America’s national parks are awe-inspiring all year-long. But there’s an additional enchantment about canyons draped in snow, caves resounding with carols, and sleigh rides through mountains so wintry and wonderful they could pass as the North Pole. This holiday season, these special places are once again welcoming guests with a full slate of festive events and decor. Whether you’re craving cocoa aboard the Polar Express, a Christmas feast in a historic lodge, or snowman scavenger hunts in the Rockies, these are the best national parks to visit during the holidays.
Eat a Christmas banquet at Yosemite National Park
Once the snow hits, Yosemite’s soaring sequoias and sprawling valleys become a playground for skiers at Badger Pass and ice skaters at Curry Village. Yet indoors is just as magical in December. Since its opening in 1927, the historic Ahwahnee lodge has hosted an annual Bracebridge Dinner, transforming the dining room into a classic English feast inspired by Washington Irving’s story, “Christmas at Bracebridge Hall.”
Harkening to lavish holiday banquets in the English countryside, Ahwahnee’s Bracebridge Dinners (held on select dates in December, for $537 per person) feature opera singers, extravagant period costumes, ornate decor, a champagne bar, and a multi-course dinner, with dishes like poached Norwegian salmon, “peacock pie” (made with duck confit), and plum pudding. At year’s end, the Ahwahnee hosts its elegant New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance, with another multi-course meal, live music, and dancing.
Dollywood knows how to shine and sparkle for the holidays.
Courtesy of Dollywood
See 6 million lights at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Winter is a fine time to beat the crowds at America’s most visited national park, and during the holidays, the Great Smoky Mountains are a bucolic backdrop for all manner of lights and festivities. In addition to quieter hiking trails, kissed with just enough snow to set the scene, the park’s proximity to seasonal celebrations makes it a win-win for the holidays.
About 13 miles from the park, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas (through January 4, 2026) features more than 6 million lights, numerous Christmas trees, festive foods like chicken cassoulet and hot cocoa cupcakes, and outdoor performances of “Appalachian Christmas” and “O Holy Night.” The rest of Pigeon Forge, 11 miles from the national park, hosts its own Winterfest, with light displays and shows running throughout town until February 15, 2026.
Hear carols echo across Mammoth Cave National Park
For 46 years, one of the most unusual holiday traditions in the parks has been the annual Cave Sing at Mammoth Cave National Park, where the largest cave system in the world transforms into a veritable concert stage for carolers and choirs. Free to attend, with no advance reservations required, the event is held within the park’s Historic Entrance, in a low-lit cavern that maintains a steady 54 degrees Fahrenheit. Performances run about an hour, and the event is standing room only. This year’s Cave Sing is December 7, with the Heart of Kentucky Chorus and the Butler County Middle School as performers. After the show, guests can head back to the Lodge at Mammoth Cave to meet Santa.
Soak in steamy celebrations at Hot Springs National Park
Renowned for its historic bathhouses, pumping out hot thermal water for soaks that have long drawn the likes of dignitaries and athletes, Hot Springs National Park teems with traditions of its own around the holidays. These include a Christmas Parade, set for 6:30 p.m. on December 8, and a loaded calendar at Garvan Woodland Gardens, including choir concerts, high tea, and a light display that runs November 22 through December 31. Other holiday events include a chili cook-off the Monday before Thanksgiving, and the return of live race season at Oaklawn Racing Casino.
Who says the desert can’t look like the North Pole?
Courtesy of Saad Chaudhry/Unsplash
Board the Polar Express at Grand Canyon National Park
Many people associate the Grand Canyon with a scorching desert, but come the holidays, the red rock marvel transforms into a landscape of winter wonder. The mile-deep canyon, cascaded in snow, is breathtaking, but the canyon is especially magical with a mug of hot cocoa in hand. The Polar Express Train Ride is an annual pastime aboard the Grand Canyon Railway, whisking families on a nighttime journey to the “North Pole,” aka a makeshift village draped in lights, where Santa awaits with small gifts for children.
The Polar Express, which includes chocolate-chip cookies and hot cocoa, runs November 7 to December 30, with rates starting at $62 for adults and $48 for children under 16. There’s also the Ultimate Polar Express Experience, which gives groups up to 32 their own private first-class train car, along with a bar and a special visit from Santa—all for a cool $8,000 total. Stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, adjacent to the train depot, which will be decked out for the holidays.
Go on a snowman scavenger hunt at Rocky Mountain National Park
Flanked by sky-hugging peaks blanketed in snow, Rocky Mountain National Park is at its most serene during the winter months, when hiking trails turn into snowshoe treks and Hidden Valley becomes a sledding hill. In the gateway town of Estes Park, holiday attractions run the gamut from a Snowman Scavenger Hunt (pick up a punch card at the Estes Park Visitor’s Center and look for snowmen hidden around town) to Sleigh the Games, a holiday adventure festival filled with tubing, skating, hot chocolate, DJ sets, and a snowball competition.
The annual Catch the Glow nighttime parade hits Elkhorn Avenue on November 28, while Bond Park hosts a nightly light show set to Christmas music. Cozy up at Mountain Village at Lake Estes in a series of luxe, hot tub–equipped cabins that are walking distance to the Festival of Trees (November 12–December 14).
Grand Teton celebrates with cookie decorating, sleigh rides, and ice skating.
Courtesy of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort; John Bowers (L); photo by Amy Jimmerson (R)
Ski with Santa at Grand Teton National Park
From horse-drawn sleigh rides to skiing with Santa, Grand Teton National Park becomes a makeshift North Pole during the holidays. In Teton Village, WinterFest runs through December, with activities like Christmas cookie decorating and free skate nights. There’s also a tree lighting ceremony on December 19 with snow castles, hot chocolate, cookies, and sparklers. Don’t miss the Santa tram drop on Christmas Eve, where somehow amid his busy schedule, Santa finds time to rappel down from a tram to ski with guests on Christmas.
Beyond the village, the National Elk Refuge offers horse-drawn sleigh rides through the grounds of the largest migrating elk herd on the continent, while properties like Hotel Jackson—a family-owned, western-chic boutique accommodation overlooking Jackson Square’s iconic elk antler arch—offer guided snowshoeing outings, fat-tire bike rides, and wildlife safaris in the national park. Guests can even order a Christmas tree for their room. Back in Teton Village, Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa offers elegant, alpine-inspired accommodations—and a three-story spa—only one mile from a lesser-known entrance to the park.
Take a caroling cruise at Gateway Arch National Park
Train rides with Santa are booming business this time of year, but for a rare river cruise with Saint Nick, you can set sail at St. Louis’s Gateway Arch National Park. America’s smallest national park goes big for the season, with festively decorated riverboat cruises through December, complete with caroling, Santa meet-and-greets, hot chocolate, and special treats. Cruises run in the afternoon, as well as PJs and Pancakes cruises in the mornings. Tickets are $29 per person for the caroling cruises and $45 per person for breakfast cruises (ages three and older). There’s also a Floating Sleigh holiday pop-up bar during December 4–28 at the Gateway Arch dock.
