Beginner's Guide to Winter Hiking

Dreaming of hiking in a winter wonderland? You don’t have to let cold temperatures or the trails being covered in snow stop you from getting outside. But winter hiking does have different challenges than hiking in more mild seasons, so it’s important to be well-prepared before embarking on a winter hike.

This guide will go over the basics of winter hiking, including appropriate clothing, necessary gear, and safety considerations. But this is not a guide to mountaineering, which requires a much more technical skillset and gear. If you are interested in exploring that, check out our guide to getting into mountaineering here!

WHAT WE’LL COVER IN THIS GUIDE TO WINTER HIKING

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need in order to be prepared to go on a winter hike. The post is split up into the following sections:

1. Clothing for Winter Hiking - What to wear for hiking in cold weather (hint: lots of layers!).

2. Winter Hiking Gear - Other useful gear for winter hiking.

3. Hiking Navigation in Winter - Challenges & considerations when navigating while winter hiking.

4. Winter Hiking Safety - Preparing for the dangers of winter hiking.

5. Winter Hiking Comfort - How to stay comfortable in the cold so that winter hiking is fun!

So let’s get started and get ready to go winter hiking!

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

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WINTER HIKING CLOTHING

Choosing the right clothing for winter hiking is crucial to your safety and comfort in challenging trail conditions like extreme cold and snow. Layers are key to staying warm and not getting too sweaty, which can be a problem in cold weather hiking.

BASE LAYERS

In the winter, you’ll typically want both a top and bottom base layer to keep you warm. These base layers should be breathable and moisture-wicking so you stay dry. I love Patagonia Capilene base layers, and a long sleeve shirt with thermal long underwear bottoms would be the perfect pair for winter hiking.

MID LAYERS

A mid layer is the next layer on top of your base layer, and in winter, I usually like a lightweight down jacket. A thick fleece is also a good option. Your mid layer should be something easy to put on and remove to regulate your temperature as you hike.

My absolute favorite versatile mid layer is my beloved Patagonia Nano Puff . It’s breathable, lightweight, and packs down easily. The Patagonia Down Sweater is my go-to choice if it’s really cold, and I want a thicker puffy.

OUTER LAYERS

An outer layer is your main protection from the elements and should be able to withstand wind and snow in the winter. While a big parka might be tempting, you might overheat while hiking, and they can be hard to pack down.

What you really want is a waterproof shell that will keep you dry in snowy weather. The Patagonia Triolet has GORE-TEX breathable waterproofing and underarm vents if you get too hot and sweaty. Make sure to choose a size that allows you to comfortably wear your other layers underneath.

HEADWEAR

You definitely want to keep your head warm when winter hiking. You can wear a wool beanie or just a fleece headband to at least cover your ears.

A buff is also a key piece of headwear when winter hiking. With a buff, you can keep your neck covered, then pull it up to cover your mouth and nose when they get chilly. This also helps warm the air you’re breathing.

You could also go with a balaclava, which basically combines a beanie and a buff into one. A balaclava is a good choice in especially frigid temps.

FOOTWEAR

For winter hiking, you’ll want insulated boots that keep your feet warm and dry, especially when you’re hiking in snow. Pair them with wool socks to keep your toes cozy but wick away moisture.

Our Content Manager Kate loves her Oboz Bridger insulated boots for winter (and recently put them to the test hiking a bunch in Fairbanks, Alaska in February). Darn Tough or Smartwool are my go-to wool socks.

GLOVES/MITTENS

Be sure to protect your hands with gloves or mittens while winter hiking. Outdoor Research Flurry Sensor Gloves keep your hands warm while still allowing you to use your phone for navigation or photos. If it’s really cold, you might want to double up a fleece liner glove under thicker mittens.

WINTER HIKING GEAR

Beyond warm layers of clothing, there are some pieces of gear that really come in handy while winter hiking. You won’t need all of these on every winter hike, so bringing them will depend on the trail conditions.

TRACTION

When hiking in winter, it’s a good idea to bring microspikes for icy sections of the trail. Even if the trail seems dry when you start hiking, parts of it can remain in the shade and stay icy for a long time.

Kahtoola makes excellent, durable microspikes, and YakTrax are another cheaper option. Whichever you choose, just toss them in your pack for any winter hike, so you’ll always have them if you need them.

SNOWSHOES

While microspikes are ideal for ice and slippery packed down snow, for deeper, powder snow, you’ll want snowshoes. Snowshoes help you float on the surface of the snow and avoid the dreaded postholing (where your foot punches through the snow and sinks in). MSR is an excellent choice for snowshoes.

Since you can’t just stuff snowshoes in your pack, it’s important to check trail conditions ahead of time to see if you need them. A bunch of fresh snow usually means you will unless the trail gets groomed regularly.

TREKKING POLES

Trekking poles are especially useful with snowshoes. You will want snow baskets for them, which are bigger than mud baskets and help keep your poles from sinking too deep. Trekking poles can also come in handy on icy trails, though in that case you don’t need baskets.

I always recommend the Black Diamond Trail Pro Shock Trekking Poles as a pair of good, sturdy poles that will last you a LONG time. I love mine!

WINTER HIKING NAVIGATION

Navigating on the trail in the winter can be much more challenging when there’s snow on the ground. Snow can cover trails, making them hard to see. Also, on certain routes, the winter trails are different than the summer trails.

I always recommend downloading GPX tracks to navigate before you hit the trail, but it’s especially important in winter on snow-covered trails.

Another navigation consideration when winter hiking is making sure you don’t enter avalanche terrain. This isn’t always something hikers think about, but it is possible to end up under an avalanche-prone slope when you’re winter hiking or snowshoeing, even if you’re not on a steep trail. It’s important to research your route if you’re hiking in a place with lots of avalanche terrain, like Colorado.

WINTER HIKING SAFETY

Everything is taken to another level in winter hiking, so you have less margin for error. Always be prepared for the weather to change for the worse or to have to spend more time than you expected outside if things go wrong – this means being prepared with extra layers and other safety gear.

It’s a good idea to bring an extra down jacket or other layer that you can keep stuffed in your pack in case you end up in a situation where you need extra warmth. An emergency foil blanket is also something you can easily bring along when winter hiking that could be a literal lifesaver (and it’s only 5 bucks!).

I always bring my Garmin inReach satellite communicator with me when hiking, and I would highly recommend bringing one in the winter so you can call for help in case things take a turn. The Zoleo satellite communicator is another great option.

Cold weather can sap battery life super quickly, so a portable charger for your phone and other electronics is a must when hiking in winter. And keep your phone in an internal pocket close to your body to keep it warm.

WINTER HIKING COMFORT

Beyond safety, there are few things you can bring that will make you more comfortable in chilly weather. Believe me, winter hiking is much more fun when you’re not miserable!

Hand Warmers

Keep some hand warmers in your pockets to warm up your fingers as you hike. You can also put toe warmers in your hiking boots, but make sure they don’t affect your ability to walk comfortably.

Hot Hands are the classic hand warmers that heat up by reacting to air, but they are one-time use. You can also get refillable or rechargeable hand warmers for less waste.

WATER

If you typically hike with a Camelbak or other hydration bladder, be aware that the straw might freeze in cold winter temps. I always like to bring a Nalgene bottle as a back up that stays warm in my pack.

THERMOS

My favorite cold weather hiking hack is to bring a hot beverage in a thermos! It’s such a nice treat when you’re feeling chilly. I like to fill my GSI Microlite with hot chocolate or hot apple cider or even hot broth.

(And check out 3 Boozy Warm Winter Drinks to Make on Your Next Outdoor Adventure for celebrating a winter hike when you’re back at camp!)

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Hope this post helps you feel comfortable hitting the trails in winter if you want to! And feel free to share your favorite winter hikes in the comments below.

​​LOOKING FOR MORE HIKING RESOURCES?

Check out these blog posts to help your hiking!

• 11 Essential Tips for Backpacking in the Rain Like a Pro

• 3 Key Tips for Confidently Hiking in High Winds

• What to Wear Hiking

Cheers,

Allison - She Dreams of Alpine

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