10 Coolest Winter Experiences in U.S. National Parks-From Wild Skating to Skiing in a Rain Forest

"When deep snow closes Yellowstone's roads to vehicles, the park transforms into a dreamscape best explored by snowmobile or snowcoach (a specialized vehicle with tracks or oversized, low-pressure tires). Snowmobiles offer an active adventure, while snowcoaches deliver a relaxing, heated, guided ride. In both cases, most tours follow one of two routes: either to Old Faithful and the geyser basins, or to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and wildlife-rich Hayden Valley, where bison often travel right on the road."

"Few skating rinks can claim a backdrop as dramatic as Yosemite's Curry Village, where skaters glide across the ice with Half Dome glowing pink in the distance. Fire pits, the Pizza Deck, and Bar 1899 serve as icing on this spectacular winter cake. When you've had your fill, Badger Pass Ski Area, one of California's oldest, is a free shuttle ride away, offering beginner-friendly downhill runs, snowboarding, a terrain park, and a dedicated tubing hill."

Winter transforms many national parks into snow-blanketed landscapes with frozen waterfalls, quiet trails, and dramatically reduced crowds. Deep snow closes Yellowstone's roads, prompting exploration by snowmobile or snowcoach to Old Faithful, geyser basins, or the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and wildlife-rich Hayden Valley where bison sometimes walk on the road. Yosemite's Curry Village rink offers skating beneath Half Dome, with nearby Badger Pass providing downhill runs, snowboarding, a terrain park, and tubing. Parks also host special events such as Bryce Canyon's Winter Festival and offer unusual cold-weather pursuits ranging from underground caroling to aurora viewing and ski archery.

Read at Travel + Leisure