40 Stunning Photos of National Parks Covered in Snow
Updated: Sep. 01, 2023
These breathtaking pictures from the National Park Service prove that America is a real-life winter wonderland.
Winter on the moon
The uniquely shaped lava fields at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho gave the park its name, but they turn into a winter wonderland when the snow falls.
Mist over the West Virginian mountains
New River Gorge National River stretches for 53 miles through the hills of West Virginia.
Snow-capped rocks in Arizona
Snow doesn’t stay long on the Chiricahua National Monument except at its highest elevations. These are the best National Park road trips to take all year long.
Lonely, snowy coyote
Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota is home to native wildlife like elk, prairie dogs, and coyotes.
The ultimate collection of Christmas trees
Seven types of conifer (cone-bearing) trees grow in Rocky Mountain National Park, including Colorado blue spruce and Douglas fir—two of the most popular types of Christmas trees. Here are more photos of the world’s most beautiful trees.
Snowstorm aftermath
Just one snow storm can leave several feet of snow at the Fossil Butte National Monument in Wyoming. These beautiful snow-covered towns will get you in the winter spirit.
Even Maui gets snow
Views like this at Haleakala National Park are rare since snow doesn’t fall every winter and only sticks around for a couple of days. Check out these stunning photos of National Parks in full bloom.
New snow on Ramshead Lake
Ramshead Lake may be one of more than 100 lakes in Grand Teton National Park, but it sure provides a pretty wintry backdrop. And if you enjoy winter landscapes, here are 21 polar bear pictures that will melt your heart.
Pristine Alaskan mountains
With steep elevations and windy conditions, the Harding Icefield Trail in Kenai Fjords National Park is not for inexperienced hikers, but its views are hard to beat. Here are more amazing nature photos you won’t believe are real.
Buffalo plowing through snow
Buffalo have continuously lived in Yellowstone National Park since prehistoric times. Here are some National Parks you can tour online right now.
America’s largest national park
Wrangell – St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska is as big as Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Switzerland combined.
Picturesque (but treacherous) snow bridge
Weather conditions can change suddenly at Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, putting hikers in danger of avalanches and snow bridge collapses.
Landslide down snow-covered hills
Lahars (volcanic landslides of mud or debris) can travel down Mount Rainier at 40 miles per hour. Maybe that’s what Fleetwood Mac sings about.
The Teton Mountain Range
Climbers who travel to Grand Teton National Park tackle mountains as high as 12,000 feet. Check out these other gorgeous mountain towns.
Frozen spatter cones
Spatter cones are mounds of lava fragments that formed around a lava fountain. They are the most notable icons of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Park.
Sunset over the snow
This sunset makes for a pretty fitting shot of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.
Camping at the Olympic
Campers at Olympic National Park in Washington overlook lakes, mountains, glaciers, and even a temperate rain forest during their stay.
Grandview at New River Gorge
This main overlook stands 1,400 feet above the New River Gorge National River and gives a panoramic view of the entire park. It’s not hard to see why it’s called “Grandview.”
Snowplowing the trails
Mt. Oberlin and Mt. Cannon are just two of 175 mountains at Glacier National Park.
Bison treading through deep snow
The bison at Yellowstone National Park use the muscles in their humps to plow their heads through the snow.
Inside a Haleakala crater
Crowds gather early to watch the sunrise from the crater overlook at the Haleakala National Park Visitor Center.
Lake Clark and the Neacola Mountains
The Neacola Mountains in Lake Clark National Park & Preserve are the southernmost extension of the Alaska Range, which includes Mt. McKinley.
Chilkoot Summit
Brave hikers at Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park travel through snow all year long.
Cleaning crew at Lassen Volcanic National Park
Plows at Terrace Lake Trailhead were trying to clear more than 12 feet of snow when this picture was taken.
An aerial view of fresh Alaskan snow
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve covers 3.3 million acres of southeastern Alaska.
Fog in the gorge
Christmas ferns and ground pine surrounding the New River Gorge National River give the area a festive touch year-round.
Footprints across Black Bay Beaver Pond
Many beavers build their dams around Black Bay Beaver Pond at Voyageurs National Park.
Winter in Walnut Canyon
Arizona is more than a dry desert. Walnut Canyon National Monument in Flagstaff gets almost five feet of snow each year. Think that’s a lot of snow? Check out these rare, vintage photos that prove winters were way worse in the past.
Snow-covered hoodoos
These skinny rock spires are called hoodoos, and no place in the world has as many of them as Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.
The Cathedral Group
Grand Teton, Mt. Owen, and Teewinot make up a group of mountains at Grand Teton National Park called the Cathedral Group.
Denali from the air
Denali—or Mt. McKinley—at Denali National Park and Preserve is the tallest peak in North America, reaching more than 20,000 feet into the sky.Â
Clouds touching snowy slopes
Haleakala National Park is sacred ground for native Hawaiians.
Icy peaks on the Harding Icefield Trail
More than 40 glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield Trail at Kenai Fjords National Park. Check out these stunning photos that stand the test of time.
Foliage over New River Gorge
The New River watershed is made up of three rivers—the New, Gauley, and Bluestone Rivers—which stretch from North Carolina through Virginia and into West Virginia.
Ranger next to a snow drift
Lassen Volcanic National Park in California can get crazy amounts of snow. To compare, that ranger is 5’5″ tall.
Hidden Lake
Hidden Lake at North Cascades National Park is indeed hidden—right in the valley behind Hidden Lake Peak.
Crown of the continent
Glacier National Park is called the Crown of the Continent because it is the headwaters for streams that flow to the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and Hudson’s Bay.
Hell Canyon
This part of Hell Canyon was originally included in the boundaries of Jewel Cave National Monument. Now it’s the beginning of the Hell Canyon Trail on Black Hills National Forest property. Check out these national parks that are off the beaten path.
The Historic Oregon Caves Chateau
This beautiful hotel has been open to visitors at the Oregon Caves National Monument since 1943.
Newly fallen snowscape
Grand Teton National Park is a popular destination for scenic cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Check out more spectacular photos of America’s national parks.
