10 Coolest Winter Experiences in U.S. National Parks

Summer may be prime time for America’s national parks, but winter reveals a completely different, far more idyllic side—one of snow-blanketed trails, frozen waterfalls, and (arguably best of all) zero crowds. Many parks remain at least partially open year-round, offering unexpected cold-weather adventures ranging from underground caroling to chasing the aurora and competing in ski archery. Here are 10 of the most unforgettable winter experiences waiting in the offsseason.

Ride a snowcoach or snowmobile through Yellowstone.

When deep snow closes Yellowstone’s roads to vehicles, the park transforms into a dreamscape best explored by snowmobile or snowcoach (a specialized vehicle with tracks or oversized low-pressure tires). Snowmobiles offer an active adventure, while snowcoaches deliver a relaxing, heated, guided ride.

In both cases, most tours follow one of two routes: either to Old Faithful and the geyser basins, or to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and wildlife-rich Hayden Valley, where bison often travel right on the road. Many operators run trips from West Yellowstone and Gardiner, Montana (ideal if you’re staying in Bozeman), or Jackson, Wyoming. I’ve taken a snowcoach tour with Yellowstone Vacations and highly recommend it; they also have top-rated snowmobile tours. These sell out quickly, so be sure to book early.

Ice skate beneath Half Dome in Yosemite.

Few skating rinks can claim a backdrop as dramatic as Yosemite’s Curry Village, where skaters glide across the ice with Half Dome glowing pink in the distance. Fire pits, the Pizza Deck, and Bar 1899 serve as icing on this spectacular winter cake. When you’ve had your fill, Badger Pass Ski Area, one of California’s oldest, is a free shuttle ride away, offering beginner-friendly downhill runs, snowboarding, a terrain park, and a dedicated tubing hill. 

Celebrate Bryce Canyon’s Winter Festival.

Bryce Canyon is an anomaly in that it’s just as epic—perhaps more so—in the winter as it is in other seasons. The park’s famous red-orange hoodoos look even more surreal capped with snow, and the lack of crowds enhances the landscape tenfold. Every February for the last 40-plus years, Ruby’s Inn hosts the annual Bryce Canyon Winter Festival, three days of snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, archery (and ski archery), ice skating, and guided hikes along the canyon rim. Beyond sports, attendees can take workshops in astrophotography, leather-making, line dancing, and even nutrition. 

Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree in Kings Canyon.

For more than a century, people have gathered on the second Sunday in December in Kings Canyon National Park to honor one of the largest living trees in the world: General Grant. President Calvin Coolidge designated it the “Nation’s Christmas Tree” in 1926. One hundred years later, the annual Trek to the Nation’s Christmas Tree includes park ranger talks, caroling, and a ceremonial wreath-laying beneath the 268-foot-tall sequoia. Visitors enjoy free park admission for 2025’s centennial celebration, held on Dec. 14.

Snowshoe amid Glacier’s winter silence.

Winter weekends in Glacier National Park mean popular ranger-led snowshoe walks from late December through mid-March. The two-hour, beginner-friendly outings trace quiet trails near Apgar and Lake McDonald, putting the park’s vast stillness on full display. And while the northern lights typically dance much later in the night, park visitors lingering after dark may get a rare glimpse; I personally saw them from Lake McDonald’s shores in mid-September.

Hit the slopes in Olympic National Park.

It turns out you can, in fact, ski in a rain forest. High above the mossy, fern-carpeted valleys of Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge serves as a proper alpine playground with 400 inches of annual snow, a rope tow, and an old-school Poma lift. On clear days (which are, admittedly, somewhat few and far between), views of the craggy Olympic Mountains and Strait of Juan de Fuca make this one of the most staggeringly beautiful ski areas in the U.S. Hurricane Ridge also offers lessons through its winter sports school.

Attend an underground concert at Mammoth Cave.

Every December, merry voices echo through the world’s longest-known cave system during Mammoth Cave National Park’s beloved annual Cave Sing. The tradition dates back well over a century, when residents hosted a Christmas party in the cave, even hauling in a decorated 10-foot tree. Today, the free celebration includes several musical performances in the cave’s massive, acoustically rich rooms, as well as refreshments and a visit from Santa Claus himself. 

Ride the scenic railroad through Cuyahoga Valley.

Cuyahoga Valley Naional Park feels especially peaceful in winter, when the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad winds through snowy forests and frozen waterfalls. Sit in a heated dome car for the best views, and book a themed ride, like the family-friendly North Pole Adventure, to pile on the holiday nostalgia.

Go wild ice skating on Acadia’s frozen ponds.

When winter’s deep freeze takes hold in Maine, smaller bodies of water across Acadia National Park transform into serene natural skating rinks. Local favorites like Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake have wide-open ice framed by snow-tipped pines and rounded granite peaks. Conditions can change quickly, so ask local gear rental shops or ice fishermen about current ice thickness before venturing out—and bring traction spikes or snowshoes for the approach trails.

Sled down snow-covered sand in Indiana Dunes.

The towering sand dunes skirting Lake Michigan become a pleasantly surprising sled hill once snow arrives. Just southwest of the West Beach picnic area, an east-facing slope allows sledding when there’s enough snow on the ground to cover the sand. The juxtaposition of lake-effect snow and frozen sand with one of the world’s most famous skylines shimmering across the water is odd and wonderful—and an easy day trip from Chicago for anyone craving a bite-sized national park adventure.