You are here

Reader Participation Day: What Parks Lure You In Winter?

Share

If you're planning a winter national park escape, are you thinking cold and snowy Yellowstone, or warm and sandy Virgin Islands? Roaring Mountain photo by Kurt Repanshek, Cinnamon Bay photo via wikipedia.

Winter is but two months or so away, which prompts the question: Do you plan any winter national park adventures, or do you simply dream about them?

Yellowstone National Park is a renowned destination for a winter park fix with its biting cold and snowy weather, but then, so is Virgin Islands National Park with its sandy beaches and palms, and the Hawaiian parks are always nice places to flee cold and snow, no?

So, travelers, speak up: Are you planning a winter park escape, and if so, to which park?

Featured Article

Comments

I'm thinking Hohokam Ima NM, Casa Grande Ruins NM, Saguaro NP, Fort Bowie NHS, Carlsbad Caverns NP, Guadalupe Mts NP, Big Bend NP, Rio Grande WSR, Amistad NRA and Padre Island NS. Can you tell I'm taking a journey to Texas?


Rocky Mountain National Park of course. We'll be there in February for a big snowshoeing get-together. We do this every year. We'll be building igloos and some of us will stay in them out in the backcountry. I'll have my kiddos with me so I won't be in the igloos overnight.


Backpacking through Joshua Tree and Death Valley. Can't wait!


My only experience is Yellowstone in Winter. Last year we spent Christmas in Yellowstone and it was magical! Giantess Geyser erupted in the Upper Geyser Basin starting on Christmas Eve and erupted throughout Christmas Day!! I'd like to add Grand Teton NP to those experiences!


Rocky Mountain National Park for me too! Same snowshoeing event as Aaron. Can't wait!


Among our most memorable park visits in the dead of winter was a recemt trip to Carlsbad Caverns, NM in early January of 2008. Once we entered the Caverns via the Natural Entrance self-guiding trail, we just about had that immense dimly-lit underground gallery of calsified art to ourselves. There were several friendly and highly knowledgeable rangers stationed along the route to engage in conversation and answer questions. They spoke in soft wispering tones to preserve the cathedral-like quiet of that spectacular underground world. Based on our overall experience, I highly recommend a winter visit to Carlsbad Caverns. On the other hand, I cannot imagine what the crowds of summer are like.


Cabrillo NM, specifically the tide pools. They're stuck inside the gate of a military installation; the gate closes at 4pm and everyone has to leave by 5pm. Most of the year the lowest low tides are before you can enter at 9am or after you have to leave, but in winter some of the low low tides are while the park is open.


Valley Forge has a great scout encampment every Presidents' Day weekend (February). If you live in the Philly area, you owe it to yourself to get out there and enjoy the demonstrations and support the scouts durng the time of year that epitomizes everything that happened at Valley Forge. Great event.


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.