Top 5 National Parks Perfect for Springtime Adventures

National parks don't only have to be visited during the summer when families and tourists are abundant. Off season hiking, kayaking, cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing should be added to your next travel list! What makes a "perfect national park"? In my opinion it has to be well rounded; have more than just hiking opportunities, more than one type of terrain or biome and have a range of easy to difficult trails. There is nothing worse than going on a trip or vacation and not everyone can participate because some individuals can't fully complete the hike because there are only difficult trails. I've been to over 20 National Parks and out of all of them, the below ones are my favorite for the spring; let me help you find your next springtime adventure!

The below National Parks are amazing to see during the Summer, but I specifically prefer these parks in the Spring because they are less crowded, have wild native flowers and are more cost-effective to visit before June.

1. Banff National Park

   1. Best time to go

      1. April - light snowpack

      2. May - flowers are blooming

   2. Top 3 Hikes(AllTrails)

      1. Bow Glacier Falls

      2. The Big Beehive

      3. Plain of Six Glaciers Trail

   3. Highlights

      1. Lake Louise

      2. Banff Gondola

      3. Moraine Lake

2. Arches National Park

   1. Best time to go

      1. March- light snow, plenty of sunshine

   2. Top 3 Hikes(AllTrails)

      1. Landscape Arch Trail

      2. Delicate Arch

      3. Ring Arch

   3. Highlights

      1. Town of Moab

      2. Many hikes under 1 mile with insane views!

3. Zion National Park

   1. Best time to go

      1. April - light rainfall

      2. May- sunshine without the crowds!

   2. Top 3 Hikes(AllTrails)

      1. The Narrows

      2. Emerald Pools Trail

      3. Observation Point via East Mesa Trail

   3. Highlights

      1. 2 other National Parks within 2 hour drive!

      2. So many viewpoints and vistas

4. Olympic National Park

   1. Best Time to go

      1. February- light rain and heavy snow

      2. March- sunny days that aren't too cold.

   2. Top 3 Hikes(AllTrails)

      1. Hall of Mosses

      2. Marymere Falls Trail

      3. Sol Duc Falls Trail

   3. Highlights

      1. Rain forests, mountains, waterfalls, ocean and rivers!

5. Yosemite National Park

   1. Best Time to go

      1. February- Firefall

   2. Top 3 Hikes(AllTrails)

      1. Vernal Falls

      2. Glacier Point Trail

      3. Lower Yosemite Falls Trail

   3. Highlights

      1. Great local attractions inside of the park valley

      2. Great vista points when driving into the park