With more than a few national parks straining to cope with heavy visitation, and some groups hoping to see more lodging made available in some parks, it seems a little odd to know that once upon a time the National Park Service considered itself the "parent of the concept of eliminating overnight accommodations (except campgrounds) inside the parks to minimize intrusions and lessen impact."

Southern Utah's national parks all are red-rock wonders. Zion National Park features towering cliffs of stone. Arches National Park showcases a one-of-its-kind collection of stony arches and windows. Canyonlands National Park is a maze of canyons, and Capitol Reef National Park offers a sprawling rockscape. Bryce Canyon, on the other hand, is much, much more intimate and, in some manners, more curious, geologically.

Winter brings a frosty, and icy, new robe to many national parks. The biting cold against the snowy settings can be magical, as these photos show.

On December 7, nature lovers and birders of all levels of experience will gather at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah to participate in the world’s longest-running citizen bird census. The National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count, now in its 118th year, is an annual event that brings together volunteers across the United States, South America, Canada, and distant Pacific islands to assist scientists in the monumental task of assessing the health of bird populations.