Thinking of hiking in snow, but aren’t sure if it’s safe if icy trails make it too hard for you to hike properly and if low temperatures are suiting you? Winter hiking can seem intimidating. But if you are prepared for hiking in snow and follow some essential tips, your winter hiking experience will become very rewarding!

I actually love hiking in cold weather. Winter hiking keeps your body in shape, helps to stay active and positive during the dark months, and prepares you for your hiking adventures in spring and summer.

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Winter hiking tips (not only) for beginners

Layer up, but avoid sweating!

Wearing different layers allows you to adjust your temperature and stay warm when you need to. A big mistake is dressing up too warm at the beginning of your winter hike and start sweating. Because once you move slower, or stop for breaks, you’ll be wet and start getting cold quickly. So better follow the rule “Be bold and start off cold” and you’ll be just fine, trust me! This is one of the most essential tips and the easiest mistake to avoid when hiking in the snow.

It’s also a good idea to have some extra clothing to change. Beanie, clothes, and warm socks for me are essential to keep me warm. Consider that it even gets colder on high-elevated mountains, in shady forests, and close to waterfalls. Bring a water-resistant jacket, because there is nothing more uncomfortable than getting wet when hiking in the cold.

Stay hydrated!

I know, it’s easy to forget drinking, when you are cold because you don’t feel as thirsty. But this can get dangerous when hiking in winter and even lead to hypothermia. To avoid this, bring enough water and avoid putting it in a bladder as it might freeze. Instead, bring a thermos flask and fill it with your favorite drink, maybe even hot tea or cocoa? This will not only keep you motivated drinking and reward you during breaks but also keep you warm from inside.

Bring enough food & snacks!

Your body burns a lot more calories when hiking in the snow as it has to do more work to keep your body temperature high. For that reason, you’ll need more calories to fuel up which in the end will also keep you warm.

Insider tip: You might know the feeling that you are freezing more if you need to pee. It’s actually not only a feeling but true: As your body tries to keep your body fluids warm, it uses a lot of energy. So an empty bladder means your body can focus on keeping your body warm instead of your bladder.

Instead of not drinking enough and risking getting dehydrated, when you need to pee, just do it! Find a place to pee behind the bushes and you’ll be fine. Just remember to leave no trace and pack out everything you brought in, like toilet paper, napkins, etc.

Start early + plan ahead when hiking in snow!

As the sun sets much earlier in winter, it gets dark faster on your winter hike. Also, as the sun isn’t as high as during summer in general, trails in forests often are shady throughout the entire day. This means it’s darker and colder compared to summer. So, try to hike in the sun. When winter hiking in the mountains, be aware that temperatures drop quickly as soon as it gets dark. Always bring headlamps! Just in case.

Check weather + trail conditions upfront!

Checking weather and trail conditions before heading out is even more essential when hiking in winter as conditions are completely different compared to summer:

1. Access roads and forest roads leading to your trailhead are most likely covered in snow and often aren’t plowed.
   
   This doesn’t mean you cannot hike there, but consider that parking further away from your trailhead will add extra mileage to your hike.
   
   Thinking about winter hiking in Oregon, this i.e. is the case at the popular Tumalo Falls or Trillium Lake.
   
2. Trail conditions can change your winter hiking experience tremendously.
   
   First of all, it’s much harder to hike in the snow, so don’t underestimate the trails, and don’t compare length, elevation, and time with what you’re able to hike in summer.
   Second, consider that the trail itself or trail signs can be covered in snow and won’t be visible.
   
   Especially if you go on a hike that you’ve been to in summer: be aware that the trail might look totally different from what you remember.

To avoid getting lost on your winter hike follow these tips for comfortably hiking in winter:

• Be reasonable about the distance and difficulty of your trail
• Start with short, easy hikes and avoid too much elevation, especially if you just get started with winter hiking
• Bring microspikes, crampons, or snowshoes when planning on hiking in the snow. Hiking with micro spikes will give you better traction and help to get through icy parts. Snowshoes are great for getting through deep snow on your trail.
• Bring an offline map / GPS to find your trail and avoid getting lost along the way. Don’t rely on your cellphone and coverage and always make sure you have an offline map like Alltrails or Gaia GPS as trails might be covered in snow and aren’t as easy to find.
• Keep electronics warm to avoid that you run out of batteries for your phone, GPS navigation system, etc.

Gear for hiking in snow

• Navigation: trail map + compass
• Headlamp
• Sun protection (sunscreen & sunglasses – yes, also in winter 😊
• First aid kit
• Pocket knife
• Firestarter/matches
• Emergency shelter (emergency blanket, or emergency bivvy)
• Extra food and snacks
• Extra water + warm drinks
• Extra clothing to change
• Microspikes, snow crampons, or snowshoes

Did you know that besides the microspikes and snowshoes all other items are part of the “10 essentials” that you should bring on any of your hikes?

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Winter hiking pack list

I’ve put together a winter hiking pack list that includes the 10 essentials as well as some of my favorite clothes to layer up in cold weather.

Winter hiking in Oregon

Oregon is a fabulous destination for winter hiking, not only if you are up for hiking in the mountains. The Columbia River Gorge is home to 90 different waterfalls, just on the Oregon side of the Gorge. This is the perfect destination in winter and spring as the waterfalls are roaring at this time of the year. With Mt. Hood National Forest and the Cascade peaks, winter hiking in Oregon can be stretched until May. Here are some of my favorite winter hikes in Oregon:

• Tamanawas Falls, Mt. Hood National Forest
• Mirror Lake, Government Camp, Mt. Hood National Forest
• Trillium Lake, Mt. Hood National Forest, well-known for snowshoeing
• Snowshoeing around Mt. Bachelor, Bend
• Tumalo Falls, Bend
• Waterfalls in Columbia River Gorge

It doesn’t happen often, but if the Columbia River Gorge sees snow it turns the Historic Columbia Highway and all its roadside waterfalls into magical scenery.

The best part is: Because many waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge are located just off the road, you don’t have to hike far to see frozen or snow-covered falls.

Winter hiking Washington

I haven’t done much winter hiking in Washington so far. But the most popular winter hiking tips near Seattle include the Olympic Peninsula and Mt. Rainier. Both National Parks offer winter hiking options until the late spring due to their highly elevated location. Even in May the trails around Paradise (Mt. Rainier) and Hurricane Ridge (Olympic Peninsula) can be covered in snow.

For more detailed winter hikes in Washington check out 22 best winter hikes in Washington by The Wandering Queen, Snowshoe to Artist Point by Renee Roaming, or Washington winter hikes by The Mandagies.

More Winter adventures:

• Visit the Oregon Coast in Winter
• Grand Canyon in Winter

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