Peak season for most American national parks falls in the summer months. Alaska’s short tourism season is well underway by July and August, the salmon are spawning in the rivers, and anyone hoping to see bears or whales will not be short of opportunities. Some parks, especially those away from the coasts, are sweltering, and exposed hiking trails are best tackled in the early mornings or late afternoons. California’s Death Valley National Park has been known to reach 49°C.
September is a great month to be in Grand Teton National Park, indeed any park with a lot of forest, as the start of autumn sees the vegetation taking on beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow.
Most American parks are ideal in late September and October: it’s warm but not too hot, kids are back in school, there are lower accommodation rates and most trails and restaurants still open before the winter season kicks in. October is an excellent time to see animals such as moose, elk, bison and antelope, as it’s their rutting season.
Many parks such as Zion and Rocky Mountain have a range of winter activities available from November onwards, such as cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
The winter months are good for visiting desert parks in general, including Joshua Tree. There are pleasant temperatures in the day, falling sharply after nightfall. And of course, Yellowstone, blanketed in snow during winter, is magnificently beautiful. It can at times feel as though you have the entire park to yourself, but some areas and trails are closed off.
December can be a good time for admiring the Grand Canyon, with visitor numbers dropping as fast as the temperatures, which can get to -18°C on the south rim (the north rim is closed during winter).
Wolf tracking holidays in Yellowstone, led by specialist guides, are thrilling during January. It’s mating season, and also their prey species are weak and slow, so the experts are often able to find packs on the hunt. Between wolf-watching sessions you can enjoy seeing the bison wandering around beneath their shaggy winter coats, and the snow melting around steamy hot springs and other thermal features.
February is fantastic for hiking quiet trails in Utah national parks such as Zion and Bryce Canyon, the iconic hoodoos of the latter crested with snow.
March, like September, is a likely time to see the spectacular Northern Lights glittering across clear skies in Alaskan national parks such as Denali and Wrangell St Elias. Meanwhile, spring is definitely the best time to visit Death Valley National Park, when it’s cool enough to hike and the famous wildflowers are starting to bloom.
Walking in Yosemite National Park can be lovely in April, with the river and the falls in full torrent.
May is another popular month to visit Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks, and most people will see them both on the same trip given how close they are to each other. Wildflowers are abundant, and the trails yet to face the full onslaught of summer.
Late May and into June is a good time to visit the Grand Canyon. The lesser-visited and recommended North Rim is just opening, and you’ll beat the peak summer months that see one of America’s most-visited national parks get way too crowded.
Summer temperatures inside the Grand Canyon can get close to 40°C, so you’ll need a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water if venturing down. Summer is also definitely the worst time of year to visit Florida’s hot and steamy Everglades National Park – if the humidity doesn’t get you the mosquitoes definitely will. Visit between December and April instead when it’s much cooler.
