National Parks For Every Month Of The Year

Have you ever wondered if there is a good or bad time of year to visit America's National Parks? I am a National Park fan through and through! I love the various settings of each park, the unique natural features or animals that are being protected in these parks, and the ability for all of us to be able to enjoy them - either by hiking, driving, boating, snorkeling, or even by horse. While I haven't been to all the National Parks, (YET), I have done a lot of research about them and continue to plan future itineraries. Here are my thoughts on great parks to visit each month of the year, and why.

January

Which National Park should you visit in January? Hawaii in January...a fabulous way to start the new year! Hawaii has two National Parks - Hawaii Volcanoes and Haleakala, and seven other National Park Sites.

Hawaii Volcanoes is on Hawaii, "The Big Island." It is the home of two of earth's largest and most active volcanos. We really enjoyed the hiking trails here, where we walked on hardened lava, explored lava tubes, walked into a crater, and saw what happens when nature starts to reclaim these landscapes. There was an active volcanic eruption happening while we were there, but it was not the bright orange lava spewing into the ocean that I was imagining. We viewed it from above and it was more like shiny areas that were moving very slowly out in a lava field. (Still cool, but not as exciting as things I've seen in the movies) Nearby, we enjoyed many waterfalls, a giant banyan tree, beaches of white, black, and green sand, and my favorite, Punaluu Beach, that had black sand and tons of sea turtles!

Haleakala National Park is on the island of Maui. Haleakala is the world's largest dormant volcano. One very popular thing to do on Maui is to drive to the top of Haleakala early in the morning before the sun comes up and watch the sun rise. Another popular thing that we saw people doing, was to ride a bike all the way down the long winding road. (No thank you, that looked scary!) There are also hiking trails inside the crater, along with bird watching and stargazing opportunities. When we were there, we drove part way up to the top, but then also accessed a remote area of the park, the Kipahulu district, on our "Road To Hana" road trip around the island.

Why is January a good month to go to Hawaii's National Parks? The weather is warm and comfortably in the 80's throughout the year (on average) because of the trade winds. So if it is cold where you live in January, Hawaii will be a nice treat! There are slightly lower than average crowds during this month, which can also help the prices. Plus, the humpback whales are visiting. Maui is a terrific island to experience a whale watching trip, in the right season.

February

Which National Park should you visit in February? February is still a cold month in most of the country, a great time to be in Florida. Florida has three National Parks - Dry Tortugas, Biscayne, and Everglades, and eight other National Park sites.

Dry Tortugas National Park is 70 miles west of Key West, and must be reached by ferry or seaplane. Camping is available on the island. Some of Dry Tortugas highlights are Civil War era Fort Jefferson, plentiful bird life, and the beautifully clear turquoise water for snorkeling. This is one of the least visited National Parks. 

Biscayne National Park is located south of Miami, and is 95% under water. From the land, you can go to the visitor's center and enjoy the view. On the water, you can take a boat trip or kayak. Underwater, you can dive or snorkel, including visiting a shipwreck site.

Everglades National Park is at the bottom of the Florida peninsula. It has hiking and kayaking trails, and is known for its wildlife. It is easy to see alligators, crocodiles, birds of all kinds, manatees, and dolphins here. You can even take an airboat ride in this National Park!

Why is February a good month to go to Florida's National Parks? Florida can get too humid to enjoy during the summer, but in February it is the dry season. There are few rainy days, the temperatures are mild and pleasant with lower humidity, and hurricane risk is low. Winter is the season in which you will find the biggest opportunity for ranger led events and tours in the Florida National Parks. It is also a good time for seeing wildlife.

March

Which National Park should you visit in March? Death Valley National Park in California would be a lovely park to visit in March. 

The name, "Death Valley" doesn't sound too appealing. However, there are many interesting things here to explore. Racetrack Playa is a dry lakebed known for its strange moving rocks. Badwater basin is the lowest point in North America, at 282 feet below sea level. Dante's View is a superb spot to watch the sunset and has panoramic views of the valley. The Mesquite Sand Dunes are named for the trees that are plentiful here. The dunes are huge and easy to access. Artist's Drive has magnificent views with beautiful colors, rugged mountains, and desert. There are many hiking trails in this National Park, and in March you would be able to comfortably hike them. Although, I'd still recommend taking plenty of water with you.

Why is March a good month to go to Death Valley? You can expect summer temperatures of 110 to 120 degrees here, as Death Valley is one of the hottest and driest places on earth. March is much more comfortable. It gets pretty warm during the day but mornings are cool for some nice hikes. Depending on the rainfall, you may see a super-bloom of yellow wildflowers in March!

April

Which National Parks should you visit in the month of April? April is a great time to visit one or more of Utah's Mighty Five National Parks. Utah also has eleven national monuments, historic sites, and recreation areas.

Arches National Park is near Moab and the Colorado River. This park boasts of having more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches! The most famous of all these arches is "Delicate Arch." Its picture is even on the Utah license plate. Some of the other popular hiking trails here are: "Double Arch," "Fiery Furnace," "Windows," "Devil's Garden," and "Landscape Arch." These red rock arches are such a stunning contrast against the blue sky!

Canyonlands National Park has three regions: The Needles, Island in the Sky, and The Maze. Each region offers amazing views, hiking trails, and opportunities for adventures. This park is full of canyons, mesas, arches, and buttes carved out by the Colorado River and its tributaries.

Capitol Reef National Park is located in south-central Utah. This unique area surrounds a long wrinkle in the earth known as the "Waterpocket Fold." There are less visitors in this park, but in my opinion, you shouldn't skip it. It is a wonderful drive through the rock formations and offers hikes to see sights such as "Chimney Rock," "Hickman Bridge," and "Cathedral Valley." There also is history to learn about here, Native American history and that of the Mormon pioneers.

Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the largest concentration of hoodoos in the world. This park is at a higher elevation than Utah's other National Parks. It offers a scenic drive to amphitheater overlooks to get a good look at all the hoodoos from above. But my favorite part was getting on the hiking trails to get right in there with the hoodoos. It is an other-worldly experience!

Zion National Park was my favorite of the Utah National Parks that we visited. (We went to Zion, Bryce, and Capitol Reef.) While I loved them all, Zion was just so dramatic and had some of the best hikes that we did. I loved "Angel's Landing", "The Narrows", and "The Canyon Overlook Trail." They all were exciting and had that epic feel to them. Another really fun thing that we did in this park was renting E-bikes, and riding through the park. In a crowded park, this really got us away from all the other visitors. It was incredible to fly down the empty park roads in between those tall canyon walls, and have it all to ourselves!

Why is April a good month to go to Utah's National Parks? Utah gets steamy hot in the summer, but in April the temperatures are milder. Nature is blossoming in spring. These Utah parks get very busy in the summer when school is out, so in April you will experience less crowds. Since Bryce Canyon is at a higher elevation, it depends on the season if there will be snow or not. Seeing the hoodoos covered in snow would be a beautiful sight, but it could cause road closures if there in too much snow. If the roads are open and you'd like to get out on the trails, consider renting micro-spikes to put on your shoes (available at Ruby's Inn). One other con of visiting at this time is that you might not be able to hike "The Narrows," a hike that has you walking right in the Virgin River in a beautiful slot canyon. Check the flow chart, and if the water is not moving too fast because spring melt, you can rent a dry-suit package from a provider in Springdale.

May

Which National Park should you visit in May? May would be a wonderful time to visit Yosemite in California.

I haven't visited Yosemite yet, but it's on my list. It is famous for its towering, ancient sequoia trees, the view of the valley, waterfalls, and the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome. It looks like a very pretty place to explore. I would especially love to hike the Mist Trail to Nevada Falls and back down the John Muir Trail.

Why is May a good month to visit Yosemite National Park? With spring snowmelt, Yosemite's waterfalls should be at their peak flow. May's weather is usually warm during the day and cool at night. Yosemite is a very popular park, and May will be less crowded than the summer season. Some roads, like the Mariposa Grove Road, aren't open in the winter, but are usually open in May. Plus, wildfires are less likely to affect the area at this time of year.

June

Which National Parks should you visit in June? I would recommend visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in June.

Yellowstone is our Nation's oldest National Parks, and one of the largest. It is mostly in the state of Wyoming, but partially lies in Montana and Idaho. You've heard of "Old Faithful," but did you know that this park has the highest concentration of hydrothermal features in the world? There is such a variety of things to do in Yellowstone. Hayden and Lamar Valleys are superb spots to watch for wildlife. We saw an amazing amount of bison in Lamar Valley and a grizzly bear in Hayden Valley, along with many other animals around the park. There are also gorgeous waterfalls, "Mammoth Hot Springs", "The Grand Prismatic", "The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone", bubbling mud pots, geysers, a lake, and much much more.

Grand Teton National Park stole my heart, with its views of the Teton range reflecting into the lake below. This park sits right under Yellowstone, and shares many of the same animals - moose, elk, coyote, bears, wolves, and mule deer to name a few. My favorite trail here was our hike into the Cascade Canyon. Our whole family loved it! It was so scenic that when we come back, we agreed that we wanted to do it again but add on a backpacking night and come back through Paintbrush Canyon, making it a 19.9 mile hike altogether.

 Why is June a good month to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks? This is a fantastic month to visit these parks because of the wildlife. The parks will be full of newborn bison and elk. They will also be full of wildflowers. The weather is warm, and the snow should be melted off of the higher elevation roads. 

These parks do draw crowds in the summer, but if you have a plan and can be flexible, you can avoid the biggest crowds. I suggest going to the busiest places early or late in the day. It helps you to do this by staying in the park or very close by. The farther you hike, the more people you leave behind.

July

Which National Parks should you visit in July? I recommend visiting Alaskan National Parks in July. There are eight national parks in Alaska and another eight national park sites. Some are not easy to visit, but all offer stunning beauty. Choosing one or two parks would be manageable and very worthwhile!

Denali National Park is one of the most iconic of Alaska's parks. It is enormous, at 6 million aces, and only has one road. It is named after its mountain, 20,310-foot peak, Mount Denali. Some popular activities here are: wildlife viewing and photography, bus tours, mountaineering, flightseeing, and hiking.

Kenai Fjords National Park is home to the Harding Ice Field and nearly 40 glaciers that flow from it. Most people view this park from a boat, although there is a land portion with some hikes to view Exit Glacier or the Harding Ice Field. Some popular activities here are: boat tours, kayak camping, mountaineering, and glacier tours.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the largest US National Park, at 13.2 million acres. It has nine of the sixteen highest peaks in North America. The Malaspina Glacier is located here, it covers more than 1,000 square miles. There is also a preserved example of a copper mining town to explore. Some popular activities here are: hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, and fishing.

Glacier Bay National Park can only be explored by boat, foot, or small plane. Most visitors see this park from a cruise ship, but you can also fly into the small town of Gustavus at the edge of the park. This park is know for its tidewater glaciers and calving ice. Some popular activities here are: boat tours, kayaking, hiking, flightseeing, and wildlife viewing.

Gates of the Artic National Park is one of those difficult to reach parks, it does not have a paved road and is very remote. Located above the Artic Circle, Gates of the Artic enjoys many hours of light during the summer. Some popular activities here are: bird-watching, kayaking, floating the rivers, camping, and hiking.

Kobuk Valley National Park has a giant herd of caribou that migrate across the park every year. Its landscape has rivers, forests, and sand dunes. Some popular activities here are: flightseeing, backpacking, fishing, and boating.

Katmai National Park protects the sockeye salmon that spawn in its rivers, and also the brown bears that feed on them. This park also protects the valley of volcanoes, Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. You can reach Katmai by boat or small plane. Some popular activities here are: bear-watching, fishing, hiking, floating, and flightseeing.

Lake Clark National Park is located on the western edge of the Cook Inlet. There is no way to reach this park by road, most come by small plane for wonderous bear viewing. Some popular activities her are: bear-viewing, hiking, kayaking, and rafting.

Why is July a good month to visit an Alaskan National Park? The season to visit Alaskan National Parks is shorter than most. In July, the days are warm and long. The wildlife is active. Many of the tours here are only available in the summer, along with a lot of the shops and restaurants. If your desired activities include bear-watching, July is prime time for the salmon run.

August

Which National Parks should you visit in August? The National Parks of Washington would make a great August trip. Washington has Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades National Parks.

Mount Rainier is the highest mountain in the state and is very prominent on the skyline. It is located in the Cascade mountain range, not far from Seattle. This park is an alpine wonderland! Its trails take you to waterfalls, through meadows of colorful wildflowers, forests, and of course, mountain viewpoints.

Olympic National Park is in the northwestern corner of the state, and offers something for everyone; mountains, rainforests, beaches, lakes, hot springs, and waterfalls. Hurricane Ridge takes you up into the mountains for great views and hikes. The Hoh Rainforest is otherworldly, full of mosses hanging off of everything. The beaches are magical with their sea stacks rising out of the water and tidepools to explore. One of my favorite memories of this park was going to Second Beach at negative tide to see all of the interesting sea creatures in the tidepools. It was the first time I ever saw bright orange and purple starfish.

North Cascades National Park might feel more remote than the other two Washington National Parks, located along the northern border of the state. One of the park highlights is Diablo Lake, a particularly ultra blue alpine lake surrounded by mountains. You can stop for a view at Diablo Lake Vista Point, explore in a kayak, or hike around the lake. Another highlight is driving the North Cascade Highway, a very scenic road that meanders through the mountains, and has many scenic overlooks to stop at.

Why is August a good month to visit the Washington National Parks? Washington is known for getting a lot of rain, but August is usually dry and warm. The roads and facilities are open at this time of year. The wildflowers are at full bloom. The parks are also less crowded than during the peak summer months.

September

Which National Park should you visit in September? September would be a fabulous time to go to Glacier National Park in Montana.

Glacier National Park is full of scenic wilderness, glaciers, valleys, alpine lakes, and mountains. Driving the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road, is a must-do activity. This road takes you many of the best trailheads and overlooks in the park. The wildlife is also a big draw, with everything from black and grizzly bears to moose and bighorn sheep to watch. The Many Glaciers area is another stunner, and features many amazing hikes, boat tours, and loads of wild animals. Visitors can take a vintage Red Bus Tour through the park or drive their own vehicle. 

Why is September a good month to visit Glacier National Park? Since the majority of the park is only open for a few months between snowfalls, it gets extremely busy during the summer. September is far less crowded than July and August, but still is pleasantly warm. The fall colors are going to start appearing this month in these high elevations, putting on a beautiful show. After September 10th, you don't need to worry about getting a Going-to-the-Sun Road ticket reservation, like you do during the summer months before this.

October

Which National Park should you visit in October? October is a great time to be in Acadia National Park in Maine.

Acadia is on the Atlantic coast and primarily on Mount Desert Island, southwest of Bar Harbor. Acadia contains Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the Atlantic Coast. Visit the main part of the part by driving the Park Loop Road. Another spot to check out is Thunder Hole, where waves crash through a rock tunnel. An awesome trail for the adventurous is the Beehive Trail, that gives incredible views and a thrilling climb over rocks and grabbing onto iron rungs along steep ledges. Sand Beach, Jordan Pond, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, and the Carriage Roads are other highlights of the park.

Why is October a good month to visit Acadia National Park? October is the peak month to see the spectacular fall colors here. The weather is crisp but comfortable. The crowds have thinned out by October, making getting around the park a lot easier. Even though the busiest season is over, the shops and restaurants are still open until early or mid-November.

November

Which National Park should you visit in November? November is a wonderful month to go to the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

One of the most famous of the US National Parks, the Grand Canyon is a magnificent geological wonder. The Colorado River cuts through this vast canyon. When I say vast, I mean the canyon averages ten miles across, a mile deep, and 277 miles in length. Some visitors walk the path along the top edge, while others venture down into the canyon to get a closer look. You can even camp at the bottom of the canyon at Phantom Ranch. The majority of visitors see the park from the South Rim, but there are also trails and overlooks on the North Rim.

Why is November a good month to visit Grand Canyon National Park? The Grand Canyon is blazing hot in the summer and snowy in the winter, but November has nearly perfect temperatures for hiking into the canyon. The crowds will be low at this time giving you more time to enjoy the views and less time waiting in line. Lodging prices will also be lower, and if you wish to stay at Phantom Ranch, your chances of getting a reservation greatly improve. The drawback in November is that the North Rim may be closed for the winter already.

December

Which National Park should you visit in December? Lets finish off the year at another Arizona National Park - Saguaro.

Saguaro National Park is in southern Arizona on both sides of the city of Tucson. It is named after the majestic plant that it protects, the saguaro cactus. These cacti are giants that have a lifespan of up to 250 years. The park has two separate areas - the Tucson Mountain District and the Rincon Mountain District. Along with protecting the saguaro cactus, it also preserves the Sonoran Desert and its other plants and animals. Popular activities here include: hiking, biking, camping, and horseback riding.

Why is December a good month to visit Saguaro National Park? The temperatures in December allow you to really enjoy hiking around the cacti filled park. Daytime temps average 50s to 70s. If you live somewhere cold, this could feel like a December heat-wave! It is possible for the area to get a little snow in December, wouldn't that be a pretty sight?

All that being said, sometimes we don't have a choice of when we can travel. My best advice is... when you get the opportunity to go, go! Do the trip! Seize the day!

As a travel advisor, I'd be happy to help you!

Kristina Thiex - Wanderful Adventures Travel

kristina@wanderfuladventurestravel 

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