ByIona Brannon
Published December 18, 2023
• 6 min read
Between the enchantment of snow-coated landscapes and the hush that comes with it, winter reveals a different world of national parks with significantly fewer crowds.
From frost-covered trails in coastal Maine to the breathtaking peaks in Washington State, here are some of the best national parks for a winter wonderland getaway.
Acadia National Park, Maine
Between early October and early March, Acadia National Park’s Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the eastern seaboard, offers hardy hikers epic views of the first sunrise in the country. Because the roads are closed to motor vehicles during the winter, those who undertake the 3.5-mile hike from Park Loop Road are rewarded with a stunning view all to themselves.
Keri Forbringer Hetherman, a travel planner with Luxury Travel Works, recommends snowshoeing some of the 45 miles of carriage roads available to explore.
“Some fabulous flat trails, like Ship Harbor and Wonderland, are easy to walk or snowshoe and reward you with beautiful views and fairytale forests,” she says. “The same is true for the path to Barred Island, accessible at low tide from Bar Harbor [the gateway town to Acadia].”
Travel adviser and Maine native Armanda Davis recommends snowmobiling in the park.
“While this is very weather-dependent, snowmobiling is a unique experience that many people don’t realize is an option,” says Davis.
Denali National Park, Alaska
With its remote location and minimal light pollution, Denali National Park is a tranquil escape in cold months. The aurora season, between September and April, is an ideal time for astrotourists to photograph the northern lights.
Winter visitors to the park can explore its icy landscapes by snowshoeing, skiing, and dogsledding.
While the National Park Service’s sled dogs don’t give visitors rides, kennel visits offer a glimpse into their world. Travelers can book a tour with Denali Dog Sled Expeditions, which operates mushing trips in the park.
Wildlife such as moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves, and grizzly and black bears, remain active in the winter. Travel advisor Hannah Roth says you can spot them while snowshoeing, skiing, or hiking.
(These are the 10 best U.S. national parks to see wildlife.)
Roth recommends a visit in February for Denali’s Winterfest, which includes events like ski races, hockey games, and snowshoe walks.
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington State
Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State is one of the oldest national parks in the U.S. and a pristine playground for outdoor enthusiasts in winter.
“There are sections where you could go snowmobiling, and the upper parking lot of the Paradise visitor center turns into a snow play area with sections designated for sledding and tubing, which is great for families,” says Preeti Suri, founder of Adventure Tripr, a marketplace for outdoor experiences. Rangers lead snowshoe treks where visitors learn more about the park’s history.
(Strap on snowshoes for stellar views of this Colorado national park.)
Après ski or snowshoe, warm up at the circa-1926 National Park Inn where a fireplace crackles in the communal library and the restaurant offers views of Mount Rainier and a menu of hearty dishes such as buffalo bourbon meatloaf.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
In northern New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park holds stone great houses and petroglyphs made by the Ancestral Puebloan from 850 and 1250 B.C.
“These were the largest buildings in all of North America up until the mid-18th century,” says Nathan Hatfield, chief of interpretation at the site.
While ranger-led experiences are not available in winter, there are self-guided tour pamphlets that visitors can pick up at the Chaco Canyon visitor’s center.
Accessible for most of the winter, the park can see fewer than 10 visitors a day in colder months, says Hatfield. Those lucky few who do show up find crowd-free walking trails during the day and mesmerizing views of constellations by night, since Chaco is an International Dark Sky Park. Photographers can capture landscapes amid the constellations, such as the prominent Fajada Butte.
(Find epic stargazing at New Mexico’s Machu Picchu.)
Iona Brannon is a travel writer and photo journalist based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Follow her on Instagram.
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