This year marks the 100th anniversary of the United States National Park Service, and there’s no better way to celebrate it than taking in the nation’s top national parks.
But you don’t have to wait until summer to experience the majestic grandeur of the best parks in America. Winter provides stunning landscapes and unique opportunities that you can’t find any other time.
So grab your snowshoes, load up the RV, and hit the road! Here are the top national parks to visit this winter.
Top National Park Destinations in the Winter
Yosemite National Park, California
In wintertime, Yosemite’s familiar vistas seen in countless photographs, blogs, and travel shows are transformed under a blanket of white into an entirely new landscape. The Yosemite Valley becomes a winter wonderland that appears untouched and unexplored. Winter is the quietest and slowest time of year at Yosemite. In fact, you may feel like you have all of creation to yourself.
Looking for a getaway to play with the family? You’ll find it here. Badger Pass Ski Area offers fantastic ski slopes and snowboarding, and Curry Village Ice Skating Rink is tucked in the majestic shadows of Half Dome and Glacier Point. Snowshoeing and ski trails take you exploring along wooded snowy trails with breathtaking vistas.
Winter Must-Do: If you visit in December, be sure to catch the Bracebridge Dinner—a Renaissance holiday tradition since 1927 full of Christmas pageantry and festivities.
Campgrounds Open: Lodges are open in winter. Check nearby campgrounds for more information.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Known for its breathtaking expanse of red rock and stunning formations, the Grand Canyon’s grandeur becomes more striking against the white blanket of snow and golden sunrises that winter brings.
The North Rim of the Canyon is closed from Oct. 15 to May 15, but the South Rim is open year-round. Winter provides viewing opportunities you can’t get in the heat of summer. Certain wildlife, like ducks, elk, and deer, are more active in the cooler temperatures. The air is free of the summer haze and smog, adding miles of stunning landscape to the vista.
Winter weather at the Grand Canyon can vary wildly, so be sure to pack for all seasons. Visibility can also be unpredictable—it’s best to plan to stay for multiple days so you can catch a great view of the Canyon.
Winter Must-Do: If you’re visiting during the holidays, be sure to take in one of the themed family activities. The Grand Canyon’s Polar Express takes visitors to the “North Pole” to meet Santa and his elves.
Campgrounds Open: Several campgrounds are available, including RV sites with hookups.
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Bryce Canyon’s colorful hoodoos provide some of the most amazing sights in all of the United States, and snowy caps transform the orange canyon into a magical sight that summer visitors miss out on. Clear days provide views from the rim that stretch more than 100 miles.
The park offers terrific activities for nature lovers who are looking for an experience that can’t be matched. Ranger-led activities include scenic snowshoe hikes, full-moon hikes, and astronomy programs. Cross-country ski trails take you through majestic ponderosa pine groves and open meadows.
Winter Must-Do: The popular Bryce Winter Festival is held annually in February over President’s Day Weekend. It’s centered at Ruby’s Inn, near the park entrance, and offers a variety of events, clinics, and demonstrations.
Campgrounds Open: Several campgrounds are available, weather permitting, including RV sites. Check the Bryce Canyon National Park website for more information.
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
The deepest lake in the United States also provides one of its greatest destinations. Beautiful during the summer months, it is absolutely gorgeous in the winter when snowfall can be as much as 500 inches in a year. However, the lake itself is only visible about 50% of the time, so be sure to check the weather forecast the morning of your trip into the park.
The road to Crater Lake National Park’s south entrance is open all year, but the one around the lake will be closed, so be prepared to get around with snowshoes or skis. Once at Crater Lake, take advantage of the free ranger-guided snowshoe walks, or go exploring. The park offers several trails with varying levels of difficulty, but you don’t need to stick to the trails—you can easily chart your own course through the vast terrain.
The park also offers sledding and backpacking. Campgrounds are open year-round, and you may find snowshoers heading out for an overnight trip.
Winter Must-Do: If you’re up for a winter camping adventure under the stars, tour the lake on skis or snowshoes. It’s a breathtaking 31-mile, 3-day trip you’ll never forget!
Campgrounds Open: No winter campgrounds are available within the park. Check local campsites for lodging information.
Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia National Park offers some of the nation’s best cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Here you’ll find a quiet escape filled with scenic drives, rugged coast, and uncommon birds like puffins and murres.
Free camping is available at Blackwoods Campground, which is a great spot for climbing Cadillac or skiing around the mountain loop. Acadia’s experienced mountain guides provide guided hiking trips and ice-climbing excursions.
Winter Must-Do: While you’re here, take advantage of a boat trip to see seal pupping on Seal Island, the second-largest pupping colony in the United States.
Campgrounds Open: Blackwoods Campground is open year-round. RVs are welcome.
Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming
If you’ve been to Yellowstone National Park in the summer, you’ll find it’s a completely different experience in the winter. A blanket of white transforms the wilderness, as Old Faithful and other steaming geysers dot the snowy landscape.
Yellowstone’s winter wildlife viewing can’t be beat. You’ll spot black bison against a white background, wolf pups playing in snow drifts, and bull elk sporting their massive antlers.
Other can’t-miss activities include snowmobiling among the hot springs, snowshoeing along wintry paths, ranger-led programs, and nighttime snow coach tours under a star-filled dome.
Winter Must-Do: Need to warm up? Go for a dip in the hot-spring infused Boiling River. Boiling River is accessible between the North Entrance and Mammoth Hot Springs.
Campgrounds Open: Camping is available at Mammoth Hot Springs. RVs are welcome.
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