Winter is the best season to look for Anhingas, and other wildlife, in Everglades National Park. But it’s also a great season to head to Point Reyes National Seashore in California to watch for the arrival of thousands of elephant seals for their breeding season, or to the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River in New York and Pennsylvania to scan the skies for bald eagles.

The fact is, the winter months are a great time to find yourself in the National Park System, whether you’re in search of wildlife, a great hike, or to seek out some solitude.

In our winter guide to the parks, we offer articles that can help you choose your destination. There are road trips that will not only keep you free of snow and ice but also take you back in history.

And while many national park lodges close in winter, there are many other lodgings where you can call it a night, as we note on page 12. You can begin planning next year’s vacation by turning to page 28 to read about international park travel, to page 10 to consider renting a home inside Yosemite National Park for your getaway, or begin making plans for a trip this winter by scanning our list of both warm and sandy and cold and snowy destinations. The point is, there is no down season in the National Park System.

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