Though many consider winter a time to stay indoors, the truth is
that the season is the perfect time to visit your local parks
The early nightfalls of winter often have a way of making daylight hours seem far more valuable. Make the most of those precious rays this season by paying a visit to the South Valley’s county, state and national parks.
“Personally, this is my favorite time of year to explore the park,” said Carl Brenner, supervisor of interpretation and education for Pinnacles National Monument. “It’s very peaceful and it’s a time of rejuvenation in the park. You can take a stroll here in winter and encounter very few people. If you took the same stroll in summer, you’d be taking it with 150 of your closest hiking friends. OK, that may be an exaggeration, but when you go out for a hike in the winter, it’s almost as if you have a national park to yourself.”
Rangers at Henry W. Coe State Park and Mt. Madonna County Park agreed that though most people consider spring and summer the time to visit the parks, winter excursions are nothing to sniff at.
Pinnacles National Monument
– In the winter, bats either migrate south or hibernate for the winter. Because some species hibernate in the park’s caves, only portions of the cave are open to the public.
– Condors don’t migrate for the winter, so visitors will often catch a glimpse of these endangered birds year-round.
– Be sure to dress in layers because the weather can change quickly, especially when hikers go up in elevation. Also, people in a canyon may not be able to see storms coming over a ridge.
– Be prepared with snacks, water and a flashlight in case a hike takes longer than anticipated. “Those things can make the difference between a successful visit and a stressful one,” Brenner said.
– The park can get dustings of snow in higher elevations, but it often melts off before visitors have a chance to play in it.
– Early morning and late afternoon are often the best times to see wildlife. Animals tend to bed down midday.
– Wild pigs and mountain lions don’t hibernate, and both are found in the park’s boundaries.
Source: Carl Brenner, supervisor of interpretation and education
Henry W. Coe State Park
– “There’s a plant in the park called Chaparral Current, which only blooms in winter,” said Barry Breckling, a park ranger at Coe Park. “It hasn’t leafed out yet, but winter is the only time to see it looking its best. Because of the moderate climate, we really have things blooming all year round. In January and February, we’ll have early flowers that don’t come up in other places until spring.”
– Reptiles go into a semi-hibernation state during winter, so it’s rare to see snakes in the park. They are usually hidden away in dens.
– Birds residing in the park will change due to winter migration. The Hermit Thrush and Golden Crown Sparrow winter in the park after migrating here from the north.
– Snow days are the park’s busiest days. The biggest hazard is cars sliding off the road in the slick conditions.
– “Remember that there’s something called hypothermia that happens when a body gets too cold and can’t keep itself properly heated,” Breckling said. “Hypothermia happens more often in wet and windy weather than it does in cold, snowy weather. It only has to be about 50 degrees in the right conditions for people to get hypothermia. So, it’s important people wear the proper clothing when they come out here.”
Source: Barry Breckling, park ranger
Mount Madonna County Park
– “In winter when fewer people are using the park, visitors are more likely to see wildlife, I think,” said John Heenan, senior park ranger. “The animals don’t get so spooked like they do with all the activity of summer. So, people will probably see more deer and coyote. Raccoons tend to be more visible in the summer because there’s more food around when there are more people.”
– The Merry-Go-Round trail in the park is often closed following heavy rains because it’s covered in a lot of loose sediment in the soil. When it’s wet, it becomes dangerous because horses will leave deep impressions in the loose soil. Once it dries out enough, the trail reopens.
– Because the weather is cooler, people often are able to go on longer hikes.
– Even in winter, the stems of poison oak are still contagious, so be sure to learn what it looks like and avoid it.
– Despite cooler temperatures, be sure to bring water and sunscreen to the park.
– Though the park hours technically stay the same – 8am to sunset – they alter because the sun goes down earlier in the winter.
– Always let people know when and where you plan to hike, as well as when you expect to return home.
Source: John Heenan, senior park ranger
