So without further adieu, Coast to Coast suggests the following seven parks (both warm and cold) for a fun and fulfilling winter visit:
Yellowstone National Park Wyoming, Montana & Idaho
“From December to March, an Old Faithful eruption rarely attracts more than a dozen onlookers compared to hundreds who gather every hour in the summer,” says the park’s Public Affairs Officer, Morgan Warthin. Warthin, whose career includes stints at national parks throughout the West, goes on to note that “Yellowstone’s geysers, mud pots, steam vents and hot springs are even more spectacular in the frigid winter air, billowing steam up to 1,000 feet high against the frosty surroundings.” By December most park roads close with the major exception being the road that runs between the northeast entrance and Mammoth Hot Springs. Other roads become thoroughfares for skiers, snowshoers, snowcoaches and snowmobiles. Yellowstone is a huge park, spread out over 2.2 million acres, so unless you are a physically fit and experienced skier or snowshoer, the best way to visit the park’s many attractions — the famous thermal areas in particular — would be to join one of the numerous snowmobile tours. Daily tours are available, led by both park rangers and concessionaires, as are a limited number of self-guided tours. To make the most of a Yellowstone visit, we recommend taking a room at either Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Old Faithful Snow Lodge. From there you can join a day tour to Old Faithful — usually flanked by steam-frosted bison — to view the bubbling Fountain Paint Pots and watch the world’s most famous geyser blow steam with barely a soul in sight.
Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park.
Have fun looking but don’t touch the bison in Yellowstone National Park.
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington The main reason to visit Mount Rainier in the off- season is obvious: it offers winter to the max. This 14,410-foot monster of a monolith, located 60 miles east of Seattle, sees upwards of 50 feet of snowfall per year. So no surprise that it attracts an eager contingent of winter sports enthusiasts seeking first-rate skiing, snowboarding, sledding and backcountry snowshoeing. Vehicle access to Mount Rainier during the winter is available only from the Nisqually Entrance in the southwest corner of the park. The Carbon River Entrance is open but the road within the park boundary is limited to skiers and snowshoers. Rainier weather can be erratic so it’s best to check the park webpage before venturing out to verify road status, trail conditions and climbing/wilderness permits. The Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise is open on weekends only during the winter. Lodging is available all winter long at the National Park Inn at Longmire, as are meals at the Inn’s excellent dining room. The park’s four campgrounds close during the winter but permits are available for wilderness camping in certain areas.
For more information: www.nps.gov/yell 307-344-7381
NATIONAL PARKS TO VISIT IN WINTER
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE FALL 2023 | 11
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