Winter: Mount Rainier becomes a winter playground, offering deep snow and jaw-dropping mountain views, especially from the Paradise area.
- Winter Activities: Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, and winter camping.
- Highlights: The snow-blanketed Mount Rainier creates a stunning backdrop for winter activities, and the Paradise area offers some of the deepest snowpacks in the country.
Mount Rainier is packed during the summer, but visiting during the winter allows you to see the park without the crowds. Just keep in mind that some of the roads are closed or semi-closed during the snowy months.
The road from Nisqually Entrance to Longmire is open year-round, but the road from Longmire to Paradise is only open on weekends. And, from November 1 – May 1 you must carry tire chains with you.
Ranger-led snowshoe walks are available in the Paradise area, or you can bring your own and explore the park on your own schedule.
Read Next: Winter Hiking Outfit & Gear Guide
The Best National Parks To Visit In Winter – Midwest
Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National Park have great weather during the summer months, but they’re super crowded. If you visit them during the winter, you’ll have far fewer crowds but some parts of the park may be closed due to snow. Regardless, they’re still excellent National Parks to visit in winter.
9. Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
- Why Visit in Winter: Yellowstone becomes a winter wonderland, with fewer visitors and breathtaking snowy landscapes. It’s also a prime time to see wildlife like bison, elk, and wolves.
- Winter Activities: Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, guided snowcoach tours, and wildlife watching.
- Highlights: Geysers like Old Faithful are even more dramatic with steam rising in the cold air, and the contrast of snow and geothermal features is spectacular.
Yellowstone is good at any time of the year, but it’s especially magical during the winter. The roads between the North and the Northeast entrances are open year-round, and most roads remain open to snowmobile and snowcoaches in the winter.
While no campgrounds are open in the winter, Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel remain open throughout the year. I recommend booking reservations far in advance.
Jackson Hole is the closest town to Yellowstone and has a lot of accommodations and activities during the winter. Elk Country Inn is a beautiful lodge with a heated indoor pool that’s perfect for visiting Yellowstone in winter.
10. Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado)
- Why Visit in Winter: Snow blankets the Rockies, transforming the park into a snowy playground for winter sports enthusiasts.
- Winter Activities: Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, and winter wildlife watching (elk, bighorn sheep).
- Highlights: The Bear Lake area is particularly beautiful in winter, with frozen lakes and snow-covered pine forests.
Rocky Mountain National Park has several layers of vehicle reservations during the busy summer months, which makes it difficult to battle crowds and find parking.
In winter, Rocky Mountain hiking trails are generally blanketed with snow, which makes them perfect for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or sledding. You can also participate in a ranger-led snowshoe hike – advanced reservations are required and they tend to sell out quickly.
Estes Park, just outside of the east entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park is also a popular place to visit in the winter. You can take a Snowcat tour or attend one of their many winter festivals.
Appenzell Inn is a charming resort with indoor pool and rooms for triples available. Boulder Brook On Fall River is also a great hotel near Rocky Mountain, with hot tubs and mountain views.
Tips For Visiting National Parks In Winter
There are a few things to keep in mind when planning a winter visit to any National Park.
Weather considerations
Weather can change quickly during the fall, so be sure to check the forecast ahead of time. Especially in the high desert, temperatures can drop significantly at night (sometimes as much as 40°)
Permits
While most parks do not have timed-entry vehicle reservation requirements in winter, many popular hikes may still require permits (ex. Angels Landing in Zion). Generally, you’ll want to plan a few months in advance to secure tickets, but it can also be possible to snag last minute permits 1-2 days in advance.
