Back to the full Top 10
#7 on this list
Yellowstone National Park
Wyoming
Winter wolves, bison in snow, and steaming geyser basins; oversnow travel only.
- Price
- Check current price
- Reader rating
- No reader votes yet
- How we assessed it
- Specification researched
#8 on this list
Zion National Park
Utah
Quiet trails and snow-dusted red rock; shuttles paused, drive the canyon.
- Price
- Check current price
- Reader rating
- No reader votes yet
- How we assessed it
- Specification researched
Specs side by side
| Spec | Yellowstone National Park | Zion National Park |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Access | North Entrance (Gardiner) or commercial oversnow | — |
| Average Jan Temp | 0°F to 20°F high, sub-zero nights common | — |
| Interior Travel | Guided snowcoach or snowmobile permit only | — |
| Key Wildlife | Gray wolves, bison, elk, river otters | — |
| Required Permits | National park pass; guided concessions for interior | — |
| Total Area | 2.2 million acres across WY, MT, ID | — |
| Location | — | Southwestern Utah, Washington and Kane Counties |
| January Weather | — | Highs around 52°F, lows around 29°F |
| Scenic Drive Access | — | Private vehicles permitted during shuttle hiatus |
| Primary Terrain | — | Deep sandstone canyons, slickrock, desert riparian |
| Elevation Range | — | 3,666 to 8,726 feet across park boundaries |
| Key Waterway | — | North Fork Virgin River |
What our reviewers liked and didn't
Yellowstone National Park
- Zero summer crowds across major geyser basins and canyon overlooks
- World-class wolf and bison viewing against pristine snow backgrounds
- Dramatic contrast of boiling geothermal features in sub-zero air
- Plowed northern road allows budget-friendly independent wildlife viewing
- Expensive commercial oversnow transport required for interior access
- Extreme sub-zero cold demands heavy specialized winter expedition gear
- Severely limited open lodging and dining facilities within park boundaries
Zion National Park
- Personal vehicles permitted on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive while shuttles are dormant
- Vastly reduced crowd sizes compared to peak summer and autumn seasons
- Dramatic visual contrast of fresh snow dusting vertical Navajo sandstone cliffs
- Lower, crystal-clear river flows provide excellent cold-water slot canyon hiking
- Severe ice hazards on exposed cliffside trails require traction cleats
- Deep canyon walls block sunlight early, prompting swift temperature drops
- High-elevation roads like Kolob Terrace face sudden snowstorm closures
Prices change constantly — the figure shown is the last verified catalog price, and the buy buttons always go to the current listing.