Winter doesn’t stop us. Read about winter hiking, winter van camping, winter photography, snowshoeing, and winter hammocking. Oooo and here’s a link to our favorite winter adventuring jacket.
Feeling cooped up? We know it’s technically Spring now, but if you’re wondering what to do with your last few weeks of what feels like winter, we have a solution for you. Go visit a National Park or Monument before they get hella hot and busy. Here are five reasons why you should visit a national park this winter. Added bonus? We included all the info on Devil’s Garden located in The Grand Staircase of Escalante, Utah. It’s the perfect place to head off to before it gets too hot.
5 Reasons to Visit National Parks in the Winter
1. No Crowds – If you need only one reason to visit a national park during winter it has to be the dramatically smaller crowds. Visiting these spaces in the summer sometimes resembles a visit to Disney. You find yourself waiting to enter slot canyons, having to wait in line for a photo opportunity, and seeking solace from obnoxious visitors. Overrun, noisy, and not respected, beautiful natural spaces can quickly transform to unappealing tourist traps. This is anything, but the case in winter.
2. Nice Light – A shorter day means more of an opportunity to squeeze in a sunrise and/or sunset in a single day’s visit. Something that is nearly impossible (without a nap) during the long summer days. Why does nice light matter? Well that is precisely what creates a stellar photo. Midday light is a drag, it creates unwanted harsh shadows and a somehow colorless contrast instead of the beautiful saturation that a rising or setting sun offers.
3. A Unique Environment – A light dusting of snow, a cloudless sky of bright stars, or perhaps even a showing of the Northern Lights, winter offers a different view than the warm summer months. More than that a variety of winter animals are wandering around during the winter months. Less people means more animal activity, but the question is whether you’ll be able to spot the wolves of Yellowstone, snowshoe hares of Rocky Mountain National Park, and elusive bobcats in Bryce Canyon.
4. Experiment with a Winter Activity – Hiking in cool weather is easier and more enjoyable, especially in desert climates like Devil’s Garden. A winter visit also gives you a great opportunity to experiment with snowshoeing, winter hiking, and cross country skiing. Not up for much movement? Snuggle into that down sleeping bag or string up a hammock and stargaze, as cold winter temperatures usually mean clear skies.
5. Cheaper Accommodation – Fewer crowds usually means cheaper accommodations and open availability, which can be hard or impossible to find during summer months. The one downer may be most restaurants and outdoor stores will have limited or no winter hours. Rest assured there will always be *something* to eat and somewhere to gas and water up even in the dead of winter in tiny neighboring National Park towns. Some of these towns seem to only exist because of their proximity to a National Park entrance.
Devil’s Garden,Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
Devil’s Garden is a beautiful natural playground located in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument about 17 miles southeast of Escalante. This high desert landscape appears surreal as it’s located just off Hole in the Rock Road, but completely unique and captivating compared to the nearly featureless roadside. Here you’ll see natural sandstone arches, hoodoos and monoliths colorfully sculpted over 170 million years by wind, ice, and thermal erosion. While it’s not necessary to name specific formations or check them off a list, you will see the Metate Arch, Mano Arch, Gnome Rock, the Marching Trolls, and the Four Wise Men. Specifically identified or not, you’ll know the cool rocks (hell, they’re all pretty rad) when you see them.
Highlights:
Exciting for all ages – Devil’s Garden is awesome for all ages as there’s no set trail and a variety of rock formations to view from the ground or to climb around on. There is a small arch spanning a gully that can be found by following the upper, left-hand trail beginning at the picnic site. Start here and explore onward as your heart desires. You can’t miss the dramatic hoodoos and beautiful waves of sandstone.
Perfect for an hour or an afternoon – One of the nearest natural features to Escalante, Devil’s Garden is perfect for a quick visit or an entire afternoon. It’s possible to breeze through this area in just a half hour, but you could also mess around here for hours, eat some lunch, play some more and then enjoy a fire as the sun goes down. It’s close proximity to Escalante makes it an easy in and out from Hole in the Rock road too.
It’s truly a playground – There is no set trail here. The square mile that makes up Devil’s Garden provides the best brief introduction to the kind of route-finding, slick rock walking that’s typical of most backcountry trail-less routes in the Escalante region.
Picnic area and fire rings – Devil’s Garden features a picnic area with, tables, fire pits, and elevated grills. There’s also a well-maintained pit toilet. Warning: No water or firewood is available. Bring your own charcoal to cook lunch and firewood for an evening under the stars.
Dogs allowed – Dogs are allowed at this site and if you visit in the off-season it’s likely they’ll have the place to themselves. While dogs aren’t technically allowed off leash, we met locals who encouraged us to set our pups free. We obliged and they enjoyed.
Getting There:
- Head east on scenic byway 12 from the tiny town of Escalante.
- About five miles down the highway you’ll see Hole in the Rock Road to the right. Head down the unpaved road.
- After about 10.5 miles you’ll see a sign and turnoff for Devil’s Garden.
- After 1.5 miles you’ll reach the bathrooms, picnic area and parking space.
- If it’s dry outside, the road is well maintained and in great shape. You’ll easily make it to Devil’s Garden with any car. However, if it’s raining, you should wait to visit even if you have a 4×4. The road is prone to washouts.
Best Time To Visit:
The best time to visit is April through early June and September through October. I went in March and it was unseasonably cold and a bit windy, but I still thought it was fantastic for this adventure. We were one of only three families visiting Devil’s Garden.
Quick Tips:
- Leave the arches and fragile formations be. This is sandstone, so trampling all over delicate formations will ruin them for everyone.
- Bring water as there is none available here.
- Bring your own firewood if you’d like to use the fire rings. There is no wood available and it’s illegal to gather it here anyway.
- Bring your dog! Dogs are permitted at Devil’s Garden. While we visited we met locals who told us to take the leashes off our three pups. This seems to be the trend during the low season. They had a blast!
- If splitting away from the group to explore, decide on a time to meet at the car. It’s really easy to lose sight of each other in Devil’s Garden even though it’s only about one square mile.
- Definitely pack the ten essentials in your car. You can decide which are necessary for the type of jaunt you’ll do in Devil’s Garden.
The (Modern) Ten Essentials:
- Navigation (map and compass)
- Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
- Insulation (extra clothing)
- Illumination
- First-aid supplies
- Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
- Repair kit and tools
- Nutrition
- Hydration
- Emergency shelter
Here’s the outfit I wore every.single.day. of my winter road trip through southern Utah. Links to the exact pieces are added where possible. From the top down:
REI jacket (they must have discontinued the slim hooded puffy), Smartwool base layer, and a silk tank top or a comfy North Face modal tank (couldn’t find a link unfortunately).
Simple hat, fleece-lined buff, and a pair of slim gloves, perfect for wearing while operating a camera. These gloves are very similar. Here’s a handy tutorial for adding conductive thread to your gloves to make them touchscreen compatible.
Fleece-lined BlackMilk pants, these amazing socks, and these exact boots or these moccasins.