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Top 10 national parks to visit in winter

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The 63 national parks in North America offer spectacular sights and adventures. While these parks may not always be considered top winter travel locations, a few national parks offer particularly stunning winter destinations. With options ranging from escaping the cold for warmer pastures to exploring a snowy winter wonderland, below is a list of the national parks to visit in winter.

1. Joshua Tree National Park, California

Joshua Tree National Park, only a few hours from Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas and Phoenix, consists of 800,000 acres of desert landscape. Hot in the summer months, from September through May temperatures here stay below 100 as visitors enjoy rock climbing, hiking, photography and the serenity of the scenery.

2. Arches National Park, Utah

Arches National Park in Utah has more than 2,000 natural stone arches, giant balanced rocks and hundreds of formations through which to hike. Winter crowds here are a fraction of the size they are in the summertime. Hiking trails are open year-round though winter freezing temperatures and snowfall can make some trails impenetrable.

3. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

There are 15% fewer visitors to Grand Canyon National Park in winter compared to other seasons. Visitors have the trails to themselves, and car traffic is minimal. With its desert climate inside the canyon, visitors stay warm even in the winter, with average temperatures in the high 50s.

4. Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone winters treat visitors to stunning landscapes, plus views of elk, bison, wolves and moose. The famous geysers, steaming thermals and ice-rimmed rivers stand out to visitors enjoying snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling.

5. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

In winter, Grand Teton National Park turns from greens and browns to whites and blues. While November to May can be freezing, causing roads to be closed, visitors explore the scenic trails by ski or snowshoe.

6. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The average temperature in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in December is 73°F (23°C) and a low of 65°F (18°C), the perfect environment for hiking and exploring an active volcano.

7. Death Valley National Park

Winter is a wonderful time to explore the narrow canyons, salt flats and dunes that make up Death Valley’s fascinating landscape. With December-February high temperatures averaging 65-73°F, the weather is much more tolerable than the triple-digits experienced during the summer.

8. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

Located in the Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns National Park is an extensive network of underground caves formed over millions of years from sulfuric acid dissolving limestone. The mounts are also home to more than 119 caves with other-worldly stalactites, stalagmites, columns and unique rock formations.

9. Yoho National Park, BC, Canada

The term “Yoho” is a Cree expression that means “awe and wonder," which describes the natural beauty of Yoho National Park and contains more than 507 square miles of protected land filled with sweeping landscapes of mountains, waterfalls and valleys.

10. Denali National Park, Alaska

Located in the central part of the Alaska Range, Denali National Park is the third-largest national park in the United States. With so much ground to cover, Denali offers a range of possibilities for viewing wildlife and beautiful landscapes.

Resource Guide:

Road Scholar provides immersive and educational adventure travel for those who want to head to a national park in the winter months. Tours to the locations above include:

Joshua Tree National Park, California: Check out a six-day educational hiking adventure in winter to learn about this region’s unique natural history and human cultures from expert naturalists.
Arches National Park, Utah: This 11-day trip takes adventurers through Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands national parks.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona: This six-day tour takes adventure seekers on an overnight adventure to Grand Canyon National Park via the historic Grand Canyon Railway.
Yellowstone National Park: Learn how to snowmobile, snowshoe and ski on this six-day tour, which also explores unique wildlife, visits Old Faithful, fumaroles and bubbling hot springs in the winter.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Join a 13-day trip with adventurers accompanying local experts for a deep dive into Hawaii’s volcanoes to learn Hawaiian mythology, observe island ecology and see natural monuments.
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming: Journey on a six-day winter trip through the Grand Tetons via ski, snowshoe, dogsled and horse-drawn sleigh.
Death Valley National Park: Take a seven-day small group tour on a study of the geology, ecology and human history of Death Valley through hikes and lectures with geologists and experts.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico: Explorers can visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park to learn more about the diverse ecosystem that makes up the surface of the caverns, such as desert plants like cacti and yuccas and wildlife like mule deer, coyotes and jackrabbits.
Yoho National Park, BC, Canada: A trip hiking in Yoho National Park includes sojourns to Emerald Lake, Burgess Shale (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Takakkaw Falls and views of the Northern Lights.
Denali National Park, Alaska: With Alaska National Park tours activities include: Mount Denali, the Northern Lights, viewing diverse wildlife, dog sledding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ice fishing and outdoor camping.