North America's most dazzling winter escapes

14.11.2024 - 01:43 / lonelyplanet.com / El Capitan

Nov 12, 2024 • 8 min read

You know it’s winter in North America when ads promoting the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii are absolutely dominating every inch of media you consume. The message: winter is coming; board the nearest plane headed for sun and sand.

But, before you book that flight, consider this counterpoint: those balmy destinations are great year-round. The places that hit peak beauty at the chilliest times of year are only at their best for a short length of time. And what's more, they don't always require an airplane or a full week's vacation to enjoy them. What's more: there's no better place than the outdoors with its fresh air and sunshine to sidestep cold and flu season. Grab your parka and mittens, embrace the chill and enjoy these rare moments of winter wonder.

Bryce Canyon is a stunner any time of year, but a dusting of snow turns it into a crystalline fairyland as towering red rock hoodoos (formed by erosion) melt away into rolling badlands under blue bird skies. The other benefit of a winter visit: solitude. The height of summer sees 15 times the number of visitors that come during the snowy months.

With fresh snow, Bryce Canyon becomes one of the premier snowshoeing destinations in the US. If you don’t have your own, join one of the ranger-guided snowshoe walks where a pair is provided free of charge.

If Banff and Jasper National Parks don’t fully satisfy your craving for winter beauty, just outside the parks sits Abraham Lake, with its peculiar claim to fame: beautiful bubbles. When the lake freezes over, methane released from decaying matter on the lakebed becomes trapped in the ice, creating a remarkable effect that draws photographers from around the world.

To see the beautiful bubbles in person, timing is everything. Go after the lake has fully frozen and is safe to skate on, but while the ice is still clear enough to see through – usually late December into January. And bundle up – this is one chilly adventure.

The region also boasts some of the most charming and cozy lodges situated against the backdrop of Alberta's snowcapped mountains. 

For most of the year, wispy Horsetail Falls is one of the least remarkable waterfalls in Yosemite Valley, but for about two weeks in mid-to-late February, it’s the star of the show. At sunset, when the winter light is just right, Horsetail Falls lights up like a stream of fire flowing off El Capitan, reminiscent of the long-gone tradition of the Yosemite Firefall when burning embers from a bonfire were pushed over the edge of Glacier Point for the enjoyment of visitors below.

This natural firefall is popular with photographers, so you now need to apply for a permit from the Ansel Adams Gallery to park along the key stretch of Northside Drive near El