During peak tourist season, many national parks are now so jammed it diminishes the experience of being in nature. Peacefulness and solitude can be hard to come by. 

There's also the fact that, in some places, peak season has expanded to include periods that were once much quieter. In Yellowstone and Grand Teton, for example, October was reliably nice and slow - but that changed beginning with the autumn of 2023. Now, during what used to be the collar season, campgrounds have been full right up until they close for the season, and a lot of trailheads are still congested. (Don't kids go to school?)

If national parks are on your radar but you're not crazy about dealing with the inevitable crowds as well as the hassle of reservations and/or timed entry, I've got a suggestion: try the winter months. 

One visit and you could be hooked.

LONG SHADOWSThe low angle of the sun during the winter months creates wonderful long shadows. Here, they extend from the cottonwoods all the way to the barn, their blue hue mimicking that of the clear, early morning sky.

T.A. Moulton Barn
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming First, let's address the elephant in the room: depending on the location, the next few months can be cold. Very cold. If that gives you pause, I get it. Once upon a time sinking temperatures would have kept me at home: a long-ago adventure with frostbite left me very cold-sensitive. But warmth technology has significantly improved the effectiveness of winter gear. Even if you're susceptible to easily feeling the cold, it's possible to dress for the conditions.

(Or think about locations that don't get bitterly cold, like Death Valley.)

Why I'm a big believer in winter at the national parks:

Elbow Room
The crowds thin out considerably during the winter. It's not uncommon to encounter only a handful of people on the trails, even at mid-day, and there will be ample parking at trailheads, pullouts, and overlooks.

If you're out before sunrise and/or at sunset, you might find yourself completely alone. 

Bliss.

Enchanting Landscapes 
Winter wonderlands created by snow, hoarfrost, ghost trees, and ice are a photographer's dream. Some of the conditions (like hoarfrost) can be fleeting, which only makes them more special. Visiting this time of year will afford you a completely different perspective; you'll see things many others will never witness. It's a perfect opportunity to create more unique photographs.  

Spend time in a park like Yellowstone at the height of winter and you'll quickly realize that cold temperatures create amazing, magical scenes as superheated thermal features combine with frigid temperatures. You might not care that it's 20 below zero. In fact, you might welcome it. Seriously! My winter motto at Yellowstone is "The colder the better" - and remember, that's coming from Ms. Cold-Sensitive.  

Superb Night Skies
There's better viewing of the night sky during the winter months: cold, dry air creates far less atmospheric interference. For the ultimate celestial show, visit a Dark Sky park like Bryce. Even in places like Grand Teton, which doesn't have such a designation but enjoys minimal light pollution, you'll get quite a display overhead.

Logistics
Generally speaking, it's easier to secure lodging and rates are typically more affordable. Also, as referenced above, most parks which have implemented timed entry, some type of reservation system, and/or restrictions on personal vehicle entry, drop those requirements over the winter.

Say goodbye to schlepping all the camera gear, outerwear and water/snacks you think you might need for the day onto a bus which you waited forever in a Disneyland-style line to board. Don't worry about having to jump online the night before to try to snag a permit. Forget about being turned away at the gate because you showed up at the wrong time. 

Yellowstone recorded nearly one million recreational visits in July. Grand Teton averaged more than 21,000 visits per day this past summer. Zion's canyon is a mere 15 miles long - it's a small park - yet it recorded 554,000 visits in July. For the ultimate in misery, how about this: Great Smoky Mountains topped 1.6 million visits in July.

Sound less than appealing? 

There's a solution. Winter. 

FRAMEDHoodoos create the frame; the patch of snow in which the fir tree stands further enhances the vignette.

Bryce Amphitheater at Sunset Point
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

In Local News
Grand Targhee Ski Resort is scheduled to open for the season on the 22nd, conditions permitting. Jackson Hole will follow with its opening set for the day after Thanksgiving.

Crews are still working on the Teton Pass at the site of the massive landslide which occurred last June. They're now focused on placing fill and plan to continue with that through the end of the month, before deep winter sets in. At that point they'll pause until spring. They're projecting having the new section of roadway completed by July 2025. In the meantime, the temporary detour which has been in use since this past July will remain open throughout the winter.

The Pack Trail fire, which was discovered in mid-September and has consumed nearly 90,000 acres about 20 miles southeast of Grand Teton National Park, is now 95% contained. As of last week, there were 73 personnel, two crews, one local engine and one helicopter still assigned to the fire since smoke and heat remain on the interior. Snowfall and cold temperatures are expected to continue to provide an assist.