What you need to know about seasonal closures and winter activities in the national parks

Once fall approaches, many national parks are already experiencing winter weather and beginning to implement seasonal closures.

All national parks (with only one exception) are open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, but some have landscapes that change completely and require more planning and preparation to visit.

Read on for what you need to know about seasonal closures in the parks.

Isle Royale: The winter exception

The only park that closes completely in the winter is Isle Royale National Park.

Isle Royale is the largest island on Lake Superior, and can only be reached by ferry, boat or seaplane. Extreme winter weather on the lake makes navigating to the island too dangerous, so the island closes from November 1 through April 15 every year.

Visitors can still explore Houghton Visitor Center, the park’s mainland headquarters.

Seasonal closures in the parks

Most parks that experience snowfall will close a portion of their roads either permanently or periodically throughout the winter season. Even famously hot parks such as Grand Canyon and Zion National Park are forced to close some areas of the park in areas with high elevation.

South Rim Village in winter at Grand Canyon National Park.

Many times, seasonal closures mean that certain roads or park entrances are not open to personal vehicles, or that visitors centers and other amenities in the park are closed.

While access can be more limited in the winter, those willing to brave the cold will be rewarded with amazing views and a less-crowded experience.

Here are some closures you should be aware of in some popular parks:

Acadia National Park

From Dec 1 to April 14, the Park Loop Road (including Cadillac Mountain) is closed to vehicles

Glacier National Park

The portion of Going-to-the-Sun Road from West Glacier to Lake McDonald Lodge is usually plowed and open year-round, weather permitting, but most other roads remain inaccessible by vehicle.
The alpine sections of Going-to-the-Sun Road typically close for the winter around the third Monday of October or earlier. Through the winter, the scenic road can be explored by snowshoe and skiing, as conditions permit.
NOTE: Most businesses and services are only open during Glacier’s summer season, which generally runs from late May through September.

Grand Canyon National Park – North Rim

The North Rim is closed to all vehicle traffic between December 1 and May 14.

Mount Rainier National Park

in winter only two park entrances are open: the Nisqually Entrance, in the southwest corner of the park, and the Carbon River Entrance, in the northwest corner of the park.

Yellowstone National Park

The West, South and East entrances and nearly all roads are closed each year at the end of October or early November.
The road between the North and the Northeast entrances is the only road open to automobiles year-round. Snowmobile and snowcoach begins mid-December and lasts through March.

Yosemite National Park

Tioga Road closes due to snow, usually from sometime in November through late May or early June. This means you cannot drive to Tuolumne Meadows or enter the park from the east.

Winter Recreation

Parks that see heavy and consistent snowfall are perfect places for winter recreation. Many roads and trails are grated for cross country skiing, and some parks offer snowshoe tours.

Check out the official national park winter sports page to find different ways you can explore the parks in the winter months.