January belongs to the deserts, the subtropics and one snow-globe exception. Summer's furnace parks are finally hikeable, Florida's wetlands are in their dry season, and Yellowstone's wolves are easiest to spot against the snow.
The hottest place in North America is at its gentlest: days in the 60s mean you can hike canyon floors at midday, which in July would be dangerous. Clear winter air also makes this one of the best months for stargazing in a certified dark-sky park.
Hikes to do: Golden Canyon–Gower Gulch Loop, Mosaic Canyon, Natural Bridge, Badwater Basin
Don't miss: Badwater Basin: walk out onto the salt flats at 282 ft below sea level, Zabriskie Point at sunrise, when low winter light rakes the badlands, Mesquite Flat Dunes for sunset and a long, cold, starry night
Tip: Nights can drop near freezing. Telescope Peak is usually snowbound, so stick to low elevations.
January is the heart of the dry season. As water levels drop, alligators, wading birds and turtles crowd into the remaining sloughs, so you see more wildlife per mile than at any other time. Mosquitoes are at their lowest, and the humidity finally breaks.
Hikes to do: Anhinga Trail, Gumbo Limbo Trail, Pa-hay-okee Overlook, Shark Valley Tram Road
Don't miss: Royal Palm: the Anhinga Trail boardwalk is known as one of the best wildlife walks in the park system, Shark Valley: bike or take the tram along a 15-mile loop lined with gators, Flamingo: manatees, crocodiles and Florida Bay
Tip: Peak season means busy parking at Royal Palm and Shark Valley by late morning. Arrive early.
Tucson's winter is the payoff for its summers: sunny, mid-60s days on trails that hit triple digits in June. The giant saguaros are the same year-round, but you can climb among them all day without heat stress.
Hikes to do: Signal Hill Petroglyphs, Valley View Overlook, Wasson Peak, Tanque Verde Ridge
Don't miss: Cactus Forest Loop Drive on the east side, Signal Hill petroglyphs on the west side, Sunset from Valley View Overlook
Tip: Winter storms occasionally dust the Rincon Mountains with snow. Bring layers for the higher trails.
Winter turns Yellowstone into a different park. Bison wear frost, geyser steam towers in the cold air, and Lamar Valley is one of the most reliable places on Earth to watch wild wolves. Crowds are a small fraction of summer's.
Hikes to do: Upper Geyser Basin Loop, Old Faithful Observation Point, Lone Star Geyser
Don't miss: Lamar Valley at dawn for wolves: the road from the North Entrance to Cooke City stays open to cars, Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin by snowcoach or guided snowmobile, Mammoth Hot Springs terraces
Tip: Most park roads are closed to cars in winter. Interior access is by commercial snowcoach or guided snowmobile only.
Hurricane season is over and the Caribbean dry season is setting in, with warm turquoise water, trade winds and 80s every day. It's peak season for good reason.
Hikes to do: Ram Head Trail, Reef Bay Trail, Lind Point Trail, Cinnamon Bay Loop
Don't miss: Trunk Bay underwater snorkel trail, Cinnamon Bay beach and sugar mill ruins, Ram Head for the most dramatic sea views in the park
Tip: Parking at the north shore beaches fills early in peak season. Start before 9 a.m.
Winter brings clear, cool mornings at Kīlauea's summit and the calmest travel season on the Big Island. When the volcano is active, the summit glow after dark is unforgettable. Check the live alerts for eruption status.
Hikes to do: Kīlauea Iki, Crater Rim Trail, Devastation Trail, Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs
Don't miss: Kīlauea Iki crater floor, Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube), Chain of Craters Road down to the Hōlei Sea Arch
Tip: The summit sits at 4,000 ft and is often wet and cool. Bring a rain shell even when the coast is sunny.
West Texas winter is ideal: warm afternoons on the desert floor, crisp nights in the Chisos, and the Rio Grande canyons comfortable to explore. Big Bend has some of the darkest skies in the Lower 48.
Hikes to do: Santa Elena Canyon, Lost Mine Trail, Window Trail, Hot Springs Historic Trail
Don't miss: Santa Elena Canyon's 1,500-ft limestone walls, Hot springs soak on the banks of the Rio Grande, Chisos Basin sunsets through the Window
Tip: Cold fronts can bring freezing nights and occasional ice to the Chisos. Check the forecast below.