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Your Ultimate Guide to Exploring the Beauty of America’s National Parks Year-Round

The United States national parks transform with the seasons, offering unique and unforgettable experiences year-round. Whether you’re chasing golden foliage in autumn, marveling at snow-draped landscapes in winter, or reveling in vibrant spring and summer blooms, you will find a perfect park for your next adventure. Keep reading to know the best national parks to visit in every season.

Fall

Rockies

Colorado’s foliage turns gold in autumn, and the Rocky Mountain’s Bear Lake Road and Peak to Peak Highway become beautiful. The Rockie’s foliage and crisp fall mountain air create an unparalleled autumn atmosphere.

The fall means elk rutting season in the Rockies, and people can hear the elk bugling calls throughout the park. If you have an interest in participating in a cultural event, come at this time of year and join the annual elk fest in Estes Park to celebrate.

Shenandoah 

The beautiful Blue Ridge mountains come alive in autumn with bright and colorful foliage. You can explore Skyline Drive, one of the best mountain foliage routes in the United States. Skyline Drive runs for 105 miles and overlooks 70 spots showing the colorful forests and valleys.

While you’re there, hike through Old Rag and Stony Man trails to see great foliage views. The moderate weather is perfect for hiking. You can easily access Shenandoah from most East Coast cities, and you can see deer, black bears, and birds as animals prepare for winter while you’re there.

Arches National Park

Do you love to take pictures? The best time to snap photos of Arches National Park is in the fall! The light at this time of year perfectly contrasts the park’s red formations and clear blue skies, making a picture-perfect landscape.

Expect cooler nights and early sunsets in the fall for a tremendous stargazing opportunity. Arches also have pleasant autumn weather, making it a great time to see iconic sand formations.

Winter

Yellowstone

In the winter, Yellowstone transforms into a winter wonderland, allowing for a serene exploration of its landscapes and wildlife. It has snow-covered landscapes, wildlife like bison in the snow, and fewer visitors.

In Yellowstone, you can see bison, elk, wolves, and coyotes and enjoy thermal features that are too hot in other seasons, like the Old Faithful geyser and colorful grand prismatic spring. In winter, Yellowstone’s roads remain closed to regular vehicles, but visitors can access trails via snow coach or snowmobile.

The Grand Canyon

Many people travel to the Grand Canyon in the summer, making the viewpoints quieter in the winter. The Grand Canyon can get pretty hot, but it has milder weather in the winter, and you can see the red rocks contrast with the snow sprinkling them. While you’re there, hike Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab for less crowds. Don’t forget to go stargazing in the park, too.

Death Valley

Death Valley has comfortable temperatures for exploring landscapes in the summer, as it can hit unbearable hot temperatures. Death Valley usually has one of the hottest climates, but the weather hits the 70s in winter, making hikes more enjoyable.

When trekking through Death Valley, explore the Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, and salt flats. You can also walk through the Mesquite flat sand dunes, which are pretty at sunrise and sunset for photos and hiking.

Spring

The Smoky Mountains

Virginia’s beautiful Smoky Mountains transform into a “wildflower national park” with blooming flowers, waterfalls, and greenery in the spring. Spring, rain, and snow melting make the park’s waterfalls like Laurel and Abrams Falls spectacular at this time of year.

In the spring, hibernation ends, and black bears, salamanders, and birds also come out to play in these hills. The winter is a wonderful time of year to hike trails like Cades Cove and Clingman’s Dome in mild temperatures.

Zion National Park

Zion’s spring temperatures range from 60 to 80 degrees, giving the park perfect weather for most outdoor activities. The Virgin River flows stronger when the snow melts, making hiking in the narrows or riverside walks more striking.

Because the streams flow freely, the waterfalls become spectacular views, allowing a tranquil experience. Remember to hike Angels Landing and Emerald Pools in the spring without the summer heat.

Joshua Tree

California’s desert landscape bursts into a flowery one with poppies and desert primrose in the spring. At this time of year, see Hidden Valley and Skull Rock, which have ideal spring lighting for photography. You can also explore Barker Dam or rock climbing without the intense summer heat and star gazing in the clear spring night skies.

Big Bend National Park

Texas can get pretty hot in the summer, but in the spring, Big Bend National Park has mild weather and vibrant desert wildflowers like ocotillo and bluebonnets. Spring water levels remain lower in the Rio Grande for kayaking and canoeing, so prepare for water sports while you’re there.

Many hike the Lost Mine and Santa Elena Canyon in the spring and enjoy the cooler spring temperatures there. Spring also has perfect opportunities for stargazing in Big Bend, and you can watch for constellations and meteor showers in the international Dark Sky Park.

Summer

Glacier National Park

People sometimes want to go to cooler places in the summer. In Glacier National Park, the weather becomes optimal for hiking in the summer. Snowfall lingers into spring, so take full advantage of activities and scenery in the hot months. Furthermore, you can only fully access the going-to-the-sun road in the summer.

You can spot mountain goats, grizzlies, moose, and bighorn sheep in their natural habitats at this national park. St. Mary’s Lake also opens for the summer season, and many people kayak and canoe in this part of the park.

Denali National Park

Alaska’s Denali National Park has over 20 daylight hours in the summer, making exploring the wilderness and seeing wildlife easier. While you’re there, look for bears, caribou, wolves, moose, and dall sheep.

In summer, Denali has clearer skies, increasing the chances of seeing Mount Denali, the tallest peak in North America. There are also unique hiking trail opportunities in summer, including bus tours offered on Denali Park Road.

Yosemite

Yosemite stays open year-round, but it comes alive in the summer. Bridalveil and vernal falls become impressive as snowmelt feeds them in early summer. Summer is also the best time of year to hike Half Dome, Mist Trail, and Cathedral Lakes.

Travelers can best access Tuolumne meadows and Glacier Point in the summer. Waterfalls still flow in summer, and the park offers outdoor activities. You can also visit the Glacier Point Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, and more.

Acadia

There is nothing like a good, old-fashioned New England summer! In Maine’s Acadia National Park, many events happen in the neighboring town of Bar Harbor.

There, you can bike in warm weather along stone bridges. You can also explore trails like Cadillac Mountain, Beehive Trail, and Jordan Pond Path, which give views of the Atlantic Ocean and hills. To get the true Maine experience, enjoy the coast-sand beach and thunder hole and see seals, porcupines, and falcons.