TRAVEL COLUMN: Armchair travelers get wintertime peek of national parks
As people who love visiting America’s national parks, but nearly always during the summer, we enjoy looking in on the parks during the winter from the warmth and comfort of our easy chairs.
Snow is rare in south Georgia, where we live, so national park webcams offer scenery that we can only dream about. (We did visit Yellowstone one January – a tale for another day.)
Below is a list of 10 national park webcam sites we particularly enjoy. Most sites point to several webcams located in different areas of each park.
Webcams sometimes offer glimpses of animals, park employees and visitors. Mostly they give a vantage onto a landscape that can be difficult to see in person this time of year.
Keep in mind that winter weather in these parts can be dark and cloudy, and webcams occasionally become covered by snow and ice. Be patient and you will find the view is worth the wait.
Crater Lake National Park (Oregon): The webcams update every 10 minutes, but the views are unbelievable if the weather is good. Unfortunately the cameras are frequently covered with snow or ice. The lake and Wizard Island can be seen via the Sinnott Memorial Overlook webcam. The webcam showing the Steel Visitor Center generally makes clear the huge amount of snowfall the park receives. Visit: nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Glacier National Park (Montana): Several webcams offer diverse views of one of our favorite parks. The view of Apgar Village on the western side of the park sometimes includes people and vehicles entering and departing. Other webcams show park headquarters, Lake McDonald and Two Medicine, our favorite place in the park to camp. A snowman often appears on the webcam pointed at park headquarters. Visit: nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming): This website includes several webcams with views of the spectacular Teton Range. The Park Service Air Resources webcam shows the mountains from the east side of the park. The site also includes links to webcams providing views from the American Alpine Club’s Climbers Ranch and Lost Creek Ranch. Visit: nps.gov/grte/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Lassen Volcanic National Park (California): In northern California, Lassen has always been one of our favorite parks. It typically receives huge amounts of snow, and winter views can be spectacular. On a clear day, the Manzanita Lake webcam shows Lassen Peak in the distance. We have spent many summers camping in this area. On a cool day the view from the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center may show steam rising from the hydrothermal Sulphur Works. Visit: nps.gov/lavo/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Mount Rainier National Park (Washington): Not all of Mount Rainier’s webcams operate during the winter, but those that do make this a great site. Snowplows can sometimes be seen clearing the lot at Paradise visitor center and working on the roads near Longmire. Visit: nps.gov/mora/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Olympic National Park (Washington): Several webcams are posted in Olympic. Those on Hurricane Ridge show the Olympic Mountains, and if you check frequently, as we do, you are likely to see some rugged weather. A link leads to a webcam at Kalaloch Beach, where Kalaloch Creek flows into the Pacific Ocean. Visit: nps.gov/olym/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado): It’s not often you get to view the continental divide in winter. Here is your opportunity. What a spectacular sight. Webcams are scattered around Rocky Mountain National Park. One offers a view of Longs Peak, which at 14,259 feet, is the tallest mountain in the park. Visit: nps.gov/romo/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming): Multiple webcams in the park include one at the north entrance showing the famed Roosevelt Arch in the distance. Officers’ Row in the Mammoth area is visible, as are two views from Mount Washburn, when the weather cooperates. One of our favorite webcams on this site is a live stream of the Old Faithful geyser. Visit: nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Yosemite National Park (California): Those who haven’t visited Yosemite are in for a treat with the great views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and El Capitan. Another view of the Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area sometimes catches visitors enjoying the park. Visit: nps.gov/yose/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Zion National Park (Utah): We’ve long felt that Zion is one of America’s most underrated national parks. Red sandstone cliffs and canyons provide some of the most outstanding scenery anywhere in the country. The Zion webcam gives an excellent view of Temples and Towers of the Virgin near the park’s visitor center. The site links to a Springdale webcam focused on the southern area of the park. Visit:nps.gov/zion/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
David and Kay Scott are authors of “Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges” (Globe Pequot). Visit them at www.valdosta.edu/~dlscott/Scott