Three of The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter
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Summer is always a busy time for national parks. But ever since the onslaught of COVID renewed Americans’ interest in road trips and exploring their own backyard, visits at many national parks reached unprecedented highs during recent summers.
It’s a good idea to start looking ahead several months when it comes to national parks visits, as availability can book up very quickly. Plus, several popular national parks truly do shine in the winter. A winter visit provides the chance to beat the crowds as well as the heat.
Here are just a few of the best national parks to visit in the winter:
Big Bend National Park
One of America’s largest, most varied national parks, Big Bend is known to get pretty toasty in the summer– which will come as no surprise to Texans. In fact, National Park Rangers often warn visitors to complete their hikes well before 11 a.m. when the sun is high in the sky to avoid heat stroke and dehydration.
Meanwhile, the winter months boast moderate weather during the day– perfect for a long day of exploring. Night time will bring drastically colder temperatures so make sure to bundle up!
Yellowstone National Park
When it comes to Yellowstone, visiting in winter will be a very different experience. It’s snowy, it’s pretty cold, certain activities (like hiking, for example) are off the table. But there is a very unique side to Yellowstone that you will never see if you only visit during the crowded, summer months. Led by an expert guide, you can explore the wintery wonderland of Yellowstone via snowshoe or snowmobile. My top suggestion? Embark on an epic safari in Lamar Valley (AKA “America’s Serengeti”) to see the wolves’ winter antics.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Sure it may be a little chilly in winter, but I’m telling you there is no sight more beautiful than Bryce’s orange and red hoodoos dusted with white snow. Take in the scenery from one of the iconic viewpoints or you can head out on a Ranger-led snowshoe or cross country ski trek. Bryce Canyon is known for its dark skies at any time of the year — but the dark winter nights mean the starry skies are even more brilliant.
