15 Best National Parks to Visit in December

December splits the national park calendar clean down the middle. Half the parks are buried, with roads gated and visitor centers dark until spring. The other half are at the top of their game: desert parks sitting at hiking temperatures the rest of the year never delivers, snow-country parks turning into quiet ski-and-snowshoe terrain, and a few tropical outliers that ignore winter entirely.

We have been to these parks in December, with cameras and cold hands. We know which ones reward the trip and which ones look better on a screen than they do when it is 10 degrees and the gate is locked. This list comes out of field time, not a search-engine guess.

December does three things better than any other month. It puts the desert parks at perfect temperatures. It hands you holiday-week solitude at northern parks that are wall-to-wall people in July. And it delivers low winter light and clean snow scenes that change how a familiar park reads through a lens. Below are 15 of the 63 national parks worth your December, plus a short list of parks to skip until the snow melts.

Feedback? Our comment section is at the bottom of this page. Share your December park experience, especially if you have found a low-key spot that works over the holidays. We read every comment.

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December National Parks At A Glance

Park	State / Region	December Draw	Note
Death Valley	California / Nevada	Perfect desert hiking temps, dark skies	Warm / desert
Sequoia	California	Giant trees under fresh snow	Snow / chains often required
Saguaro	Arizona	Crisp Sonoran Desert days	Warm / desert
Arches	Utah	Snow on red rock, no timed entry	Snow / icy trails
Mount Rainier	Washington	Deep snowpack, snowshoe walks	Snow / road may close in storms
Rocky Mountain	Colorado	Frozen lakes, snowshoe and ski trails	Snow / Trail Ridge Road closed
Grand Teton	Wyoming	Teton Park Road skiing, elk refuge	Snow / very cold
Crater Lake	Oregon	Blue water rimmed in white snow	Snow / Rim Drive closed
Yosemite	California	Snowy valley, ice formations	Snow / valley stays open
Redwood	California	Green old growth, no crowds	Mild / rainy
Zion	Utah	Drive your own car, snow on sandstone	Mild to cold / icy trails
Bryce Canyon	Utah	Snow on hoodoos, dark skies	Snow / 8,000 ft, cold
Virgin Islands	USVI (St. John)	80-degree beach days, snorkeling	Warm / tropical
Grand Canyon	Arizona	Snow on the South Rim	Snow on rim / North Rim closed
Haleakala	Hawaii (Maui)	Sunrise above the clouds, whales	Warm coast / cold summit

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1. Death Valley National Park

December is Death Valley’s prime month. The park that is genuinely lethal in July turns into a 3.4-million-acre run of canyons, salt flats, dunes, and ghost towns, all at temperatures you can hike in all day. Badwater Basin at 282 feet below sea level, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes at golden hour, and Zabriskie Point at sunrise are open and pleasant when the rest of the desert Southwest is too cold or too far north.

Furnace Creek makes a natural base, with the historic inn and nearby camping. December brings some of the darkest skies in the park system, with no light pollution for miles in any direction. The Geminid meteor shower peaks in mid-December, and Death Valley is one of the better places in the country to sit out under it.

December evenings get cold, dropping into the 30s, so bring layers. The daytime 60s are right for everything from slot-canyon scrambles to long desert miles.

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2. Sequoia National Park

The world’s largest trees under fresh snow is a scene that stops people mid-step. General Sherman, the largest living tree on Earth by volume, stands 275 feet tall and looks even more massive with snow loading its branches. The Giant Forest holds more than 8,000 sequoias, and in December you can move through it on snowshoes once the road is plowed.

The Generals Highway from the Ash Mountain entrance up to Giant Forest stays open in most conditions, though tire chains can be required on short notice. Crystal Cave is closed for the winter, but Moro Rock, when it is accessible, opens up across the snow-capped southern Sierra Nevada.

December in Sequoia is quiet and close to reverent. The giant trees creak under the snow load while the noise of everyday life simply disappears. Pair it with Kings Canyon, though the road above Hume Lake may be closed in winter, for a fuller Sierra trip.

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3. Saguaro National Park

December is Saguaro’s sweet spot. The furnace summer heat is gone, replaced by crisp mornings and warm afternoons made for all-day hiking. The saguaro cacti read like living sculptures against clear blue sky, and December sunsets run through orange and pink behind them.

The Rincon Mountain District on the east side has longer trails into the backcountry where you will see almost no one. The King Canyon Trail leads to a set of petroglyphs, and the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail is a serious all-day climb with steady elevation gain and wide desert views.

Tucson is one of the more underrated food cities in the Southwest, and December brings comfortable patio weather. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, next to the west district, is an excellent complement to the park itself.

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4. Arches National Park

Arches dusted with December snow is one of the sharpest visual contrasts in the park system. White snow on red sandstone under a deep blue winter sky is the kind of scene that makes people rethink a summer-only travel plan. No timed entry is required from November through March, so access is simple.

December’s low sun angle throws long shadows through the Windows and across Delicate Arch. The 3-mile hike to Delicate Arch can ice over, so pack microspikes. Landscape Arch in Devils Garden is an easy walk and just as photogenic with snow on the ground.

Moab runs quiet in December, which means good hotel rates and no waits at restaurants. The town works as a base for both Arches and nearby Canyonlands, which makes a December Utah loop efficient.

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5. Mount Rainier National Park

Paradise at Mount Rainier averages more than 640 inches of snow a year, which puts it among the snowiest places on Earth, and December is when it starts to pile up. The road to Paradise stays open year-round when weather allows, opening up snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and sledding on some of the deepest snowpack in the lower 48.

Rangers lead free snowshoe walks on weekends from the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise. The winter snowpack turns the summer wildflower meadows into open alpine terrain. On a clear day, the 14,411-foot summit stands overhead in a way that is hard to take in.

Check road status before you drive, since the route to Paradise can close temporarily in heavy storms. The Longmire area, lower and with less snow, stays more reliably open for easier winter walking.

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6. Rocky Mountain National Park

Trail Ridge Road is buried under snow by December, and that is exactly the point. Rocky Mountain National Park in winter is a snow-sports park. The Bear Lake trailhead opens onto snowshoe and cross-country ski routes past frozen waterfalls and ice-covered lakes ringed by snow-draped peaks.

Dream Lake and Emerald Lake are both reachable on snowshoes and deliver hard-to-beat frozen scenery. The timed-entry reservation system is suspended for winter, so getting in is straightforward. Estes Park is quiet and affordable, with rental shops carrying snowshoe and ski gear.

December is colder than most people expect here. Single-digit temperatures are common, especially at elevation, so dress in real winter layers and carry hand warmers. The trade is a mountain park wrapped in silence and snow.

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7. Grand Teton National Park

The Tetons under snow against a steel-blue winter sky is one of the most recognizable mountain scenes in North America. Wildlife shifts into winter mode, and bighorn sheep, bison, and moose are all visible from the road corridor. Yellowstone’s winter season opens December 15, and Grand Teton is the gateway you pass through to reach it.

Cross-country skiing on the Teton Park Road, which is closed to vehicles in winter, is a popular December outing. The Taggart Lake and Bradley Lake trails turn into snowshoe routes with frozen lakes at the end. Jackson Hole’s resort sits nearby for downhill skiing with the range as a backdrop.

Jackson, Wyoming, becomes a full winter town in December, with sleigh rides through the National Elk Refuge and a strong restaurant scene. The Tetons in December are cold, brutally cold on some days, but the landscape earns every shiver.

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8. Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in America, and in December it is framed by some of the deepest snow in the Cascades. Impossibly blue water against white snow banks is one of the more photogenic scenes in the park system. Rim Drive closes for winter, but the south entrance road up to Rim Village stays open.

Snowshoe or cross-country ski along the rim for views summer visitors never get, the lake rimmed in 10-plus feet of snow with Wizard Island poking through. Ranger-led snowshoe walks run on weekends, and reservations are recommended.

The park averages around 43 feet of snowfall a year. December storms can close the access road for a stretch, so check conditions and carry chains. When the sky clears after a storm, the view off the rim is worth the whole drive.

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9. Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Valley in December is a snow globe brought to life. El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall with snow on the granite is the winter version of America’s best-known valley. The valley floor stays open year-round, while Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road close for the season.

Waterfalls run low in December, but what they lose in volume they make up for in ice. Lower Yosemite Fall freezes into delicate curtains, and the Mirror Lake trail becomes a calm winter walk. Badger Pass Ski Area opens for the season with downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.

The Ahwahnee hosts the long-running Bracebridge Dinner during the holidays, a theatrical feast that has been staged since 1927. Book months ahead. December in Yosemite is quieter and colder than any other month, and the valley reads completely differently for it.

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10. Redwood National and State Parks

The tallest trees on Earth keep their needles through winter, so December in the redwoods is as green and towering as any other month, just without the people. Rain is the trade-off. Northern California’s wet season delivers steady December rainfall, and the old-growth groves run on it. The moss glows greener, the forest floor goes lush, and the fog and rain make these ancient forests feel prehistoric.

Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Stout Memorial Grove, and Tall Trees Grove are all reachable in December. Fern Canyon can be muddy but stays one of the better short hikes on the West Coast. Rain gear and waterproof boots are not optional here.

Elk graze the coastal meadows, and the Roosevelt elk around Prairie Creek are especially easy to find in winter. No entrance fee, no reservations, just you and 300-foot trees in the rain.

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11. Zion National Park

December in Zion means you can drive your own car through Zion Canyon. The shuttle system stops from late November into early spring, opening the scenic drive to personal vehicles. This is the only stretch of the year when you can park at the trailheads and move at your own pace, free of shuttle schedules.

The Narrows are usually closed or require a dry suit in December because of cold water, but the canyon hikes are excellent. Angels Landing with a dusting of snow on the sandstone is dramatic. The Emerald Pools and Pa’rus Trail make easy winter walks, with snow on the rim sharpening the contrast.

Ice on the trails is a real concern in December, especially on north-facing routes and at higher elevation. Microspikes belong in your pack. Springdale’s restaurants and shops stay open year-round.

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12. Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos under snow is one of the strongest winter scenes in the West. The red and orange rock pillars, carved by frost-wedging over millions of years, set off hard against fresh white snow. December’s low sun casts long shadows through the amphitheater, building depth that the high summer sun simply flattens out.

The main road to Bryce Point stays open year-round. The Navajo Loop and Queens Garden trails are hikeable in winter with microspikes, dropping you down into the hoodoo forest for a close-up look. Ranger-led full-moon snowshoe hikes run from November through March, so check the park calendar.

At 8,000 feet, Bryce is genuinely cold in December, so dress for it. The payoff is the night sky. As an International Dark Sky Park, Bryce turns December’s long nights and clean air into some of the best stargazing in the system.

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13. Virgin Islands National Park

While the rest of the country freezes, Virgin Islands National Park hands you 80-degree beach days and snorkeling in bath-warm water. Trunk Bay, regularly rated one of the world’s best beaches, has an underwater snorkeling trail with signs naming the coral and fish. December water clarity is excellent as the wet season winds down.

The park covers roughly 60% of St. John, including beaches, tropical forest, historic sugar plantation ruins, and miles of trails. The Reef Bay Trail drops through tropical dry forest to ancient Taino petroglyphs and a beach where a park boat picks you up.

December is the start of high season in the USVI, so book early and expect higher prices. The trade is reliable weather, calm seas, and no hurricanes. Fly into St. Thomas and take the ferry to St. John, since there is no airport on the island.

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14. Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon with snow on the rim is an image that resets how you see the place. The South Rim stays open year-round, and December brings a fraction of the summer crowds. Snow dusts the rim while the inner canyon runs warmer, creating a layered effect where you start in winter and hike down into spring.

The North Rim closes for the season on October 15, so December is South Rim only. The Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails are hikeable with the right gear, with microspikes for icy sections near the rim and layers for the temperature swings. Phantom Ranch at the bottom is mild in December and booked far in advance.

December sunrises and sunsets paint the canyon walls in tones summer’s harsh light cannot reach. Mather Point at dawn with fresh snow is a scene that stays with you.

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15. Haleakala National Park

December at Haleakala brings two signature experiences: sunrise above the clouds and humpback whale watching. The sunrise reservation system keeps crowds in check at the 10,023-foot summit, where the sky runs from black to purple to gold to blue. Summit temperatures hover around 40°F at dawn, so bring real layers.

Humpback whales reach Hawaiian waters from late November into December, and Maui’s coast is one of the best vantage points anywhere. Pair a summit sunrise with a drive down through the Kipahulu district for the Pipiwai Trail and 400-foot Waimoku Falls.

December’s wet season brings more rain to the Kipahulu coast, but the waterfalls run for it. The crater itself stays dry and otherworldly. This is a park that hands you two completely different days in a single visit.

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Parks To Skip In December

Some parks are more hassle than they are worth in December:

• Glacier National Park: Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed and buried under feet of snow. Only the west side is reachable, and only for serious winter travelers with avalanche awareness.
• North Cascades National Park: Highway 20 is closed, and the park is sealed off to most visitors until spring.
• Denali National Park: Only the first 3 miles of park road are open, and temperatures regularly hit -20°F. This is expedition territory, not a vacation.
• Isle Royale National Park: Closed since October 31 and not reopening until April.
• Great Smoky Mountains: Technically open, but many roads close with snow and ice and Clingmans Dome Road shuts through March 31. The park runs icy, foggy, and limited. Other months serve the Smokies better.

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Planning a December National Parks Trip

December rewards planning more than almost any other month. A few things to sort out before you go:

• Holiday closures. Park grounds generally stay open, but visitor centers, lodges, and concession services often close or run reduced hours around Christmas and New Year’s. Confirm hours on the park’s official site before you commit.
• Road and altitude closures. High-elevation roads close for winter, including Trail Ridge Road, Rim Drive at Crater Lake, Tioga and Glacier Point roads at Yosemite, and the Teton Park Road. The Grand Canyon’s North Rim is shut. Check current road status the day you travel.
• Carry winter traction. Microspikes and tire chains turn icy, off-limits trails and roads into accessible ones at Arches, Zion, Bryce, the Grand Canyon, and the Sierra parks. Pack them even if the forecast looks clear.
• Daylight is short. Near the solstice you may have only nine or ten usable hours of light. Start early, plan shorter days, and carry a headlamp.
• Book early for the popular winter windows. Dry Tortugas ferry seats, Phantom Ranch beds, the Yosemite Bracebridge Dinner, and holiday-week lodging at the warm-weather parks fill months out. Reserve as far ahead as you can.

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December National Parks FAQ

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The 15 Best National Parks to Visit in December

1. Death Valley National Park
2. Sequoia National Park
3. Saguaro National Park
4. Arches National Park
5. Mount Rainier National Park
6. Rocky Mountain National Park
7. Grand Teton National Park
8. Crater Lake National Park
9. Yosemite National Park
10. Redwood National and State Parks
11. Zion National Park
12. Bryce Canyon National Park
13. Virgin Islands National Park
14. Grand Canyon National Park
15. Haleakala National Park

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About More Than Just Parks

More Than Just Parks is run by the Pattiz Brothers, filmmakers and photographers who have spent years on the ground across America’s public lands destinations. Our park coverage comes out of field work, not a desk, and our films have been viewed more than 100 million times and featured by the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior, and outlets around the world. When we say December is the month to catch the desert parks at their best and the northern parks at their quietest, it is because we have stood in both.

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Tell Us Your December Park Story

What is your favorite national park in December? Did you snowshoe the rim at Crater Lake, sit out the Geminid meteor shower from Death Valley, or snorkel Trunk Bay on Christmas Day? Share your December park experience in the comments, especially any tips that would help others plan a winter park trip.