Best national parks to visit in January

How the January picks were chosen

• Average daily highs at the park's NOAA station land in a comfortable hiking range for January, not a heat or cold extreme.
• January falls inside the park's own best season, or close to it, so the trip is not fighting the calendar.
• Main roads and visitor areas are typically open, with any seasonal closures called out below.
• Every number comes from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals, with the station named, so you can check the source.

What to pack for the national parks in January

Built from the NOAA averages for the parks above, so it covers the whole spread, from the coldest morning to the warmest afternoon on this list.

• Insulation, hat, and gloves

  Yellowstone averages 1F lows in January, below freezing. Mornings and camp nights need a real insulated jacket.

  Best down jacketsBest hiking gloves

• Layers for a big daily swing

  Yellowstone swings from about 1F at dawn to 28F in the afternoon. Dress in layers you can peel off on the trail.

  Best base layersLayering calculator

• Sun cover and a water plan

  Virgin Islands averages 84F highs in January. Carry more water than feels necessary and cover up from the sun.

  Best sun shirtsHow much water to carry

• A real rain shell

  Haleakala averages 5.1 inches of precipitation in January. A waterproof shell is not optional there.

  Best rain jackets

• Traction for snow and ice

  Yellowstone averages 35.6 inches of snow in January. Packed trails turn icy, so bring traction.

  Ice cleats vs microspikesWinter traction picker

• A headlamp

  January days are short. Carry a headlamp on every hike in case the turnaround runs late.

  Best headlamps

January at every national park, by the numbers

Average January highs, lows, and precipitation for the 61 national parks with a usable NOAA station, warmest first. "Best season" marks parks whose own peak window includes January. Tap a park for its full guide, or a pack link for a January packing list.

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020 monthly averages, one station per park at or near its main visitor area (each park guide names its station and distance). Gateway stations sit outside the park where no in-park station publishes normals. Isle Royale and Kobuk Valley have no representative station and are left out. Averages describe a typical year, not a forecast.

Planning notes