8 of the Most Beautiful Winter Hikes to Take Around the U.S.

If you’re quick to put away your hiking boots the moment cooler temperatures arrive, you’re missing out. In the winter, the best hiking trails across the U.S. mostly clear out—you might be able to walk for miles without seeing another soul.

The trick to hiking in the cold is to make sure you have the necessary gear. Appropriate footwear and versatile, lightweight layers are key. If you’re worried about the weather, a good rule of thumb is to keep as much of your skin covered as possible. Also, make sure you always check the forecast and conditions before hitting the trail. Give yourself plenty of time to hike before darkness falls and the views you came for disappear.

Ready to warm up with a wintry walk in the woods? Strap on a pair of snowshoes or good winter hiking boots and set your sights on glittering white fields. Or avoid the snow entirely and head south, where you’ll find plenty of dry terrain too hot to brave in the summer. Read on for eight of the best winter hiking trails.

Jud Wiebe Trail in Telluride, Colorado

Begin this short but steep loop trail in the charming mountain town of Telluride. You can watch skiers conquer the slopes when you reach the top. Telluride may be known for its snow, but this approximately three-mile hiking trail remains relatively dry even in the winter thanks to Colorado’s year-round sunshine. And if you happen to visit after a big snowstorm, strap on a pair of microspikes and bundle up—the hike is just as beautiful after a fresh layer of powder.

Cumberland Trail in Cumberland Trail State Park, Tennessee

The in-progress Cumberland Trail (now more than 260 miles long) will encompass 300 miles once finished, traveling across Tennessee from north to south. The popular trail clears out in the winter, providing a quiet refuge in Tennessee’s Cumberland Mountains for those who hike there. If you have a full day to spare, take on the 9.5-mile Possum Creek Gorge section. You can ogle waterfalls as you walk along the picturesque, wooded creek. This trail is part of the Three Gorges Segment, spanning about 32 contiguous miles of the trail.

Watchman Trail in Zion National Park, Utah

The dry heat that typically deters hikers from southern Utah in the summer is long gone by the winter months. The Mars-like landscape of Zion National Park is just as beautiful this time of year—and even more so if you happen to catch it with snow. One of the park’s best hikes, the Watchman Trail transports you to a land of sandstone spires and prickly pear cacti that bask under the desert sun year-round. The three-mile round-trip route starts out flat, then climbs to a viewpoint overlooking the Watchman, one of Zion’s best-known peaks. The trail can be reached from the visitor center, where you’ll find restrooms and water-filling stations.

Cape Falcon Trail in Oswald West State Park, Oregon

If you need more than stunning vistas to get you out and about in the winter, head to Oregon, where you might glimpse a pod of gray whales on a winter’s day. On the 2.3-mile Cape Falcon Trail in Oswald West State Park, you’ll reach a panoramic outcropping where you can pull out your binoculars and monitor the water for the telltale spray. Your chances of spotting a whale are best in December and January when they’re migrating from the Bering Sea to Baja California, so make sure to pack an extra layer and enough fuel to keep you motivated for the hike back.

Gorham Mountain Loop in Acadia National Park, Maine

There’s more to Maine than golden summers filled with lobster rolls and double-scoop cones. While it can be a chilly place to visit in the winter, the stark weather empties popular routes like Gorham Mountain Loop in Acadia National Park, giving winter hikers the chance to see the coastal splendor without the crowds. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts with stunning views of the rocky coastline and Cadillac Mountain in the distance.

For this challenging, uneven 3.5-mile loop, you’ll need a pair of snowshoes or cross-country skis so you can float on top of the snow as you climb through a spruce forest and over slick granite.

Mazama Ridge Snowshoe Trail in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

It’s practically impossible to visit or live in Washington without noticing Mount Rainier. The massive (and active) volcano tops out at 14,410 feet above sea level and seems to dominate the landscape. You can play at the foot of Rainier year-round, but there’s something extra special about getting out when the peak is covered in snow. Strap on a pair of snowshoes and conquer the six-mile out-and-back Mazama Ridge Trail, which offers near-constant views of majestic Mount Rainier and the Tatoosh Range.

Florida National Scenic Trail in Suwannee River State Park, Florida

The wonderful thing about living in a country with such varied landscapes and climates is that a winter hike doesn’t have to feel wintry at all—in northern Florida, you can hike in 70- to 80-degree temperatures.

Start this portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail—the Florida Trail, for short—from Southwest 79th Terrace in Jasper, then hike past cypress trees and limestone bluffs on the nearly eight-mile one-way trip to Holton Creek River Camp. Explore a white-sand beach and the sinks, swales, and sloughs found within the 2,500-acre Suwannee River Water Management District. Don’t forget to pack a long-sleeved shirt and sunscreen to keep you protected from the rays, even in the winter.

Roundabout Trail in Steamboat Springs, Colorado

This cowboy ranching haven has produced more winter Olympians than any other town in the U.S. The town lives for the ski season—and while Steamboat Ski Resort is where powder hounds converge, it doubles as a destination for winter hiking.

You’ll need a pair of snowshoes and a lift ticket to explore one of the many snowshoe trails departing from the on-mountain Thunderhead Lodge (which sits at an impressive 9,080 feet above sea level). Start with the flat, one-mile Roundabout Trail, and if you’re still feeling strong, continue on to Duster, which leads to the Rendezvous hut at 9,325 feet. If you’re new to snowshoeing, take advantage of the property’s Snowshoe with a Pro program that takes you on a guided one-mile adventure.