Winter at National Parks in Ken Burns PBS Series
Yosemite, Death Valley, Yellowstone, Teton, Utah Parks Open
Sep 29, 2009
Plan to explore some of the gorgeous, scenic places in the 12-hour Ken Burns PBS series on U.S. National Parks, “America’s best idea”? Winter can be preferable to summer for those with senior passes who wish to see extremely popular parks without hordes of other tourists.
California Parks – Yosemite, Death Valley
Yosemite can be magical from December through March, although visitors should be prepared for cold weather and snow. Yosemite Valley and Wawona are accessible by car all year. Curry Village has ice-skating under the shadow of two of Yosemite’s most photographed sites – Half Dome and Glacier Point.
At higher elevations, hardy sports can snowshoe and cross country ski on equipment that can be rented within the park. The view from Glacier Point is magnificent, and the park offers machine-made cross country trails, but it is still a long haul. Badger Pass has its own downhill ski area.
Death Valley, the lowest, hottest, driest park, is perfect for those who cannot deal with the cold. Among the activities are living history guided tours of Scotty's Castle, the1920s mansion that contains “original furnishings and stories to match,” as the park literature says. Tourists can take their own hikes, walks and scenic car rambles. The days are mostly cool, nights are chilly, and the night skies are sensational.
Wyoming Parks - Yellowstone, Grand Teton
During winter, both these parks become ideal for those who like solitude and snow, whether or not the National Park Service decides to restrict snowmobile or snowcoach tours,
The Yellowstone winter season opens December 15th. Xanterra operates several lodges during the winter, including Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful Snow Lodge; rooms should be booked well in advance. Tourists also can see Old Faithful and other geysers on day trips.
Grand Teton National Park is a blissful experience in winter, with opportunities for wildlife viewing with the Tetons as a breathtaking snowy mountain backdrop. The best way to see it is on snowshoes or cross country skis with a guide. Guided tours are available from the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center and private tours can be booked in the nearby town of Jackson. Some roads through Grand Teton are open to cars, weather permitting.
Utah Parks – Canyonlands and Arches
Driving through Canyonlands and Arches National Parks in winter gives visitors a calmer and quieter opportunity to experience these red rock sandstone wonders. Both parks are open all year. Day hikes and mountain or road bike rides (allowed only on paved roads) can be exhilarating in good weather, although both parks can get snowstorms.
Overall, some of the greatest national parks as wonderful in winter as they are in foliage season. And year 'round, seniors get almost free admission.
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