Want to skip the summertime crowds? Go to a national park in winter. From snow-covered dunes and steaming geysers to sunny desert trails and warm turquoise water, winter completely transforms some of America’s most popular parks.

It’s my favorite season for exploring many national parks. These six are especially magical during the quieter months.

Hike in North America’s Tallest Sand Dunes

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is famous for Medano Creek’s surge flow in late spring and early summer. Winter delivers a completely different experience of crisp air and glorious solitude in the tallest sand dunes in North America.

During one solo winter visit, I saw only a handful of people all afternoon. The park protects the tallest sand dunes in North America, with some rising more than 700 feet. They look even more otherworldly against the snow-covered Sangre de Cristo Mountains. One caveat of winter: it can be very windy.

After exploring the dunes, hike to nearby Zapata Falls. The waterfall frequently freezes into a beautiful wall of ice, but the rocky trail can be slick. Traction devices are a smart addition to your winter gear.

Stay in Alamosa and add a soak at one of the hot springs within an hour of the park, including Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa.

Arches and Canyonlands Without the Heat

Arches and Canyonlands are two of the country’s most popular national parks. In winter, the crowds thin, temperatures chilly, and an occasional dusting of snow creates a striking contrast against the red rock.

During a January trip, I used Moab Springs Ranch as my base while spending two uncrowded days in the parks. Hiking to Delicate Arch with fewer than 20 people, securing a same-day permit for Fiery Furnace, and watching the sunrise at Mesa Arch without the massive crowd are three reasons these two parks are better in winter.

Days can be sunny and pleasant, but mornings and evenings are generally cold. Shaded sections of trails, especially on slickrock, can be icy. Carry traction devices, like Kahtoola EXOSpikes, on slickrock trails, especially the final stretch to Delicate Arch.

Backpacking in Big Bend

Winter and early spring are prime seasons for exploring Big Bend National Park, one of my favorite places on the planet. There’s something magnetic and mystical about the vast West Texas desert.

My friend Carroll introduced me to Terlingua and Big Bend during a summer road trip in 2017. I’ve returned multiple times, including an early-March backpacking adventure through the Chisos Mountains with Stillhouse and Big Bend Boating and Hiking Company. For two nights on either side of our backpacking trip, we stayed at Terlingua Nights Cabins. It’s a wonderful basecamp for your time in Terlingua.

I had previously hiked Lost Mine Trail and Santa Elena Canyon, but backpacking gave me more time to take in the Chisos Mountains surrounded by miles of stark desert. Big Bend is the only national park containing an entire mountain range within its boundaries.

You can also cross the Rio Grande for lunch in Boquillas, Mexico, when the official port of entry is open. Bring a valid passport book or card, small bills, and enough time for the rowboat crossing and half-mile trip into town. The park’s Port of Entry at the crossing is open Friday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Snowmobile Through Yellowstone

Yellowstone in winter is a dreamy world of snow, steam, wildlife, and silence. Most park roads close to regular vehicles, making snowcoaches and snowmobiles the primary ways to reach many of its famous geothermal features.

I joined Gary Fales Outfitting for a two-day snowmobile adventure from Cody, Wyoming, with an overnight at Old Faithful Snow Lodge. My guide Dean and I traveled for miles without seeing anyone else. Bison truly outnumber people in Yellowstone during winter.

We also spotted a fox sunning on a hillside and a coyote hunting for dinner. Seeing steaming geysers surrounded by deep snow with very few people around was a bucket-list experience.

Most visitors must enter Yellowstone with an authorized snowmobile or snowcoach operator. A limited lottery also allows some non-commercially guided snowmobile groups. 

I paired the snowmobile adventure with a stay at the historic Chamberlin Inn and several winter activities around Cody, including snowshoeing and ice climbing.

See the Saguaros in Tucson

Winter is glorious in Saguaro National Park. Cooler temperatures make it easier to hike and explore the forests of giant cacti that define the Sonoran Desert. Plus, it’s in Tucson, a southern Arizona city perfect for a winter getaway.

The park is easily accessible with two districts on opposit sides of Tucson, both less than 30 minutes from downtown. In the Rincon Mountain District, or East Unit, drive the one-way Cactus Forest Loop and hike the easy Mica View Loop. Near the trailhead, look for a rare crested saguaro that resembles a giant broccoli stalk.

In the Tucson Mountain District, or West Unit, Signal Hill Trail is only about half a mile round trip but has a wonderful payoff: fascinating petroglyphs etched into rocks near the summit. King Canyon Trail is a great option if you want more mileage.

Don’t miss the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum beside the West Unit. The drive through Tucson Mountain Park is also stunning, especially late in the day.

Tucson’s dark skies make stargazing another reason to linger after sunset. Saguaro National Park is recognized as an Urban Night Sky Place, a designation celebrating its efforts to protect darkness near a major city. Tucson is home to the world’s first Astro Trail for stargazing.

Boating in Biscayne

If your ideal winter escape involves turquoise water instead of snow, head to Biscayne National Park in South Florida. About 95 percent of this nearly 173,000-acre park is water, so the best way to experience it is by boat.

I joined the Biscayne National Park Institute for a sailing excursion to Elliott Key. We snorkeled, paddleboarded, relaxed on the beach, and learned about the park’s coral reefs, mangrove forests, islands, and human history before sailing back to Convoy Point.

Winter is typically South Florida’s drier season, making it a wonderful time for boating, snorkeling, paddling, and exploring the other National Park Service sites nearby.

During a one night in Everglades City stop, I combined Biscayne with Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park before driving through the Florida Keys to Key West and flying by seaplane to Dry Tortugas National Park. Casa Morada on Islamorada and Ocean Key Resort and Spa in Key West are two of my favorite places to stay along the way.

Why Visit National Parks in Winter?

Winter trips require extra planning. Roads, trails, visitor centers, and park services may operate on reduced schedules. Snow and ice can also change conditions quickly.

The tradeoff is often worth it. You may find quieter trails, easier wildlife sightings, cooler hiking weather, spectacular seasonal scenery, and a side of America’s national parks most summer visitors never see.

Jennifer Broome has traveled extending across America including over 300 National Park Service sites, inculuding 52 of the 63 national parks (as of August 2026). Check out the Explore the Parks section for more.