I've Visited 30+ National Parks-and This Is My Favorite to Visit During the Winter for Few Crowds and Scenic Drives

"I cursed myself as I hauled my trembling body up the chains toward Angels Landing. The climb is infamous for its heart-pumping switchbacks and vertiginous jaunt along a narrow sliver of crag. Those who fear heights, like me, typically avoid it. Instead, I entered the Angels Landing lottery. I did so because I had a plan: I'd enter the day-before permit lottery to prove my bravery, knowing full well that, given the climb's popularity, I wouldn't get a spot."

"While Zion National Park is busy in spring, summer, and fall, winter is a whole different ballgame. The crowds thin-so much so that Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, which is typically closed to all but the park shuttles, reopens for personal vehicles. This minimal crowding also meant that, despite my seemingly shrewd strategy, my husband and I landed two permits to ascend one of the park system's scariest climbs."

Angels Landing features steep switchbacks, chains, and narrow crag sections and is typically accessed via a permit lottery. Winter brings far fewer visitors, reopening Zion Canyon Scenic Drive to personal vehicles and increasing chances to secure permits for popular climbs. Winter weather is unpredictable: mid-December can have mild daytime temperatures around the mid-50s and freezing nights, while nearly half of the park's precipitation falls in winter. Visitors should build buffer days for poor conditions, come prepared for variable weather, and note that snow can transform the canyon into a powdery-white landscape. Most trails remain open in winter.

Read at Travel + Leisure