10 Top Trails for Winter Hiking Adventures

some Paths It shines in summer when lined with wildflowers and bathed in long illumination. But others work their magic when temperatures drop. Crowds disappearThe world is silent under the layers of snow. From sparkling desert slopes to alpine basins where every flake seems to sparkle, winter travel reveals a side of America that only the colder months can offer.

Last year, winter hikers donned wooden snowshoes and ventured out by torchlight. You can enjoy those moments of wonder more comfortably with a decent pair of waterproof hiking boots or aluminum snow boots and some Trekking poles. Cold-weather hiking is less about conquering miles and more about savoring the moments—so buckle up, strap on, and let these 10 trails show you what happens when the off-season becomes the best season.

1. Queens Park and Navajo Loop // Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
2. Hermit Trail // Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
3. Gorge // Zion National Park, Utah
4. Sky Pond Trail // Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
5. Hurricane Ridge // Olympic National Park, Washington
6. Artist’s Point Trail // Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
7. South Rim Trail // Big Bend National Park, Texas
8. Mount Willard Trail // Crawford Notch State Park, New Hampshire
9. Crater Lake Rim Winter Trail // Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
10. Grand Canyon Trail // Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Queens Park and Navajo Loop // Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

In winter, Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos (those sandstone spiers that look like the work of a feverish sculptor) are sprinkled with snow and transformed into something out of a fairytale. Name it The best distance is three miles in the world, Queen’s Garden-Navajo Ring It is the most popular trail in the park, named after the hood it is said to resemble Queen Victoria On her throne.

Frost, not flowing water, is what created these geological artifacts. Each winter’s freeze-thaw cycles carve out more of the slopes, meaning the valley’s beauty literally depends on the cold. Be sure to check lane closures before heading out, and bring tow (eg Yaktrax) for slick terrain.

Hermit Trail // Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Named after a real hermit (French Canadian prospector Louis Boucherwho lived alone in the area in the late 1800s), the Hermit Trail wasn’t originally intended for backcountry adventurers—it was built in 1911 by the Santa Fe Railroad as part of a luxury tourism project. Winter is arguably the best time to be there Grand CanyonBecause the Hermit is at a lower elevation and faces more sunlight, this trail can be quite enjoyable (but should only be attempted by experienced desert hikers). In the cooler months, the grueling 10-mile hike to the Colorado River features less crowding, cooler air to climb back up, and snow-covered slopes. You will trade the heat of summer for isolation and refreshing weather.

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Gorge // Zion National Park, Utah

The Narrows is not for the weak of feet, and in most sections the “trail” is the Virgin River. Contained by canyon walls that rise to 1000 feet elevation It is up to 20 feet wide, and winter hikers use dry suits for water temperatures that hover just above freezing. The valley, which is part of Navajo formationIt consists of sandstone that is 190 million years old. Centuries of constant flooding have improved the grooved texture of the walls. Summer hikers face tourist hordes and a greater risk of flash floods, while winter offers a cool, peaceful calm throughout the 16-mile trek. Just be sure to admire the red rocks with icicles falling from them from a safe distance.

Sky Pond Trail // Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Winter is turning Rocky Shaping like a snow globe, the hike to Sky Pond is a favorite of both hikers and hikers. This path is about Nine miles long With an elevation gain of about 1,700 feet. The route passes frozen waterfalls, passes through spruce forests and glacial geology. You’ll need traction or snowshoes (and an early start), but the reward at the end of the trail is something National Park Service literature from the 1920s describes as “everyone’s gem” (PDF). Hikers end at Sky Pond, a nature amphitheater-shaped alpine circuit — a steep, three-sided bowl carved into the side of the mountain by a glacier and filled with water after it retreats.

Hurricane Ridge // Olympic National Park, Washington

while OlympicThe famous Hoh Rainforest is bathed in mist Hurricane Ridge It becomes a sun-kissed, snowy wonder. It was given this name in reference to the wild winds that blow over the region (especially in winter), and their gusts reach 75 mph Common and forms snow into sculpted drifts. The only paved road is open Friday through Sunday in the colder months, weather permitting, and leads to an alpine mountain range with miles of snowshoe and hiking routes above the Juan de Fuca Gorge. On a clear day, you can see Canada, the peaks of the Olympic Mountain range flashing like cut glass. Another bonus: It’s relatively easy to get close to, which is unusual for Olympic Alpine peaks.

Artist’s Point Trail // Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

like YellowstoneThe city crowds disappear with the first snowfall, and the vapor and silence of the park becomes more eerie. Photographer shot on the short trail (0.2 mile walk) to Artist PointF. J. Haynes in 1883 After he thought that the painter Thomas Moran had painted the lower falls from there. Moran was actually on the opposite edge, but the name stuck.

Hikers arrive at this famous lookout facing the 308-foot-tall frozen lower falls flanked by Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon. The river below froths against the icy cliffs, and the golden valley walls glow from within. It’s proof that Yellowstone doesn’t close down for the winter — it takes a welcome break from the crowds that winter hikers can enjoy, too. But in addition to taking precautions against slips, trips, and falls, be… Ready for the bears.

South Rim Trail // Big Bend National Park, Texas

In the summer, the desert at Big Bend is an unforgiving fiery furnace. And in winter? It’s a joy. The South Rim Trail is located in the park 6.3 miles one way Its height is about 1,900 feet. It climbs from the Chisos Basin through a forest of oaks and junipers before presenting one of the Southwest’s most spectacular sights – the Chihuahuan Desert stretching out before you all the way to Mexico, with hoarfrost adorning the cacti. The mornings are fresh, the afternoons are golden, and solitude is a strong guarantee. When it comes to hiking in the desert, winter isn’t the runner-up, it’s the reward. But keep in mind that peregrine falcons nest here Parts of the park are closed To protect them starting in February.

Mount Willard Trail // Crawford Notch State Park, New Hampshire

For an East Coast winter hike that delivers high mountain drama without too much effort, Willard Mountain is the place to hike. the 3.2 miles of trails Forests of mixed hardwoods and conifers with sections of exposed rock near the summit lead hikers to land at a lookout perched above Crawford Notch. There, the peaks of Mount Webster, Mount Wylie and the surrounding White Mountains encourage deep thought. When the fog lifts from the valley floor, you will feel as if you are looking back into the past. It’s easy to imagine trains passing through the corridor below when the only sound is the whisper of the wind.

Crater Lake Rim Winter Trail // Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Crater Lake doesn’t slow down in the winter either, simply replacing hikers with snowshoes. Rim Village is the starting point for ranger-led and self-guided snowshoe trips along the rim A 31 mile circuit Through the forest and meadow. Framed by the frozen faces of the cliffs surrounding the crater, the deep blue bowl of the caldera is a constant companion. 1943 feet deep (PDF), Crater Lake is the deepest in the United States as well as one of the deepest lakes in the world. It is also one of The snowiest places in the country with More than 40 feet of annual powder.

Grand Canyon Trail // Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

In winter, the Grand Teton offers hikers a cathedral of the Alps—think jagged peaks against pale skies, moose browsing through frozen willows, and snow obscuring your passage. When the park was officially open Established in 1929trails like Cascade Canyon were among the first, providing continuous access to glacial valleys and alpine lakes. Snowshoe or ski along the trail 13 miles round tripand you will pass frozen streams, spruce forests, and mountain peaks so close that they seem to be leaning and listening. Many animals will hibernate, but you’ll likely see tracks left by bighorn sheep and wintering birds. As the late-day sun hits the granite towers, the entire landscape glows pink as a final reward against the cold.