Best National Parks to Visit in February

February is all about the romance. With Valentine’s Day right in the middle of the month, and the long, chilly nights and starry skies, it’s a great time to get up close and personal with your significant other. National parks offer a natural outlet for romance, with plenty of dramatic landscapes, wide-open spaces, and beautiful settings creating the perfect backdrop for your romantic getaway. They also offer up lots of great mountain homes and cabins with to-die-for-views. Here are some of the best national parks to visit in February to put some spark in your Valentine’s Day.

Arches National Park, UT

The 2,000 natural red rock arches and stunning stone pinnacles of Utah’s Arches National Park (near Moab) are the perfect backdrop for your soaring romance. The park is famous for its sunsets, when the red and orange hues from the sky bounce off the fiery multicolored landscape, turning it into a vision that needs to be experienced. Take a late afternoon hike along the Delicate Arch Trail from Wolfe Ranch to one of the most photographed arches in the park. If you are looking for a dramatic place to propose, this would be a magnificent locale for a truly memorable engagement.

Virgin Islands National Park, USVI

What could be more romantic than leaving the snow, wind and cold behind, and stripping down to your bathing suits for a snorkel vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands (specifically the Bordeaux Mountain area of St John)? This is one of the best national parks to visit in February because it is full of sun, sand, gorgeous beaches, and Caribbean breezes.

Virgin Islands National Park covers more than 7,000 acres of the island of St. John and about 4,000 acres of the water and reefs that surrounds it. It is home to the famous Trunk Bay Beach , considered by many to be one of the world's most beautiful beaches, and some of the best snorkeling and hiking in the island chain. St. John Snorkeling Tours can bring you out to the coral reefs, deserted beaches, and hidden coves of the park on a graceful full-day catamaran tour.

Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO

If you’re looking for a little drama for a romantic getaway, what about the tallest sand dunes in North America? You can actually ski or snowboard on the dunes, but the best thing to do in Great Sand Dunes National Park is to go for a hike. For an incredible view you can climb High Dune , just northwest of visitor’s center, or head west of High Dune to Star Dune , the highest dune at 750 feet. For easy access to the park, book a Westcliffe vacation home in Southwest Colorado.

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

The Giant Saguaro is the romantic symbol of the Old West. We have all seen the image of the towering cactus, standing majestically in the wide open sky of the desert landscape, silhouetted by a deep red sunset. Right near all the fine restaurants and relaxing spas of Tucson, Saguaro National Park is an excellent choice for your romantic getaway. The Douglas Spring Trailhead is an easy walk up to the dramatic beauty of the appropriately named Bridal Wreath Falls. You can celebrate your love with a romantic couples massage at the Omni Tucson Spa , followed by a dinner for two at Bob's Steak & Chop House .

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

Many people's vision of an ultimate romantic hideaway is a cozy cabin deep in the woods, and for them the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best national parks to visit in February. You can find many vacation rentals in and around nearby Gatlinburg. If inspiration hits you, you can sneak off to the Wedding Chapel in the Glades or the renovated farmhouse at the Gatlin Ridge Wedding Chapel and start your life together right here. If it’s a spur of the moment decision and you need some duds, Fantasy Bridal Formal Wear in Gatlinburg can fit and rent a tuxedo and a wedding dress! Then celebrate your wedding back at the cabin with a roaring fire and a bottle of wine, surrounded by some of the most beautiful forest in America.

Gook a Gatlinburg cabin to get easy access to the park, as well as lots of space, great views, and plenty of amenities.