Article Overview: Best National Parks To Visit in January
Best National Parks to Visit by Month Series
We started this series of best national parks to visit by month to give folks the best idea of how to time their national parks trips. Every national park is mentioned at least once in this series so that you know when to visit each and every park (no park is left behind!). We even cover nearby national monuments and forests to consider as well.
Additionally, we cover the national parks you’ll want to avoid each month for a variety of reasons including temperature, crowd sizes, closures, insects, and more.
Something to note is that some national parks are mentioned multiple times while others are only mentioned once.
If you’re interested in other times of the year as well be sure to check out our Best National Parks by Season Guide which has helpful graphics and charts to help you determine which time of year is best to visit a given national park.
We’ll also have more best national parks by month articles linked at the bottom of each page including the nearest months.
Table of Contents: Best National Parks to Visit in January
Best National Parks in January
10. Everglades National Park
- Location: Florida
- Weather: The average high is 78°F (25° C) while the average low is 54°F (12° C) with infrequent rain.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:09am and sunset is 5:48pm.
- Crowds: Moderate
- Our Favorite Resources: About The Park / Map / Guidebook / Hikes / Things to Do
Visiting Everglades National Park in January
Skip the resorts and beaches and head to this UNESCO World Heritage Site which happens to be one of the best national parks to visit in January.
Winter in Everglades National Park is known as the dry season here and is the best and most popular time to visit the park. The park’s notorious humidity is mostly gone and the plentiful biting insects are greatly diminished allowing for a much more enjoyable visit.
January is the best month to visit the Everglades with low humidity and mild temperatures.
Thanks to the pleasant weather and near total absence of the usual biting insects January in the Everglades is wonderful. Due to the low waters at this time of the year it’s easy to spot many of the park’s incredible animal inhabitants as they congregate near water sources.
Everglades National Park is a world class birding destination and the winter provides excellent opportunities to view migrating birds that seek the warmth of this South Florida ecological paradise.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in January
Things To Do: Birding | Wildlife Viewing | Camping | Hiking
9. Haleakalā National Park
- Location: Hawaii
- Weather: The average high (not in the summit area) is 75°F (24° C) while the average low is 65°F (18° C) with 12 days of rain.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:03am and sunset is 6:04pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: About The Park / Map / Guide / Things to Do / Winter in the Park
Visiting Haleakalā National Park in January
Of course we had to have a Hawaii National Park on this list! There’s nothing quite like ditching the cold winter weather of the mainland US and hopping a flight to sunny Hawaii.
January in Haleakala is a great time to visit the park. Crowds are far from peak visitation and the weather is mild, albeit rainy. Bring plenty of rain gear and some good boots and get out there and enjoy this lush national park in paradise!
Note: The summit area of Haleakala sees rapid and often unpredictable weather changes and is quite cold this time of year. We even had some snow when we visited!
Best Things to Do at this National Park in January
Things To Do: Hiking the Crater | Summit Sunrise | Camping | Waimoku Falls
8. Redwood National Park
- Location: California
- Weather: The average high is 57°F (14° C) while the average low is 46°F (8° C) with 15 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:37am and sunset is 5:11pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: Things to Do / Guide / Map / Guidebook / Where to Stay / Video / Photos
Visiting Redwood National Park in January
You may not have guessed it, but Redwood is one of the best national parks to visit in January thanks to it’s unique climate and legendary scenery. While January is a bit chillier than other months, it’s still much warmer here than most parks.
Temperatures in Redwood National Park almost never dip below freezing with an average low of 42 and highs of 55.
The further south in the park you go the warmer it will be with the Humboldt Redwoods (technically not part of the system but still amazing) being much warmer than the Jedediah Smith Redwoods.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in January
Things To Do: Stout Grove, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Avenue of the Giants
7. Yosemite National Park
- Location: California
- Weather: The average high is 48°F (9° C) while the average low is 28° (-4° C) with 7 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:11am and sunset is 5:03pm.
- Crowds: Moderate
- My Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Facts / Where to Stay / Things to Do
Visiting Yosemite National Park in January
John Muir’s “Grandest Temple of them all” is every bit as grand during the colder months of the year. Winter in Yosemite National Park can only be described as magical making it one of our best national parks to visit in January.
Well, okay magical isn’t the only word one can use to describe Yosemite in the winter. The roads can get pretty nasty during this time of year.
In fact, I recall entering the park during a winter storm and being told by the ranger at the entrance that there had already been 7 accidents on the icy road into the valley in the past 2 hours and that most had yet to be reached by the tow truck.
While that case is fairly rare the note of caution is worth keeping in mind. For those who do make it into the park after a fresh snowfall the scene is otherworldly. Clouds gliding through the snow-covered valley as the sun hits the ice crystals making for dazzling displays of outdoor majesty.
Note that many national park roads including Glacier Point and Tioga Pass close seasonally in January making several of the top attractions inaccessible by car.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in January
Things To Do: Glacier Point, Tunnel View, Yosemite Falls
6. Crater Lake National Park
- Location: Oregon
- Weather: The average high is 36°F (2° C) while the average low is 20°F (-7° C) with 100 inches of snowfall.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:34am and sunset is 5:00pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: Facts
Visiting Crater Lake National Park in January
The deepest lake in North America is one of the most beautiful places to visit in America during any time of year. January adds an extra layer of magic to Crater Lake National Park.
While the crater rim road closes to vehicle traffic during the winter at Crater Lake, all sorts of new recreational opportunities fill the void. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and even fat biking are a few of the most popular activities during winter in this national park.
January is also a great time to catch the northern lights at Crater Lake which can be truly spectacular.
Would be visitors should know that Crater sees epic proportions of snowfall during the winter with January receiving a whopping 100 inches on average. This can complicate travel plans and mean plenty of grey skies, but for snow lovers there are few better places.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in January
Things To Do: Rim Drive, Wizard Island Ferry, Watchman Peak
Top 5 Best National Parks to Visit in January
5. Grand Teton National Park
- Location: Wyoming
- Weather: The average high is 25°F (-4° C) while the average low is 0°F (-18° C) with 12 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:52am and sunset is 5:11pm.
- Crowds: Low
- My Favorite Resources: Guide / Maps / Guidebook / Hikes / Things to Do / Where to Stay / Video / Facts
Visiting Grand Teton National Park in January
Grand Teton is one of those national parks that has seen a major influx in visitors over the past few years (haven’t they all!). In 2021 Grand Teton was the 7th most visited national park in the US seeing 600,000 more people than the previous year.
If that sounds daunting to you, fear not. Most of the folks visiting Grand Teton do so in the late spring and summer. The temperatures can be somewhat brutal in January with highs in the low and mid 20s and lows near zero. Add to that some fearsome winter winds and you can see why summer is so popular.
However, the scenery is spectacular and you’ll have the place practically to yourself (compared to summer anyway). Popular activities during winter in Grand Teton National Park include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and wildlife viewing.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in January
Things To Do: Bradley & Taggart Lakes Trail, Wildlife Viewing, Schwabacher Landing
4. Arches National Park
- Location: Utah
- Weather: The average high is 40°F (5° C) while the average low is 18°F (-8° C) with 2 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:33am and sunset is 5:20pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Resources: Things to Do / Map / Guidebook / Where to Stay / Facts
Visiting Arches National Park in January
Everyone loves the red rock in the snow and there are few better places to see this magic than Arches National Park. Don’t kid yourself, it’s going to be cold visiting this national park in January with average highs near 40 and average lows hovering around 20.
But, if you can bundle up you might just get lucky with a little dusting of the white stuff. January only sees 2 days of precipitation on average but pretty much all of it is snow.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in January
Things To Do: Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, Devils Garden, Tower Arch
3. Saguaro National Park
- Location: Arizona
- Weather: The average high is 66°F (19° C) while the average low is 39°F (4° C) with 3 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:23am and sunset is 5:38pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: Guide / Hikes / Things to Do / Map / Guidebook / Where to Stay / Video
Visiting Saguaro National Park in January
A few things southern Arizona has in abundance are sunshine and cacti, none more famous than the Saguaro whose namesake park (Saguaro National Park) is an excellent national park to escape to in January.
The sunsets here are worth the trip alone, seemingly lasting hours and filling up the sky with magnificent yellow, orange, and deep purple hues.
In January average high temperatures range in the pleasant mid 60s and sunshine is plentiful. This is one of my favorite parks to visit during the winter.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in January
Things To Do: Wassen Peak Trail, Desert Ecology Nature Trail, Signal Hill Petroglyphs
2. Death Valley National Park
- Location: California
- Weather: The average high is 67°F (19° C) while the average low is 40°F (4° C) with 1 day of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:03am and sunset is 4:54pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: Guide / Map / Guidebook / Things to Do / Facts / Camping / Where to Stay / Video
Visiting Death Valley National Park in January
Choosing between the top two best national parks to visit in January was no easy task and it really may come down to whether you want to escape the snow or embrace it.
Situated in the Mojave Desert, Death Valley National Park is the hottest place on earth in Summer soaring to temperatures in the 130s! But winter in Death Valley is a different story altogether.
Average January high temperatures are in the mid 60s in Death Valley National Park which makes for great adventure weather. Despite the morbid name this park has an unbelievable amount of things to see and do as the largest national park in the contiguous United States.
With only 1 day of rain on average in January you can rest assured you’ll be soaking the sun in this beautiful and arid desert park.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in January
Things To Do: Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, Eureka Dunes, Artists Palette
1. Sequoia National Park
- Location: California
- Weather: The average high is 37° (3° C) while the average low is 18° (-8° C) with 37 inches of snowfall.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:04am and sunset is 5:03pm.
- Crowds: Low
- My Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Things to Do / Facts / Where to Stay / General Sherman Tree
Visiting Sequoia National Park in January
There is no place in the world like Sequoia National Park in January – or any other month for that matter. And that’s because the park is home to the largest trees on earth. But January is a special time here as the sound of the snow softly falling through enormous tree canopies of the sequoia forest is spellbinding.
The contrasts of bright whites against the deep reds and dark greens of the giant trees combines for breathtaking scenery all around.
The world’s largest tree can still be accessed during the winter months as well as a plethora of stunning hiking trails. I highly recommend the Congress Trail as the top trail in the national park during winter.
And don’t worry about having to camp in the frigid temperatures to enjoy multiple days in the park. Sequoia is home to some beautiful lodges complete with dining facilities and fireplaces where you can warm up and recharge as you explore one of the most beautiful places on earth.
The combination of unrivaled scenery, ample lodging, and low crowds make Sequoia our best national park to visit in January.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in January
Things To Do: Big Trees Trail, Congress Trail, Moro Rock
For more things to do in Sequoia check out: 15 Epic Things to Do in Sequoia National Park
National Parks to Avoid in January
Not all national parks are a winter wonderland in January or even a great park to escape the winter. There are two national parks I recommend you avoid in January.
Avoid Lassen Volcanic National Park in January as the park is all but completely closed. Only Manzanita Lake (which is beautiful) is accessible and even it is typically iced over.
Another one to avoid in January is Glacier National Park as most of the park is totally inaccessible. Those who do make it to Glacier in January will find the open areas largely unoccupied.
Helpful Related Articles
Winter National Parks: 15 Stunning National Parks to Visit in Winter
National Monuments Ranked: ALL 128 US National Monuments Ranked (Best to Worst)
National Parks Rankings: ALL 63 US National Parks Ranked By Experts
Most Visited National Parks: Top 10 Most Visited National Parks
Least Visited National Parks: Top 10 Least Visited National Parks
National Parks Road Trips: 10 Best National Park Road Trips
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