The Best and Most Beautiful Winter Hikes in 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 can walk for miles without seeing another soul.

The secret is to make sure you have the necessary gear. Appropriate footwear and versatile lightweight layers are key. If you’re worried about winter 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 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.

Jud Wiebe Trail in Telluride, Colorado

From the top of this trail, which starts and ends right in town, you can watch skiers conquering the slopes at Telluride Ski Resort or imagine life in this charming mountain town. Telluride may be known for its snow, but thanks to Colorado's year-round sunshine, this approximately three-mile hiking trail remains relatively dry year-round. 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 under a fresh layer of powder.

Cumberland Trail in Cumberland Trail State Park, Tennessee

The in-progress Cumberland Trail (now more than 200 miles long) will encompass 300 miles once finished, traveling across Tennessee from north to south. The popular trail clears out in the winter, giving quiet time in Tennessee's Cumberland Mountains. 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.

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. In three miles round-trip, the Watchman Trail transports you to a land of sandstone spires and prickly pear cacti that bask under the desert sun year-round. It starts out flat, then climbs to a viewpoint overlooking the Watchman, one of Zion's most well-known peaks.

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 approximately 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 their telltale spray. Your chances of spotting a whale are best in December and January when they're migrating from the Bering Sea to Baja, 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, 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 a little 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 the 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 that has everything from mountains to beaches 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 all angles, 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.