Winter Hiking for Beginners: Tips, Advice, & Complete Guide

Are you looking for some tips for winter hiking for beginners? You’re in the right place!

You shouldn’t have to drop your favorite hobbies just because the temperatures have dropped outside!

There are still so many great ways to get outside, and you can even still hit the hiking trail with a little extra preparation!

When I first started hiking, I was terrified to get on the trail in winter, but after years of practice and experience, I’ve gained the courage to get out and not let the cold slow me down!

No matter your skill level, these tips for hiking in cold weather conditions will come in handy!

Winter Hiking for Beginners Tips

Below you’ll find 17 of the best winter hiking tips to ensure that you have a fun and safe day out on the trail.

1. Let Someone Know Where You Are

Whether you’re hiking in the winter or summer, you should always tell someone that you trust where you’re going to be hiking.

You should also give them an estimated time that you think you’ll be back so they’re aware of when to expect you.

This will give you peace of mind, knowing that someone out there knows where you are.

2. Start with a Shorter Trail

If you’re a beginner winter hiker, you should plan to start with something a little shorter and easier for your first time.

This way, you’ll be able to get used to what it feels like to be outside in cold temperatures for long periods of time.

It’ll also give you a better idea of anything that you want to change for the next time you head out.

After you’ve gotten used to it, you can add more mileage and elevation gain.

These shorter trails also typically have more people on them, so if something were to happen, you’d have a better chance of getting help. National parks are a good place to start.

3. Stay Hydrated When on the Trail

It’s really easy to forget to drink water when it’s cold outside, but this can be dangerous.

Even if you don’t feel thirsty, you should still try to drink water.

Dehydration expedites the process of hypothermia and can cause you to get sick.

It’s recommended to drink about 1/2 liter of water for every one hour of hiking.

If you find that your water is freezing, add an insulating hose to your water bladder straw or wrap your bladder/bottle in a blanket.

4. Consider Using Snowshoes

I know that adding snowshoes technically is considered snowshoeing and not hiking, but hey, either way you’re on the trail!

If the trail that you want to get onto still has a considerable amount of snow that would be tough to navigate, grab a pair of snowshoes!

They can help you float on powdery snow and are great for staying drier and having an easier time getting through snowy trails.

Many of them can also hook onto hiking backpacks, so they’re easy to carry if you want to take them off.

5. Be Aware of the Signs of Hypothermia and Frostbite

If you’re going to be outside for long periods of time, you should be aware of what to look for in frostbite and hypothermia.

In frostbite, the first symptoms include tingling and cold skin followed by numbness and inflammation.

In hypothermia, look for shivering, exhaustion, confusion, and drowsiness.

These are both very serious conditions and should be taken care of immediately.

6. Know Your Limits

It’s one thing to push yourself a little bit and it’s a whole other thing to push yourself beyond reasonable limits.

Understanding what your limits are and remaining within them is important when hiking in the cold.

With the risk of hypothermia and frostbite and the fact that hiking in snow takes more out of you, you need to be careful.

Don’t push too far, and if you aren’t feeling good, turn around.

7. Layer Up!

Layering is so important when it comes to cold weather conditions, and being from Minnesota, I know at least a little bit about it. 😉

In fact, I would say that it’s one of my best winter hiking safety tips.

Start with a base layer that will wick away sweat and keep you warm before adding a mid-layer for insulation.

Then, add a wind and waterproof outer layer that will protect you from the elements.

I’ll cover a bit more about what you should be wearing for winter hiking below.

As my mom always said, you can always take layers off, but you can’t add them if you don’t have them!

8. Don’t Forget the Traction

Carrying traction devices can be incredibly beneficial in the winter when hiking in snow and ice.

Crampons and micro spikes are both great options and can be used depending on the conditions that you’re in.

Micro spikes are a small traction device, typically made of rubber and chains, that is pulled up over the bottom of your shoe.

Crampons are a bit more intense with larger spikes on the bottom and sometimes needing to be fitted and fastened to your shoes.

Some people use the names interchangeably, so don’t be confused if you look at a photo and see the opposite kind!

As I mentioned above, snowshoes are another great choice if you’re looking at hiking in deep, soft snow.

Trekking poles are another thing that can help, as they can allow you to use your arms for gaining traction as well.

9. Carry a PLB or Satellite Communicator

Personal locater beacons (PLB) and satellite communicators are a few devices that can be used in emergency situations.

Both can be used to dial emergency services if you ever were to need help.

They’re especially important when hiking solo and in the winter, as risks are more inherent during these times.

A PLB can typically only send an alert to emergency services to tell them your location.

Satellite communicators are a bit more high tech and can sometimes allow you to also send messages to friends or family if needed.

10. Give Yourself Extra Time

Hiking in the snow is going to take longer than hiking on a dry path.

That’s just the nature of it.

So leave yourself more time than you normally would to account for that added effort.

I usually like to give myself an hour extra for winter hikes because then I surely am giving myself plenty of time to finish!

11. Don’t Start Too Late in the Day

It’s important to remember that the sun sets early in the wintertime, so starting a hike at 7:00 pm isn’t always going to work.

By November, the sun is usually setting around 5:00 pm. This can really throw a wrench in your after-work plans.

(I agree- it really sucks to have fewer daylight hours!)

Just keep this in mind when planning hikes and pair it with my previous tip about giving yourself extra time.

12. Bring Extra Snacks

Hiking in snow is more difficult than hiking on a dry trail, as I mentioned above, so you should plan to bring extra food that is full of nutrients.

Cold weather hiking also wears your body down faster, so it’s important to give it the extra nutrition that it’ll need.

Choose a variety of snacks or meals that have carbs, protein, and sugar in them to keep you energized for the entire trail.

13. Carry a Warm Drink

Not everyone is a hot beverage drinker, but if you are, consider carrying one with you!

Get yourself a nice thermos cup and brew up your favorite coffee, tea, or hot chocolate for the trail.

It can help you with staying warm from the inside out.

But don’t forget to also be drinking your water because again, it’s so important to stay hydrated!

14. Understand the Area You’re In

When hiking during any season, you should have some sort of awareness about the area that you’re in and what to expect.

Particularly in the winter, you should be aware of avalanche terrain in the mountains and snow conditions in other places.

Especially when winter hiking for beginners, it’s important to be very aware.

Putting yourself in an area where there’s avalanche terrain without knowing avalanche safety is a recipe for disaster.

And in places with heavy amounts of snow, you should be well prepared for this as well.

15. Check The Weather Forecast

Always check the weather before heading out, during any season, but especially in the winter.

Winter weather can be very unpredictable and you could be hit with a snowstorm at any time.

But if you’re at least on top of the weather forecast and current conditions, you have a better chance of staying safe.

16. Read Trip Reports

Reading recent trip reports is another great way of staying safe on the trail and is one of my top winter hiking safety tips.

By looking at what other hikers are saying about their recent trips, you can plan better and get a better understanding of what to expect.

Many hikers will share snow conditions, trail conditions, and more on the reviews and reports on All Trails.

Plus, it gives you a chance to see if other people are doing the hike.

If no one has reviewed or recorded themselves doing the hike this winter, there might be a reason why and you should look into that.

17. Don’t Forget the Sunscreen

Just like with water, it can be really easy to forget about sunscreen in the winter, but it’s an easy time to get burnt!

Especially if you’re up in the mountains, the risk of being burnt in the winter is high.

You’re closer to the sun, and the sun is reflecting off of the white snow, making it easy to burn your skin.

You need to protect that skin of yours, so wear sunscreen year-round when out on the trail!

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How to Prepare for Hiking in Winter

So it’s the day of your first winter hike and you’re wondering how the heck am I supposed to get ready for this???

“I’m going to freeze!” “I definitely won’t make it.” “This is going to suck.”

I get it. I’m saying all of those because those are the exact thoughts I had on my first winter hike.

But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with a routine for your big day!

Start the Day With a Nutritious Breakfast

Starting your day with a nice, nutritious breakfast is the perfect way to start your preparation for a winter hike.

It’s very important to stay hydrated and energized when out in the cold, so grab a big glass of water too.

I like to have some sort of protein (eggs, ham, sausage, etc.) with carbs (toast, bagel, etc.) and some fruit.

These tend to keep me pretty energized until it’s time for my first snack or next meal.

See What the Weather is Like

Always, always, always check the weather before heading out for a hike because it could have changed from the night before.

Look a couple of hours into the future and see what’s forecasted.

This will help you prepare and pack what you need in the next step.

Pack Your Bag

Prepare your bag with everything that you’ll need for a winter hike. (I’ll give more detail below!)

This includes things like hand warmers, traction devices, snacks, a first aid kit, etc.

Layer Your Clothing

Use the layering system that I’m going to talk about in the next section to prepare yourself and stay warm during your hike.

Layering is the best way to do it because it allows you to take clothes off if you need to later.

Now you’re set to go! Use the winter hiking tips that I outlined above while you’re on the trail.

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What to Wear Hiking in Winter

It can be tough to understand what to wear on the trail in the winter.

You don’t want to get too cold, but you also don’t want to be sweating buckets.

So what’s the correct way to do it?

Most people take a layering approach to hiking clothing because you can take off pieces later and it’ll keep you warm.

Tops for Winter Hiking

Having three layers on the top half of your body is the most common and best way to stay warm when out hiking.

Base Layer: Wicks away sweat and keeps your heat in. Smartwool has great options.

Mid-Layer: The insulating layer. This Marmot puffer jacket is great.

Outer Layer: A windproof and waterproof layer to protect from the elements. The Outdoor Research Ascentshell Jacket is popular.

Bottoms for Winter Hiking

Bottoms are up for a little bit of changing depending on the weather because you can either wear one pair of wear a base layer with snow pants.

I personally have a pair of Columbia fleece pants that keep me super warm and I LOVE them. I couldn’t find them anywhere, but these are very similar!

Base Layer: Smartwool Merinowool tights keep you warm underneath the snow pants.

Snow Pants: A waterproof layer to keep you warm and dry if it snows. Size up in this Spyder Gore-tex pair.

Other Cold Weather Hiking Clothing

Besides the obvious pants and shirts that you’ll need, there are a few other clothing items that you’ll need for hiking.

Hat: Heat escapes from our heads. I love this Columbia one.

Gloves: This Seirus Xtreme Waterproof pair is great for keeping you warm and dry.

Hiking Socks: Keep you warm under the shoes. Darn Tough has the best options.

Footwear: Choose sturdy, waterproof, winter hiking boots such as the Oboz Bridger Mid-B Drys. I have a pair of Oboz shoes and LOVE them.

Buff: A Buff keeps your neck warm and doubles as a face mask.

Leg Gaiters: Keeps snow out of your pants and shoes like this Outdoor Research set.

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What to Avoid Wearing on Winter Hikes

Now that you know what you should wear on a winter hike, let’s go over a few things to avoid for a comfortable trail day.

Cotton

Cotton is a big no-no in the hiking world and is even worse in the winter months.

Because of how heavy it is and its tendency to soak up water quickly, you don’t want to wear cotton if there’s the possibility to sweat.

It’ll soak up your sweat and make you cold.

Denim

Similar to cotton, denim is very heavy and soaks up water, which can be very uncomfortable and cold in the winter.

Tight Clothes

Tight clothing can increase the risk for frostbite as it can cut off your circulation easier.

It also is more uncomfortable than loose-fitting clothes.

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What to Pack for a Winter Hike

Aside from what you’re wearing on your body, there are some things that you should pack into a backpack for your hikes.

If you’re getting into winter hiking as a beginner, then you may be confused on what to pack for the cold.

Here is a list to get you started, and then you’ll just need to add your own specific gear that you may need!

✔️ The 10 Essentials: Needed for all hikes. Water, food, extra clothing, a headlamp, sun protection, shelter, a knife, fire starters, a first-aid kit, and navigation.

✔️ Traction Device: Whether it be crampons, micro spikes, or snowshoes.

✔️ Sunglasses: Bring your favorite pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes.

✔️ Hand Warmers: Keep those fingers warm! These ones are reusable!

✔️ Trekking poles: For traction and help walking in the snow. I love these budget ones.

✔️ Satellite Communicator: For contacting emergency services. The Garmin InReach Mini is a popular option.

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Choosing a Winter Hike for Beginners

Getting started with hiking in the winter and deciding which trail you should go on can be difficult and overwhelming.

There are so many choices, but it’s important to choose the right one so that you’re prepared and don’t end up in harm’s way.

For beginners, I recommend choosing a trail that is short, flat, and easy.

This is going to be the best bet for you and will help you learn how to manage hiking in the snow before moving up to bigger and better trails.

I know how easy it is to jump right into the most beautiful trail, but I’ve done this before and want you to learn from my mistakes.

Getting on a snowy, difficult trail can be really hard and dangerous when you aren’t prepared.

So choose something that is less than 3 miles, has minimal elevation gain, and has plenty of other people on it.

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Winter Hiking Food

Staying energized and keeping your body fueled up is important when hiking, and especially important during the cold months!

It can be really easy to forget to eat (and drink!) when your hands are cold and the last thing you want to do is pull them out of your mittens.

Here are a few things that you can eat that won’t take up a lot of time, but are nutritious foods and will keep you full.

• Protein/Granola Bars
• Jerky
• Nuts
• PB&J Sandwich
• Leftover Pizza
• Dried Fruit
• Granola

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FAQs: Winter Hiking

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Wrap-Up: Winter Hiking for Beginners

There are so many perks to getting out on the hiking trail, even during those cold winter months.

When it seems as if summer is just taking far too long to arrive, bundle up and embrace the cold with a few winter hikes.

Even beginners can get out on the trail for some cold weather hiking by starting small and layering up to stay extra warm.

These tips for winter hiking for beginners will help everyone have a great time out on the trail in the off season.

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