Winter in the U.S. Photos -- National Geographic

Buffalo, Yellowstone National Park
Photograph by William Albert Allard
Charging through a veil of white, as in a prehistoric cave painting sprung to life, a herd of buffalo plows through heavy snow. In the ermine splendor of winter, bison, elk, bighorn sheep, antelope, and deer still wander the virgin wilderness of Yellowstone National Park.
Morning Glory Pool, Yellowstone National Park
Photograph by Michael Melford
The vivid hues of Yellowstone National Park’s steaming Morning Glory Pool stand out in stark contrast from its snow-covered surroundings.
U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Photograph by Jay L. Clendenin/Aurora Photos
Taking advantage of a Washington, D.C., snowstorm, a sledder glides down the gently sloping grounds of the U.S. Capitol.
Lake Mendota, Wisconsin
Photograph by Peter Essick
Anglers from across Wisconsin flock to the shores of Lake Mendota, where frozen waters mark the start of peak walleye season.
Mendenhall Lake, Alaska
Photograph by Alaska Stock, National Geographic
A climber makes his way up an iceberg in Alaska's Mendenhall Lake, at the terminus of Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
Photograph by Mark Pallette, My Shot
Snow from a passing storm lingers in southern California’s Joshua Tree National Park. Named for the Old Testament prophet who raised his arms to God, Joshua trees grow only in the moister and cooler uplands where one or two snowstorms each year soften the spiky world.
Garden of the Gods
Photograph by James Egbert, My Shot
Centuries-old juniper trees frame red sandstone rocks formed from millions of years of wind and rain. The 1,300-acre (526-hectare) Garden of the Gods park in Colorado Springs, Colorado, tempts rock climbers, naturalists, and photographers with its towering red giants.
Millennium Park, Chicago
Photograph by Katja Heinemann/Aurora Photos
The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, which sits neatly in the middle of Chicago’s Millennium Park, draws more than 100,000 visitors each season.
Michigan City Lighthouse
Photograph by Theresa Cramer, My Shot
The frozen waters of Lake Michigan encase the Michigan City East Pierhead Lighthouse in Michigan City, Indiana.
Aspen, Colorado
Photograph by Gordon Wiltsie
The black-diamond Face of Bell run down Aspen Mountain in Colorado lures skiers daring enough to take on its steep pitches and waist-high moguls.
Cedar Waxwing
Photograph by Christopher Drake, My Shot
A cedar waxwing pauses among the ice-covered branches of a tree in southern Indiana. Marked by a pale yellow belly, the cedar waxwing lives primarily along the U.S.-Canada border and migrates to Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico each winter, feasting on cedar berries along the way.
Rockefeller Center, New York
Photograph by Pegaz, Alamy
An annual delight for visitors as well as New York natives, the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center draws a crowd of onlookers and big name performers. In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, the tree is now wrapped in LED lights, instead of traditional incandescent bulbs, and is powered by solar panels on nearby buildings.
Mary’s Peak, Oregon
Photograph by Derek Stout, My Shot
Snow creates an otherworldly scene on Mary's Peak in Oregon. At an elevation of more than 4,000 feet (1,200 meters), Mary’s Peak measures up as the highest peak in the state's Coast Range. Skiers and hikers brave treacherous, unplowed roads through quiet woodlands to reach the mountain’s pinnacle.
Ice Fishing, Minnesota
Photograph by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Each year 20,000 holes are drilled in Gull Lake's Hole in the Day Bay north of Brainerd, Minnesota, where more than 9,000 anglers congregate for a charity ice fishing tournament, thought to be the largest of its kind in the world.