Top Winter Hiking Tips
Want to get outdoors this winter and enjoy your favorite hiking trail, but not sure how to enjoy it in the winter? Then this post is for you! We will go over safety tips, essential gear, and how to have fun this winter. Hiking doesn’t have to stop because the days are shorter and the snow has fallen!
Winter is a very polarizing season; some of us love it, some of us hate it, and some of us will move across the country to never experience it again. It is certainly a season that makes you want to cuddle up in the house, but if you’re willing to be prepared, winter can be a really fun season. Walking through the forest that has a fresh dusting of snow, soaking in the silence with an occasional bird call, and admiring the beauty of a frozen waterfall are only a few things that you may experience.
Getting outdoors in the winter does require a little more planning than in the summer or fall, but the rewards are more than worth the work. Hiking in the fresh winter air is also a great way to bring up your morale, especially if you are impacted by the lack of sun in this season.
I have come to love winter hiking, it’s a fun way to get outside, breathe some fresh air, make memories with friends, and most importantly get off the couch! So how do you plan a winter hike? What do you pack? What are some safety tips?
We’re going to get into all of that below.
Top Winter Hiking Tips
Start Small
Hiking in the winter can be challenging. Walking through snow can be tiring, especially if you’re the first hiker on the trail after a fresh snowfall. If you’re just starting out winter hiking, it’s better to pick a short trail and work your way up to more challenging hikes.
Another variable to keep in mind is the altitude of the hike. The higher up you go, the colder and snowier it will be. So I also suggest starting on a mountain that is lower in elevation, and avoid truly high-altitude hikes for your first few winter hikes.
Starting small will allow you to experiment with gear, get in winter hike shape, and decide if this is something that you want to invest time, gear and money into.
Start Early in the Morning
It's no secret that there isn’t a ton of daylight to go around in winter, and the sunsets feel impossibly early. Keep that in mind when doing a winter hike, and ensure that you start early in the morning.
Starting early in the morning will allow you to take your time on the hike and take as many breaks as you need, without feeling rushed. You want to ensure that you’re doing everything you can to avoid winter hiking in the dark when it will get even colder and the odds of getting lost or injured are greater.
Starting early will give you plenty of daylight, allowing for the 2-5 hours it will take to complete a short winter hike.
Bring all the Safety Gear
In the spring, summer, or fall, hiking without all the required safety gear may not be a life-altering decision. But when winter hiking, not packing the right safety gear might be a death sentence. That may sound dramatic, but it can become true.
You are in a very vulnerable situation while out in the woods in the cold and with limited daylight. Surviving a night in freezing temperatures is possible if you come properly prepared.
Make sure that you pack the essential ten:
Navigation
Headlamp with extra batteries
Sun protection; sunblock, baseball hat, and sunglasses
Waterproof fire starter that you know how to use
Knife or multi-tool
Gear repair kit, such as duct tape, thread & needle, and safety pins
Shelter/emergency bivy
Extra layers such as socks, a hat, gloves, and a warm external layer
Extra food, in addition to what you need for the hike
Extra water
First Aid Kit
Closely related to packing the right safety gear, you need to ensure that you’re wearing the right clothes before embarking….
Wear the Right Layers
Make sure that you’re dressing in layers, starting with a merino wool base layer on the bottom and on top, followed by a mid-layer such as a fleece or wool sweater. Depending on the temperature, you may also want a warm layer such as puffy jacket between your mid-layer and your outer shell.
On the bottom, you want to make sure that you are wearing wool socks, a base layer such as fleece-lined leggings or merino wool, and a weatherproof shell. If it’s really chilly, consider wearing snow pants.
For your extremities, make sure that you’re wearing a wool beanie, gloves that have a way to touch your phone for easy navigation, and a scarf or a buff.
For your ease, I’ve put together an easy 1-pager with all the packing essentials for a winter hike for FREE.
Bring a Friend For Your First Time
love hiking solo and I’m a big advocate for it (read all about hiking solo HERE!), but when hiking in the winter for your first time there really is safety in numbers. To build up your confidence, I highly suggest bringing along a friend for your first winter hike.
Once you get used to winter hiking and you have some experience, you can start thinking about hitting the trail solo. But for your first few winter hikes, it’s a good idea to bring a friend.
Check the Weather at the Peak and the Valley
Checking the weather at your destination is always important, but all the more so when winter hiking. You don’t want to hike in a bad snowstorm when temperatures are dangerously low, or when there’s a thick fog.
Hiking in a snowstorm is dangerous because you could get stuck in whiteout conditions. This means that the snow is so thick that your long-range view is limited, creating the risk of going off-trail and getting lost or falling victim to the terrain around you, such as walking off a cliff. That sounds very dramatic, but it’s possible!
You also want to make sure that you’re not hiking in very cold conditions, as it increases the likelihood of becoming hypothermic.
Also remember to check the weather on the peaks, as what’s happening in the valley may be very different. Open Summit is a great website that will tell you the highs, lows, wind, and precipitation on the peak itself.
Don’t risk it, and check the weather!
Check the Trail Conditions
It’s never been easier to check trail conditions thanks to apps like AllTrails, Facebook groups, and even websites like the National Park Service. I suggest that you take the time to check trail conditions before a winter hike, as you will want to know if you’re heading into an icy trail, a snowy trail, or even a muddy trail.
You can check trail conditions by looking at AllTrails, joining local Facebook groups, and posting there, or if you’re going to a state or national park you can check their websites.
Checking the trail conditions will allow you to determine what extra gear you need to pack, what extra layers you need to pack, and if you need extra safety gear. Speaking of specialty gear, let’s take a look at what you might need if this will be a regular activity for you.
Know what you’re walking into and check the trail conditions.
Pack the Right Specialty Gear
Winter hiking comfortably and seriously can mean investing in some specialty gear. Let’s go over those:
Snowshoes - you want to pack these for trail conditions that are icy, deep in snow, or unknown.
Gators - these protect the gap between your hiking boots and your pants, and prevent snow from getting in your boots and making you cold and wet.
Crampons/Microspikes - although often used interchangeably, these are two awesome tools to have on icy trails. Microspikes are good for lightly icy trails, while crampons are better for very icy and steep conditions. Both slide over your boots.
A sunny winter hike in the Colorado Rockies.
Pick a Hike That You’re Familiar With
Hiking in the winter changes things; the scenery, the trail, and frankly the whole experience.
Hiking a trail that you’ve done before in the spring or fall will make you feel comfortable, and will be safer as you’re more familiar with your surroundings. To make for the best winter hiking experience, I suggest keeping things easy and familiar with a hike that you’ve done without snow.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time to Complete the Hike
It’s no secret that winter means shorter days, and that means less time to get to make it back to the trailhead in the daylight. If you follow the first tip you’ll choose a short hike that will only take 2-4 hours.
That means that you should get to the trailhead nice and early, and plan to hike through the warmest part of the day, the afternoon. Plan for a short time at the summit as it will probably be windy and cold, and then head down.
You want to be back at the trailhead about 2 hours before sunset, that way you have some wiggle room but you’re also hiking in the warmest part of the day.
Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking water and staying hydrated is always important during a hike, and that doesn’t change on a winter hike. It can be challenging to remind yourself to drink all the water you need, so I like to put a little sweet treat in my water with an electrolyte powder.
Hands-free hydration is also very convenient and makes drinking water easier. During a winter hike water can freeze, however, so you may consider buying bladder insulation if you’re a fan of your hydration system.
A snowy, cloudy morning in the New Hampshire White Mountains.
Wear the Right Shoes
Wearing the right hiking shoes is always a must-do, especially when winter hiking. You want to make sure that you’re protecting your ankle, your feet, and that you’re warm.
You want to make sure that you’re hiking boots are:
Waterproof
Tall enough to support your ankle
Warm, bonus points if they’re insulated
It may be a good idea to test the waterproofness of your hiking boots on a shorter hike, where it’s low risk to make it back to your car safely. Try lacing up your boots and walking through some muddy, watery local trails and then seeing if your boots really are waterproof.
If you need more information on how to pick out hiking boots, check out my blog post all about hiking boots for women.
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