The United States presents 63 nationwide parks so that you can discover and luxuriate in. If you want to plan a spring journey, there are some things to contemplate. The excellent news is April is a wonderful time to go to a lot of our parks. We will define the very best nationwide parks to go to in April within the US so you’ll be able to plan your journey.
Let’s first dive into the professionals of cons of visiting a nationwide park in April.
Pros of a National Park Visit in April
For many, summer time is the height journey season because of climate and scheduling.
A nationwide park go to in April has its benefits, together with:
- Smaller crowds
- Avoid sweltering temperatures
- Potentially get monetary savings on journey bills and lodging
- Some parks supply distinctive experiences this time of 12 months
Cons of a National Park Visit in April
Although chances are you’ll keep away from extra intensive crowds and excessive warmth, chances are you’ll encounter points reminiscent of:
- Fewer open areas and actions because of restricted staffing or chilly circumstances
- Spring break vacationers
- Greater chance of rain in some areas
Let’s discover the very best locations so that you can go in April.
Grand Canyon National Park
Housed in Arizona, the well-known Grand Canyon attracts guests from across the globe. Like the ocean, the large canyon spans your complete visual view. Its magnificence and dimension are concurrently mind-boggling and breathtaking.
Weather
April brings a mean excessive of 61 levels Fahrenheit and a low of 26 at night time. The climate is often nice, with little or no probability of rain. Snow is feasible however often solely lasts for a short while.
Why go to the Grand Canyon in April
With cooler temperatures and smaller crowds, April is a wonderful time to see the Grand Canyon. You can count on cooler temperatures alongside the rim and hotter temperatures contained in the canyon, making April excellent for mountaineering.
Top issues to do within the Grand Canyon
Although the North Rim remains to be closed, the South Rim presents lots to see and do. You can take scenic drives alongside Desert View Drive and Hermit Road. Both routes present numerous overlooks the place you’ll be able to peer over the mile-deep canyon. The gorge is so deep there are a lot of spots the place you can’t even see the Colorado River.
Hiking is standard this time of 12 months because of snug temperatures. The South Rim presents rewarding hikes, together with the Rim, South Kaibab, Hermit, and Bright Angel Trails.
While exploring the park, look ahead to elk. Although giant, they are often surprisingly quiet.
If you’re going mountaineering, make certain to get some nice high quality mountaineering sun shades – additionally take a look at our mountaineering gear information.
Check out these Grand Canyon actions.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
The Guadalupe Mountains National Park rests within the Chihuahuan Desert in western Texas, simply south of the New Mexico border. It is one in every of America’s least-visited nationwide parks. The park includes 5 districts that home rugged mountains, deserts, white gypsum dunes, and crimson quartz hills.
As a bonus, you will see two different nationwide parks close by. You can attain Carlsbad Caverns National Park inside a 45-minute drive and White Sands National Park in 3 hours.
Weather
The common excessive temperature in April is 71 levels Fahrenheit, whereas the typical low is 46. You can count on heat and nice climate with loads of sunshine. Temperatures are 5 to 10 levels cooler in greater mountain elevations. Salt Basin Dunes, one of many park’s districts, recurrently sees temperatures 5 to 10 levels above these averages.
Why go to Guadalupe Mountains National Park in April
The windy season within the Guadalupe Mountains recurrently happens from November by March. During that point, the realm constantly has 30-mile-per-hour winds with gusts from 50 to 80 miles per hour. April presents a small window after the windy season and earlier than the temperatures warmth up in May.
Top issues to do in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
The park presents many rewarding hikes that take you thru rocky canyons, rugged mountains, and boulders. You acquire spectacular views alongside the journey.
Devil’s Hall Trail features a pure staircase and a slender corridor between two steep canyon partitions. You can hike to the “top of Texas” on the Guadalupe Peak Trail. Other standard hikes embrace the Permian Reef Trail and the trek to Pratt Cabin. The cabin has rocking chairs the place you’ll be able to relaxation with an alluring view of the mountains.
Although not the tallest mountain, El Capitan, the park’s most outstanding peak, makes for glorious photographs. Suppose you intention to see wildlife, hike to Manzanita Spring or Smith Spring close to sundown.
To see the white gypsum dunes and crimson quartz hills, head to the park’s Salt Basin Dunes district.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Located in northern Ohio between Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park delivers a novel assortment of landscapes and actions. The park honors Ohio’s historical past, supplies stunning surroundings, and loads of leisure alternatives.
Weather
The temperature reaches a mean excessive of 57 levels Fahrenheit and a mean low of 38 in April. Snow is feasible however much less probably because the month progresses. Although the warming climate brings sunshine, rain is feasible this time of 12 months.
Why go to Cuyahoga Valley National Park in April
Spring rain yields colourful blooming wildflowers and plentiful gushing waterfalls. The park accommodates Bath Road Heronry, a nesting colony for a whole lot of nice blue herons from mid-February by June. You can witness courtship shows and nice blue herons elevating their younger.
Top issues to do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Visit Bath Road Heronry to observe the good blue herons. If you wish to see extra wildlife, go to Beaver Marsh. The peaceable, boggy space teems with numerous wildlife. Check out Brandywine Falls, a beautiful 60-foot cascading waterfall.
Ledges Trail is a wooded path that leads you to a pure stone viewing platform, Ledges Overlook. The spot yields terrific views and makes for an ideal place for a memorable sundown.
You can hike or bike alongside the Towpath Trail, which follows the historic Ohio and Erie Canal, and is identical path the place mules pulled canal boats within the 1800s and early 1900s. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) presents themed practice rides inside the park year-round. Visit the CVSR web site to see the schedule, availability, and pricing.
Death Valley National Park
Straddling the borders of japanese California and Nevada, Death Valley National Park is America’s hottest, driest, and lowest nationwide park. It is a land of extremes and contrasts with a shocking range of life that defies its title.
Weather
April brings a mean excessive of 90 levels and a low of 62. Although sizzling, May by September averages exceed 100 levels. The probabilities of rain are slim to none. You can count on the climate to be sizzling and dry.
Why go to Death Valley National Park in April
You have two good causes to go to the park in April. First, the typical excessive temperature is under 100 levels. Second, you’ve got an outdoor probability to see a superbloom.
What is a superbloom? It is a uncommon desert incidence the place an unusually excessive variety of wildflowers blossom concurrently, blanketing the desert in an unlimited splash of good colours.
Top issues to do in Death Valley National Park
Beyond praying for a superbloom, Death Valley is a top-notch place for stargazing because of a scarcity of sunshine air pollution. Visit throughout a brand new moon for even darker skies.
Visit the attractive erosional panorama of Zabriskie Point. Take a scenic tour on Artist’s Drive, the place you will note multi-colored eroded hills, together with the surreal Artist’s Palette.
Visit the large salt flats of Badwater Basin, the bottom level in all of North America. With a drive and a brief hike, you’ll be able to overlook the valley and Badwater Basin from Dante’s View.
Slide down the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and admire the mesquite bushes that thrive amongst the rolling dunes within the harsh desert circumstances. If you want a break from the warmth or some leisure, you’ll be able to drive to Las Vegas.
Check out these actions in Death Valley National Park.
White Sands National Park
An enormous pocket of rolling dunes between two mountain ranges in New Mexico, White Sands National Park is an odd however stunning playground. You could have your greatest seashore day with gorgeous surroundings and distinctive leisure alternatives.
Weather
April supplies heat days and funky evenings, with a mean excessive of 79 levels and a low of 40. Rain is unlikely, however it will possibly get windy within the spring.
Why go to White Sands National Park in April
Wildflowers sometimes start to bloom in mid-April, together with sand verbena, Hartweg’s sundrops, White Sands mustard, and yuccas. Although the white sands look magnificent in opposition to a blue sky, the wildflowers add distinctive touches of coloration.
Note that the park usually will get crowded close to Easter and through spring break.
Top issues to do in White Sands National Park
Sand sledding is a must-do exercise at White Sands. Although climbing up dunes of unfastened sand is tiring, the trip down is a blast.
You won’t discover an ocean, however you’ll be able to nonetheless construct a fort, dig, and play within the sand. The sand, fabricated from gypsum, surprisingly doesn’t soak up warmth. So it feels cool in your arms and toes.
With stunning surroundings, the park is nice for a photograph shoot or a picnic. You can discover hikes starting from a boardwalk stroll to an intense journey of climbing dunes. With a little bit of planning, you’ll be able to see the dunes underneath the glow of a full moon on a ranger-led hike.
Redwood National and State Parks
You can discover a number of the world’s tallest bushes burrowed within the northern California coast within the Redwood National and State Parks. The forests abound with magnificence and serenity nearly past comprehension.
Weather
April could carry some rain, however temperatures sometimes vary from 42 to 59 levels. Although the wet season spans October by April, the final month often brings much less rain than the previous months. May by September could have much less rain, however the park will get crowded throughout this time.
Why go to Redwood National and State Parks in April
April is a small window of time with reducing rains and small crowds. Wildflowers start to bloom, including vivid coats of paint to the panorama.
Top issues to do in Redwood National and State Parks
Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, the place you will see large bushes and plenty of locations to cease and discover. The parks present many beautiful forested trails, together with Stout Grove Trail, Grove of Titans, Boy Scout Tree Trail, Fern Canyon, Tall Trees Grove, and Lady Bird Johnson Grove. All of the hikes are implausible.
For those that love wildlife, Redwood National and State Parks home North America’s largest species of elk, the Roosevelt elk. The stunning animal can exceed 1,000 kilos.
A shock to some guests, the parks supply nice tide pooling alternatives. You can cross a land bridge at low tide to go to Battery Point Lighthouse. During excessive tide, it’s an island. Seals, sea lions, and birds inhabit the lighthouse space.
Saguaro National Park
Many guests touring to the western United States mistakenly count on to see large cacti in abundance. Ironically, saguaros, the enduring large cacti representing the American West, solely develop within the Sonoran Desert. Head to Saguaro National Park in southern Arizona, and you will see practically two million of them.
Weather
As you’ll be able to think about, the climate within the Sonoran desert is sizzling and dry. Temperatures in April are tolerable, with a mean excessive of 83 levels Fahrenheit and a low of 52.
Why go to Saguaro National Park in April
Although temperatures are most snug within the winter, April has tolerable temperatures and blooming flowers. Desert wildflowers can begin blooming in February, however many bloom from mid-March to mid-April. Saguaros can show colourful blossoms the final two weeks of April, usually peaking in late May or early June.
Top issues to do in Saguaro National Park
It is crucial to notice the park has two separate, unconnected areas:
- Saguaro West: Tucson Mountain District
- Saguaro East: Rincon Mountain District
Saguaro West has a extra vital focus of saguaros, whereas Saguaro East presents higher mountain views. Both areas present loads of saguaros and surreal desert magnificence.
Hiking is the park’s hottest exercise. Walking beside the cacti places in perspective their dimension and sturdiness. As you hang around with the cacti, you’ll swear they develop personalities. Popular hikes in Saguaro West embrace Valley View Overlook Trail and Signal Hill Trail, which homes distinctive petroglyphs. Visitors to Saguaro East usually recommend mountaineering the Mica View Loop.
Consider exploring the park by taking a scenic drive. Saguaro West presents Bajada Loop Drive, whereas Saguaro East has Cactus Forest Drive. You will acquire glorious views of the cacti and mountains because the mud settles.
Saguaro National Park presents gorgeous sunsets because the sky glows behind the silhouettes of the cacti. Enjoy the view, cooling temperatures, and sounds of animals getting ready to feed.
Everglades National Park
Florida homes Everglades National Park, the place a slow-moving river of grass accommodates alligators, turtles, fish, birds, and extra. Exploring the park appears like a zoo with out limitations the place alligators bask within the solar alongside strolling paths. Although stunning, it may be scary at instances.
Weather
Everglades National Park has two seasons, moist and dry. The dry season runs from December by April. You can count on a mean excessive of 85 levels and a low of 61. Although heat, it isn’t practically as sizzling and humid because the moist season.
Why go to Everglades National Park in April
Since it’s the final month of the dry season, you’ll be able to count on heat temperatures with fewer mosquitoes. You even have better probabilities of recognizing wildlife. Once the temperatures begin climbing in May, many animals cover all through the day.
Top issues to do in Everglades National Park
One of probably the most thrilling issues to do in Everglades National Park is to take an airboat tour. Zipping subsequent to alligators within the river of grass is a thrill trip.
There are loads of mountaineering trails the place you’ll be able to observe wildlife. Anhinga Trail places you subsequent to alligators, turtles, and plenty of birds. It accommodates paved and boardwalk sections and is an absolute delight. The water is so clear you’ll readily detect fish and turtles beneath the lily pads.
If you favor to keep away from mountaineering, you’ll be able to trip a bicycle or take a tram tour. You can kayak by a maze of mangrove islands within the park’s western part. Manatees often swim in Flamingo, the park’s southern district. Visitors recurrently spot crocodiles and ospreys in Flamingo.
Shenandoah National Park
Nestled in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park presents a blissful forested mountain escape. Serenity envelops you as you absorb attractive views mountaineering by the woods and peering out at mountains from spectacular overlooks.
Weather
The common excessive for April is 56 levels, whereas the low is 36. Temperatures can differ significantly from the mountainous elevations to the decrease valleys. It remains to be considerably cool, and rain is actually attainable this time of 12 months.
Why go to Shenandoah National Park in April
Shenandoah National Park attracts giant crowds in summer time and fall. Spring is a superb time to go to when crowd ranges are decrease. Blooming wildflowers spotlight the landscapes like paint on a canvas. Although lots of the park’s waterfalls are lackluster or nonexistent in summer time, it’s best to discover gushing waterfalls in April.
Top issues to do in Shenandoah National Park
The 105-mile Skyline Drive is one in every of America’s greatest scenic drives, with 75 overlooks. Take your time and savor the views. You could encounter white-tailed deer or black bears in your journey.
The park presents greater than 500 miles of lovely, forested trails. You can discover every part from difficult multiple-day treks to brief, straightforward hikes. Stony Man Trail and Blackrock Summit supply rewarding hikes with glorious views. Upper Hawksbill Trail takes you to the park’s highest summit, whereas Dark Hollow Falls Trail yields a picturesque waterfall.
For these looking for extra excessive adventures, you’ll be able to strive mountain biking, bouldering, or mountain climbing.
Petrified Forest National Park
Located in Arizona, Petrified Forest National Park showcases stone logs, striped mounds, badlands, and parts of historic Route 66. The park presents surreal landscapes that always get neglected as a result of state’s function park, the Grand Canyon.
Weather
Average each day temperatures swing from 35 to 70 levels in April. Although the area’s rainfall is low, snow or rain is feasible this time of 12 months.
Why go to Petrified Forest National Park in April
Crowd ranges are low in April. Due to the remaining moisture popping out of the winter months, the surreal striated landscapes pop with even brighter colours. It is magical.
Top issues to do in Petrified Forest National Park
You can see the park’s highlights in at some point. The fundamental park highway is a 28-mile loop with locations to cease and discover. Combine the drive with a couple of brief hikes, and you should have the makings of a pleasant day.
You acquire beautiful views of the badlands from numerous overlooks alongside the principle highway. The Tepees, giant roadside mounds with brightly painted layers, additionally await you.
Hike the Blue Mesa Trail, the place you acquire shut views of lovely striped hills. Crystal Forest, one other brief however standard hike, loops round a discipline plagued by petrified logs. Newspaper Rock is an overlook with viewfinders pointed at greater than 650 petroglyphs. Stop on the previous Studebaker for a photograph op and pay homage to Route 66.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park stretches alongside the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, providing misty mountain views and plenty of leisure alternatives. The mountain retreat accommodates lush forests, vivid wildflowers, flowing waterfalls, thrilling wildlife, and extra.
Weather
Mid-April recurrently brings milder temperatures, with daytime temperatures reaching the 70s. Temperatures can dip under freezing at night time in greater elevations. Afternoon showers are frequent this time of 12 months.
Why go to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in April
As America’s most visited park, the Great Smoky Mountains get particularly crowded in summer time and fall. If you’ll be able to keep away from Easter and spring break, crowd ranges shall be decrease with gentle climate within the second half of April. The spring temperatures and rain reward you with stunning wildflowers and full waterfalls.
Top issues to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
With forests, mountains, and waterfalls, mountaineering is among the park’s hottest actions. If you might be up for a steep, half-mile climb, you’ll be able to ascend Clingman’s Dome, the park’s highest level. At the highest, you will see an remark tower yielding beautiful views.
If you like waterfalls, hike Roaring Fork, the place you’ll encounter Rainbow Falls, Grotto Falls, and the Place of a Thousand Drips. Favorite hikes of holiday makers additionally embrace Rocky Top, Laurel Falls, and Chimney Tops.
The park supplies many roads for an auto tour. If you like scenic drives, think about the Blue Ridge Parkway, which connects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Shenandoah National Park on a beautiful 469-mile drive with 26 tunnels and greater than 200 overlooks.
You can go to one or each of the park’s historic grist mills for one thing totally different. Cable Mill is water powered whereas Mingus Mill is turbine powered.
Black bear sightings are fairly frequent within the Smokies. While exploring the park, concentrate on your environment.
Joshua Tree National Park
Resting in southern California, Joshua Tree National Park is dwelling to its bristled and twisted namesake bushes that share the cruel desert surroundings with distinctive, rugged rock formations. The park is a conjunction of two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and Colorado, that harbor quite a lot of fascinating wildlife.
Weather
You can count on temperatures within the higher 40s at night time and higher 70s through the day. It is among the most snug instances of the 12 months, and there’s little or no probability of rain.
Why go to Joshua Tree National Park in April
March and April current desert wildflowers in bloom, highlighting the usually drab panorama. With little rain and comfy temperatures, the park attracts fairly a couple of guests this time of 12 months to see the flowers and hike. Despite an uptick in guests, the temperatures and flowers make March and April a good time to go to.
Top issues to do in Joshua Tree National Park
With distinctive rock formations, Joshua bushes, and numerous cacti, mountaineering and exploring are the most well-liked issues to do within the park. Top hikes embrace Skull Rock Trail and Arch Rock Trail. You may discover Heart Rock close to Arch Rock Trail. These iconic rocks make nice photograph ops.
Explore Hidden Valley, a big bowl-shaped basin surrounded by boulders and stacks of rocks. You will discover a loop path on the basin’s inside. Head to Keys View, the place you acquire a implausible vantage level of valleys and mountains for so far as you’ll be able to see.
The peaceable Cholla Cactus Garden, with mountains within the background, is ideal for photographs. You will discover a number of oases within the park to discover as properly.
Walking alongside the surreal landscapes all through the park makes for an pleasurable day. Nightfall brings a wonderful alternative for stargazing. Joshua Tree National Park is an International Dark Sky Park. Try to not go to throughout a full moon, and it’s best to uncover the gorgeous Milky Way.
See additionally: Things to Do in Joshua Tree National Park
Wrap-up: Best nationwide parks to go to in April
Summer isn’t the one time to go to a nationwide park within the US. An April go to presents gentle temperatures and smaller crowds. Some parks have distinctive alternatives this time of 12 months as properly. Like a wildflower, your nationwide park adventures can bloom in April.
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