Most travelers know US parks are crowded, particularly in the summer, so park officials are now trying to market winter-time visitors.
One example is Death Valley National Park, which is the hottest, driest place in North America in the summer.
From a cracked, dry floor 282 feet below sea level to 11,049-foot Telescope Peak, Death Valley boasts abundant plant and animal life, ore-streaked hills, sand dunes, a historic borax mine and museum, hiking trails, a Spanish-style castle, and lush, spring-fed oases.
Lodging generally runs about $250 to $400. The most elegant offering may be the Furnace Creek Inn. But there are three other moderately priced hotels and campgrounds within park boundaries.
A few hours east of San Francisco, Yosemite is one of the nation’s most accessible parks year-round.
Visitors skip the crowds by visiting in the winter when there are Ranger-led walks, ice-skating and cross-country skiing. Hiking are still in full swing (there is no snowmobiling allowed).
Snow sports are clustered at the south end of the park, near the ski area of Badger Pass.
Inside the valley, visitors can hike, watch herds of deer and check out the winter light on Yosemite’s massive granite peaks and domes.
The waterfalls are at their peak in early spring.
This year, for the first time, the beautiful, stately Wawona Hotel, just inside the park’s south entrance, will be open year-round. Winter packages are available.
One of the best bets for all age groups: free, Ranger-led snowshoe walks.
Report by David Wilkening
