Category Ranking
Best National Parks for Rock Climbing in Winter
Top parks for rock climbing during winter, ranked by a composite of activity quality and seasonal conditions.
Updated
Joshua Tree National Park
Two desert ecosystems meet where the Mojave's yuccas give way to the Colorado's slopes and granite formations split by ancient forces.
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Zion National Park
Red cliffs rise 2,000 feet above the Virgin River, where Angels Landing's chain climb and The Narrows' slot canyon wade draw crowds.
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Yosemite National Park
Granite cliffs rise 3,000 feet, seasonal waterfalls drop half a mile, and giant sequoias reach into the Sierra sky in this iconic valley.
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Channel Islands National Park
California's Galápagos lies 12 miles offshore with 145 endemic species. Sea lions, island foxes, and rare seabirds inhabit five islands.
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Death Valley National Park
Death Valley's salt flats, singing dunes, and moving rocks reward October-to-April visitors with cooler temps and wildflower blooms.
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Pinnacles National Park
Volcanic spires rise above talus caves where you can crawl through darkness on designated routes. Half of Yosemite's crowds.
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Big Bend National Park
Big Bend protects 1,200 square miles where the Chisos Mountains rise from desert. Over 450 bird species recorded: more than any park.
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Arches National Park
Over 2,000 natural stone arches carved from red sandstone, the world's highest concentration, including the iconic Delicate Arch.
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Canyonlands National Park
Four districts carved by the Colorado River: from Island in the Sky's overlooks to The Maze's backcountry spanning canyons larger than LA.
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Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
Gunnison River carved North America's steepest gorge through 1.7-billion-year-old rock, with 2,000-foot walls that trap the sun.
Explore Black Canyon Of The Gunnison →Deciding between two parks? Compare any two side by side →