Visit a national park in the spring, summer, or fall, and you鈥檒l get endless trails, stunning campsites, and mild weather. You鈥檒l also get hordes of other people. Winter is a whole different story, with way-fewer crowds and pristine snow-covered landscapes. With the government finally open again, it鈥檚 the perfect time for a visit. Operations and access may be limited due to the season, but the parks below still have plenty to do, from shimmering full-moon hikes to lift-accessed skiing. All you need is a few extra layers. 听听
Crater Lake
Oregon
in southern Oregon gets an average of 44 feet of snow each winter, so this time of year听its trails and campgrounds are buried by snow. That doesn鈥檛 mean you shouldn鈥檛 plan a trip. Highway 62 and the access road into Rim Village are plowed and always open. However, the first big snow of the year closes Rim Drive around the crater, turning听it into a perfect cross-country skiing and snowshoeing route. The west rim is great for beginners, while the east rim should be tackled听by experts with avy gear听and training as it passes through some avalanche zones. The reward is听sweeping views of the lake from Sun Notch and Garfield-Applegate Ridge. There are also ranger-lead snowshoe hikes every weekend from December through April. There are听no winter accommodations inside the park, so stay 20 miles away in a cabin at 听(from $129), which rents snowshoes and cross-country skis.
Rocky Mountain
Colorado
Backcountry skiers flock to the high-elevation peaks and steep couloirs within each winter. The former Hidden Valley ski area, which closed in 1991, has low-angle bowls you can skin up, or tackle the 1,500-vertical-foot Dragontail Couloir, a classic Colorado route. offers guided backcountry skiing excursions in the park and hostel-style bunks upstairs at its听Estes Park office starting at $40 a night. Or opt for a room at the recently renovated 听in town (from $119). The Latitude 105 Alehouse in the lobby serves up good beers and great burgers.
Yellowstone
Wyoming
, the only nonprofit wildlife-tour provider听in Jackson, Wyoming, has a winter trip through听Yellowstone that鈥檚 hard to beat. You鈥檒l travel the park鈥檚 snow-covered roads in a custom Mercedes-Benz snowcoach鈥攂asically a van with four tank treads instead of tires鈥攚hile taking in views of Old Faithful and the park鈥檚 other famous geothermal features. You鈥檒l also stop听for snowy treks in search of wildlife like bison, coyotes, and foxes. The , located within the park, is only accessible by snowcoach shuttle in the winter, but it鈥檚 well worth the effort (from $159).
Yosemite
California
The , on the south side of , has five chairlifts and 90 acres for downhill skiers as well as听some 25 miles of groomed trails for cross-country enthusiasts.听The听road to Glacier Point is closed once you pass the ski hill, but you can听cross-country听ski the 21-mile round-trip to earn a stunning panorama of the entire valley. Or ice-skate with views of Half Dome at the outdoor rink in Yosemite Valley. Stay at the historic (from $518), or book the backcountry (from $50 per person), which requires a hardy ten-mile ski trip to reach.
Bryce Canyon
Utah
Imagine empty trails, brilliant stargazing, and fresh snow coating a red-rock desert鈥攖hat鈥檚听 in the winter. The park has a , scheduled from February 16鈥18 this year, that includes cross-country ski tours, guided fat biking, and photography clinics, and don鈥檛 miss the ranger-led full-moon snowshoe excursions. It鈥檚 illegal to backcountry ski off the rim into the canyon, but the lifts at听 and听听are just down the road. , the closest lodging to the park entrance, has an ice-skating rink across the street (from $80). 听
Acadia
Maine
Sections of the famed Park Loop Road鈥攁 popular scenic drive in 鈥攔emain open in the winter, so you can still access the park听by vehicle. Once you鈥檙e inside, set out on snowshoes or skis. The grooms about听32 miles of trail听for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when conditions allow. For a slower pace,听 offers guided ice-fishing trips in the area and cottage rentals near prime fishing spots. The in downtown Bar Harbor has an outdoor hot tub and loaner bikes for exploring town (from $99).
Olympic
Washington
In , you can ride a rope tow at , one of only three ski areas in the country still operating within a national park and a charming, family-friendly hill that feels like a throwback to another era. Hurricane Ridge also has sledding and cross-country skiing, or you can go for a long midwinter walk on the park鈥檚 deserted beaches. Stay at the , which is open year-round and has amazing听storm watching from the porch (from $95).