So impressed when I visited Plitvice Lakes in spring 2010 that I went back there with my then-girlfriend in summer the following year.  Upon my first visit, I said if the US had Grand Canyon, Europe had Plitvice Lakes.  But after seeing amazing photos of the park covered in snow in Google Images, I had been seeking a chance to come back here in winter, and the chance finally came this winter.

Upon hearing that the park could be closed due to snow in winter, I decided to stay overnight at the park to increase my chance of entering the park and booked an inn about 2 km south of Entrance 2.  I thought I could easily walk for 2 km.

I took an 8:30 bus from Split and after a long but somewhat scenic ride, during which it started snowing as the bus went into mountains, arrived at the park about 13:00.  To my surprise, Entrance 2, the only entrance I used in my previous visits, was closed, and the bus kept going north for another 4 km to Entrance 1, meaning I was now 6 km away from my inn.

Entrance 1 was open and was selling tickets until 14:00. The price of ticket was reduced by half because only a half of the park was open.  

I walked on a loop that took me about 90 min.  Somebody told me that it only started snowing a few days before in the area, so I have to consider myself lucky to see the snow-covered park in its absolute gorgeousness and gorgeousity.  I was expecting water falls to be frozen, but that was not the case. 

After the walk I stopped at a café that was open at Entrance 1 and was packed.  It seemed like every single tourist stopped there after hiking in the falling snow.  A hot cup of cappuccino consoled me greatly.

But now what?  I was still 6 km away from my inn.  The info office at Entrance 1 told me there was no more bus going south that day.  They actually called my inn to see if they would come to pick me up, but only kids were home when they called.  The taxi ride would cost 10 Euros.  Well, it was still about 15:30 and bright outside, and I had nothing more planned that day, so I decided to walk with my convertible wheeled luggage.  It was difficult to pull the wheeled luggage on the snow-covered road, so I put the luggage on my back near Entrance 2, which I should have done from the beginning.

I arrived at my inn about 17:00.  Luckily a decent pizzeria nearby was open for dinner. 

The following morning, I took a bus at a bus stop only about 100 m from my inn at 6:50 to Karlovac on my way to my next destination, Porec, Croatia.

If you intend to visit Plitvice Lakes once, I would recommend doing so in spring, as water from melting snow creates a lot of water falls, and you can see the entire park in its full glory. When I visited there in summer, the water falls were noticeably less. It was also so hot that it was difficult to resist the urge to jump into the alluring blue water right under my feet with crippling amount of calcium.  If you visit one more time, I would strongly recommend winter.  I can’t speak for autumn, but as far as I can see in Google Images, it also looks amazing in autumn color, so I would love to go back there in autumn when a chance comes.  As far as Grand Canyon goes, I believe it's more beautiful in winter than in any other seasons, due to the  snow on cliffs of the canyon.