Winter camping in a national park can be an enchanting experience: You'll enjoy solitude, silence and often snow-covered beauty unavailable any other time of the year as well as the opportunity to take part in seasonal sports, like skiing and ice fishing. However, because winter weather can be so extreme, you will need to follow safety precautions and pack the right gear
Why Winter Camp?
To many, winter sounds like the worst season to spend sleeping outdoors, given many areas' freezing temperatures and potential for snow, sleet and ice. Yet, winter camping has many advantages: Many national park campgrounds stay open year round, but fees may be less in the winter season, and you certainly won't have to deal with overcrowding and many noisy neighbors. Winter camping is also a good jumping off point for winter sports, as it gets you outside during a season when active people can often feel stir crazy.
What to Do
Many national parks have winter activities for visitors. Cross-country skiing, dog sledding and snowshoeing are popular sports in many national parks that are only available in winter, while other activities, like hiking and cycling, are often still possible when snow isn't on the ground--but you will enjoy nearly deserted trails and paths. Meanwhile, winter is the best time to camp and do activities in some southern parks, like Florida's Biscayne National Park, where summers may be too hot for outdoor activities.
Winter RV Camping
Winter camping with an RV can make your national park visit easier, as these vehicles will provide more protection from the elements than a tent, and allow you to bring equipment for activities like skiing. However, there are still important health considerations when RV camping. Using a portable electric generator to heat an RV can be dangerous, given possible poisoning from carbon monoxide. Many RV hook ups, such as those providing fresh water, are shut off in winter, even if a national park campground is open, so carry your own water supply. It's also best to insulate the bottom of the RV, to protect fuel and water tanks from freezing during the night.
Tent Camping
Winter tent camping is obviously more difficult, so you must take even more safety precautions to protect your health. Choose a tent specifically meant to handle winter weather--one that can handle heavy snow without collapsing or allowing the fabric to get wet, which will reduce its insulating properties. Do not use a three-season tent unless you are somewhere warm like Florida. Also choose a tent that has ventilation, as condensation will form during the night from your breathing, and if it cannot escape, it will freeze, again reducing insulation and letting in the cold.
Tips
Many national parks have campground open all year--even Alaskan national parks, like Denali, where temperatures can dip to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. However do research ahead of time, as some parks may only keep one or two campgrounds open, and many other services, like stores, visitor centers and even parts of the road system, may close in winter. Check the weather before you head out so that you don't get stuck in a blizzard, which can be dangerous even for experienced winter campers.
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