How does colder weather affect national park hours?

Ariel Harmer
·2 min read
Arches National Park is pictured on Saturday, April 17, 2021. The park is open year-round.
Arches National Park is pictured on Saturday, April 17, 2021. The park is open year-round. | Annie Barker, Deseret News

Fall is officially here, and with it comes partial seasonal closures for some national parks.

Glacier National Park in Montana recently advised visitors on social media that certain roads and facilities would begin closing for the season due to the changing weather, and it’s not alone.

While only one national park closes completely over the winter, many others are affected by weather. Park rangers limit the use of some areas and facilities.

Here is everything you need to know about visiting national parks during the colder months.

How many national parks are there?

The United States National Park Service has 63 national parks and a total of 423 national park sites, which include monuments, recreation areas and historical sites.

National parks are protected by the government for nature conservation purposes. According to the NPS, “A national park contains a variety of resources and encompasses large land or water areas to help provide adequate protection of the resources,” whereas a national monument generally focuses on one resource and is smaller than a national park.

Are any national parks closed for the winter?

Only one national park has complete seasonal closures. Isle Royale National Park, an island in Lake Superior, Michigan, closes from Nov. 1 to April 15, according to the National Park Service.

The closure is due to the island’s remote location — visitors can only access the park via ferry or seaplane, and harsh conditions make it dangerous for the crafts to approach the island during the winter.

Which national parks have different operating hours during the winter?

All other national parks remain open year-round, although most either close or cut down the service hours for visitor centers and ranger stations.

However, parks in areas with intense weather are often subject to adjusted operating hours or partial closures. Many parks start closing certain roads, campgrounds, visitor facilities and other services in October in anticipation of bad weather, according to the National Park Service.

Some national parks with these closures are:

For information on each park’s seasonal closures, click the links to be directed to their operating hours and seasons.

Before visiting any national park, check its website and the National Park Service Active Alerts page for updates on operating hours. National parks can also close at unscheduled times due to unforeseen weather, construction, damage or other factors.