Things to Do & Trip Ideas

View of dog team from sled across snowy valley
Trip Idea: Visiting Denali in Winter

Winter can be a great time to visit Denali. Numerous trails allow for short or long trips by ski, snowshoe, foot—even by dog team!

Things to Do

Showing results 1-10 of 66

  • Lassen Volcanic National Park

    Sledding & Snowplay in the Southwest Area

    • Type: Snow Play
    • Locations: Lassen Volcanic National Park
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Southwest Area
    • Season: Winter, Spring
    • Time Of Day: Day
    A landscape photo of a snow-covered hill with people playing and a building in the background.

    The steep slopes behind the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center are a popular destination for sledders. Lassen's deep snowfall also provides ample opportunity for snowplay. Snowman building contest, anyone?

  • Lassen Volcanic National Park

    Snowshoe a Winter Route

    • Type: Snowshoeing
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Southwest & Manzanita Lake areas
    • Season: Winter, Spring
    • Time Of Day: Day, Night
    three people snowshoeing on a wide snow-covered route in a wooded mountain area

    Enjoy Lassen’s winter wonderland by snowshoe! Meander along the park highway route (snow-covered Hwy 89), circuit an icy lake, visit boiling hydrothermal features, or, for intrepid explorers, summit a snowy peak.

  • Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve

    Visit Craters in Winter

    • Type: Cross-Country Skiing
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Season: Winter
    A cross-country skier travels down the groomed park road in winter.

    Tour a lava wonderland blanketed in snow. Winter visitors can enjoy skiing the groomed park road or venture into the park on snowshoes.

  • Mount Rainier National Park

    Enjoy a Winter Wonderland at Paradise

    • Type: Snowshoeing
    • Duration: 2-6 Hours
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: Yes
    • Location: Paradise
    • Season: Winter
    • Time Of Day: Day
    Pink-orange sunset light illuminates a set of tracks along a snowy path and large wood building.

    Winter brings into focus a frosty view of the mountain. An abundance of snow creates a winter recreation paradise, but also brings the challenges of icy, snowy roads. The road to Paradise is plowed, when possible, to allow access. Spend hours at Paradise or add a stop in Longmire to make a full day of winter fun.

    • Type: Cross-Country Skiing
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Kawuneeche Visitor Center
    A group of seven people are cross-country skiing on a well-used trail.

    Cross-country skiing can be an enjoyable way to experience the winter season at Rocky. There is typically enough snow for skiing beginning in December through late March. Visit the west side of the park and enjoy a variety of cross-country skiing terrain.

  • Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

    Panoramic Point and Park Ridge Winter Trail

    • Type: Cross-Country Skiing
    • Duration: 6-8 Hours
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Panoramic Point Trailhead
    • Season: Winter
    • Time Of Day: Day
    A snow covered trail going uphill, surrounded by pine trees.

    One of the most popular winter trails in this area begins at the village and follows the unplowed road to the top of Park Ridge. Panoramic Point offers spectacular views of the snow-covered mountains in Kings Canyon.

    • Type: Snowshoeing
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Season: Winter
    • Time Of Day: Day
    There is deep snow in the high elevation areas of RMNP, great for snowshoeing

    Snowshoeing

  • Valles Caldera National Preserve

    Snowshoeing in Valles Caldera

    • Type: Snowshoeing
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: Yes
    • Season: Winter
    • Time Of Day: Day
    A woman in a green coat smiles as she snowshoes toward us.

    Winter is a spectacular time to visit Valles Caldera National Preserve. The park has miles of groomed and ungroomed trails for the adventurous snowshoer.

  • Yellowstone National Park

    Snow Pass Ski Trail

    • Type: Skiing
    • Locations: Yellowstone National Park
    • Duration: 2-3 Hours
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Mammoth Hot Springs
    • Season: Winter
    • Time Of Day: Day
    Skiers follow a straight trail through a snowy forest.

    The Snow Pass Ski Trail is a 4.2 mile (6.76 km), skier-tracked, one-way, easiest to most-difficult, ski that takes skiers through a steep heavily forested area to a semi-flat wide open area with views of Swan Lake Flats.

  • Lassen Volcanic National Park

    Ski & Snowboard at Lassen

    • Type: Skiing
    • Reservations: No
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Throughout the Park
    • Season: Winter, Spring
    • Time Of Day: Day
    a lone skier on a steep mountain slope

    Enjoy Lassen’s winter wonderland by ski or snowboard! Cross-country ski along one of the park’s numerous winter routes or, for experienced explorers, backcountry ski and snowboard one of Lassen’s mountain slopes.

Last updated: December 27, 2017