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Why National Parks Are Better to Visit in the Winter

America’s National Parks are an absolute treasure. Across 60 parks total and millions of acres of land, they offer visitors a wholly unique nature experience. From the opportunity to be up close and personal with wildlife such as bison or elk to park-specific attractions like Yellowstone’s Old Faithful or Glacier’s Going-To-The-Sun Road, a visit to a U.S. National Park is at the very least breathtaking.

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They’re also quite popular and thus, quite crowded – especially during the summer. You hear stories about the long line of cars waiting to get into Yellowstone or how tour bus after tour bus, filled with tourists, are waiting in line to take the same Instagram-worthy photo. It’s one thing to take in the wonder of the Grand Canyon but it’s something else entirely to do it surrounded by thousands of other people.

According to the National Parks Service, more than 318 million people visited a National Park in 2018, which was a slight decrease from 2017’s 330 million people. It’s fair to assume a large chunk of visitor turnout happens during the summer when the weather is warmer and families have more time off together.

Summer doesn’t have to be the only time to visit, however. Many National Parks are open year-round and offer a much better experience in the winter – and not just because of the lack of crowds (though, that is an incredibly compelling reason). Here’s why.

1. Smaller Crowds

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In the summer, National Parks are chaotic, to say the least. Whether it’s a line of cars waiting to enter the park itself, clogged hiking trails or throngs of tour groups all vying for the same shot of Old Faithful, visiting a National Park during the peak heat season means putting up with large crowd after large crowd.

In the winter, however, those crowds are mostly non-existent. Not only does this mean a calmer park experience, but you essentially have your pick of where and when you want to visit certain parts of the park. Fewer people also means lodging won’t be as hard to come by or (likely) as expensive as the popular visiting months of summer.

2. Jaw-Dropping Scenery

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There’s something about cool, crisp air and soft light that makes scenery a little more pleasant on the eyes, and this is especially true in National Parks. Whether it’s the beautiful red rock landscape of Arches or the sprawling snowy fields of Denali, the natural environments native to National Parks seem to pop in the winter.

If you’re the type to take photographs, a winter setting is a stunner in pictures. It’s also more unique than a sun-soaked photo of the Grand Canyon or Half Dome in Yosemite. Maybe save showing off the photos to your close family and friends, though. You don’t want everyone to start flocking to National Parks in the winter.

3. Better Wildlife Views

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One of the biggest draws of a National Park is the opportunity to see wildlife you wouldn’t typically encounter at home. Though wildlife is still very present during the summer, jockeying for the best view of a nearby wolf with thousands of other people just isn’t the same as being the only one watching a pack of bison strut across a snowy field, steamy breath and all.

With fewer people around, it’s as if you’re getting a view of the wildlife, and the environment they call home, as it’s intended. Many of the animals may be used to sharing space with tourists but the calm of winter makes it feel less like a literal zoo.

4. A Clearer Night Sky

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If you’ve ever seen a completely clear night sky devoid of light pollution or even the slightest hint of clouds, you know how utterly jaw-dropping it can be. Many National Parks are some of the best places in the country for stargazing, and the winter months provide a truly stunning experience. Of course, the likelihood of cloud cover is higher than in the summer (in a few parks, at least), but it’s worth taking a chance on. If you catch a clear night, you’ll be able to spot constellations such as Gemini, Canis Major (and Minor) and Auriga, among others – each of which are prominent during winter.

5. Go Ice Skating or Snowshoeing

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Winter also presents an opportunity for you to enjoy activities such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or ice skating. You can still hike a National Park’s trails as you would during the summer, but those that see an abundance of snow and ice offer a completely unique experience.

The best part is, most of the winter activities don’t require a steep learning curve or advanced level of understanding. Snowshoeing simply requires strapping on a pair of snowshoes and hiking through snowy sections of the park while cross-country skiing is a blend of hiking and flat ground skiing. Some basic knowledge does help but many parks that offer such activities also have instructors on-hand to help beginners.

It’s easy to only think about exploring National Parks in the summer but the payoff to visiting during winter is much more satisfying. Not only will it feel like you have the park to yourself but everything from the stunning scenery to the remarkable night sky helps reaffirm that it’s worth the extra layers and cold nose.

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Rick Stella, Khareem Sudlow