10 Best Winter Hikes in the USA (2026)

10 Best Winter Hikes in the USA

Snow on red rock is one of hiking’s great underrated sights — and winter empties out trails that are mobbed all summer.

Most people pack the hiking gear away when it gets cold. That’s their loss — and your gain. Some of the country’s most spectacular trails are at their absolute best in winter: red rock dusted with snow, waterfalls frozen mid-fall, and famous viewpoints you’d never get to yourself in July. If you’re after the best winter hikes USA has to offer, this list mixes easy, accessible cold-weather walks with snowshoe-friendly trails — all chosen because the off-season makes them better, not just survivable.

Winter hiking does ask more of you: shorter days, slick footing, and weather that turns serious fast. But with the right layers, some traction on your boots, and a little planning, you unlock a quieter, stranger, more beautiful version of trails you thought you knew. Here are ten worth braving the cold for, plus the gear and safety basics to do it smart.

Key Takeaways

• Traction devices (microspikes) are the single best winter upgrade — they turn icy death-slides into easy walks.
• Snow transforms the desert parks. Zion, Bryce, and Sedona in a dusting of white are unforgettable and uncrowded.
• Daylight is short — start early, carry a headlamp, and turn around with time to spare.
• Layer smart and avoid cotton — sweat-then-chill is the real danger, not the cold itself.
• Some park roads close in winter (Bryce’s far viewpoints, Acadia’s Loop Road, the Smokies’ high routes) — check before you go.
• Winter crowds are tiny — you’ll often have famous overlooks to yourself.

Quick Facts

The 10 Best Winter Hikes in the USA

1. Riverside Walk / Lower Emerald Pools — Zion National Park, UT

Zion in winter is a revelation. The summer shuttle mobs are gone (you can often drive the canyon yourself), the towering red walls wear a cap of snow, and the easy canyon-floor walks like the Riverside Walk and Lower Emerald Pools are calm and gorgeous. The frozen seeps and icy pools add a magic you’ll never see in July.

Tips:

• The Narrows is possible but brutally cold — dry suits required; most winter visitors skip it.
• Microspikes help on shaded, icy sections.
• Check the shuttle status — in winter you can often use your own car. See our Zion Narrows beginner’s guide for the warmer-weather version.

2. Rim Trail & Navajo Loop — Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

If you see one winter photo that makes you a believer, it’s Bryce’s orange hoodoos capped in fresh white snow under a deep blue sky. The high-elevation rim holds snow all winter, and the contrast of red rock and white powder is unreal. Walk the Rim Trail for the overview, then drop into the amphitheater on the Navajo Loop if it’s open.

Tips:

• Microspikes are essentially mandatory — the rim and switchbacks ice up.
• Some far-end viewpoint roads may be unplowed; the main amphitheater stays accessible.
• Dress warm — at 8,000+ feet, Bryce is genuinely cold. See how it stacks up in our Zion vs Bryce Canyon comparison.

3. Clingmans Dome Road (Snowshoe) — Great Smoky Mountains NP, TN/NC

In winter, the road to Clingmans Dome (the Smokies’ highest point) closes to vehicles — which turns it into a peaceful, wide snowshoe or winter-walk route through frosted spruce-fir forest. You set your own distance, and on clear days the views over the snowy ridgelines are spectacular.

Tips:

• Newfound Gap Road can close in storms; check status before driving up.
• Bring snowshoes if there’s fresh deep snow; microspikes for packed/icy days.
• The Smokies are mild at low elevations — pair with an easy valley walk. More ideas in our Great Smoky Mountains guide.

4. Ocean Path & Jordan Pond — Acadia National Park, ME

Acadia in winter is stark and beautiful — waves crashing against snow-dusted pink granite, frozen Jordan Pond reflecting the Bubbles, and barely another soul around. The Ocean Path and the flat Jordan Pond loop are accessible winter walks when conditions allow.

Tips:

• The Park Loop Road largely closes to cars in winter; some sections become ski/walk routes.
• Coastal ice can be treacherous — microspikes and caution near the water.
• Carriage roads make excellent flat snowshoe routes. See our Acadia National Park guide.

5. Bell Rock & Courthouse Loop — Sedona, AZ

Sedona’s brutal summer heat flips to perfect hiking weather in winter — sunny, crisp, and comfortable. The Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte loop rolls through classic red-rock scenery, and on the rare snowy day, the white-on-red views are jaw-dropping. It’s the ideal cold-season desert hike.

Tips:

• Winter is peak season here for a reason — book ahead and start early for parking.
• Mornings can be near-freezing; afternoons warm up nicely. Layers.
• For the full rundown, see our Sedona hiking guide.

6. Emerald Lake — Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

One of the best beginner snowshoe destinations in Colorado. The trail from Bear Lake passes Nymph and Dream Lakes on the way to frozen Emerald Lake, tucked beneath towering peaks. The whole basin becomes a silent white wonderland in winter.

Tips:

• Snowshoes for fresh snow, microspikes for packed trail; check conditions.
• Wind near the lake can be fierce — bring a real shell and goggles on gusty days.
• Start early; afternoon weather builds fast in the mountains.

7. Watchman Trail — Zion National Park, UT

While the canyon-floor walks are easy, the Watchman Trail gives you a moderate climb to a viewpoint over the valley and the town of Springdale — and in winter you’ll likely have the overlook to yourself. The cooler temps make the uphill far more pleasant than in summer.

Tips:

• Microspikes for shaded, icy switchbacks.
• Accessible from near the visitor center even when the shuttle isn’t running.
• Great sunset hike given the short winter days — just carry a headlamp.

8. Maroon Bells / East Maroon (Snowshoe) — Aspen, CO

The road to Maroon Lake closes in winter, so reaching the iconic Maroon Bells means snowshoeing or skiing in — which keeps the crowds away from one of America’s most famous mountain views. Even a short snowshoe up the closed road delivers postcard scenery.

Tips:

• This is true backcountry in winter — know avalanche conditions and stick to safe terrain.
• Snowshoes and serious layers are mandatory.
• Best for confident winter hikers; check avalanche forecasts.

9. Cadillac Mountain (North Ridge, lower section) — Acadia NP, ME

In summer you can drive up Cadillac; in winter the road closes, so the North Ridge Trail becomes a quiet snowshoe/microspike climb toward the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast. The exposed granite ridges offer huge views over a frozen, empty Mount Desert Island.

Tips:

• Exposed and windy up high — full winter layers and traction essential.
• Turn around early if ice or wind picks up; the lower ridge is rewarding on its own.
• Pair with the Ocean Path (#4) for a full Acadia winter day.

10. Fern Canyon / Sabino Canyon — Tucson, AZ

When the rest of the country is frozen, the Sonoran Desert around Tucson is glorious. Sabino Canyon’s shuttle-served trails and the surrounding Santa Catalina foothills deliver giant saguaros, flowing creeks, and perfect 65°F hiking — the antidote to winter for anyone who’s just done with the cold.

Tips:

• This is the “winter hike without winter” option — ideal for snowbirds.
• Bring sun protection and plenty of water; it’s still the desert.
• A snow-capped Mount Lemmon often looms above the warm canyon — a wild contrast.

Comparison: Which Winter Hike Is Right for You?

Winter Hiking Gear & Safety Basics

Cold-weather hiking is safe and fun when you respect a few rules. The cold itself rarely hurts prepared hikers — getting sweaty and then chilled does.

• Traction: Microspikes are the highest-value item you can buy. For deep snow, add snowshoes.
• Layers: Moisture-wicking base, insulating mid-layer, and a waterproof shell. No cotton — it kills.
• Extremities: Warm hat, gloves (plus spare), insulated waterproof boots, and warm socks.
• Daylight: Winter days are short. Start early, carry a headlamp, and set a hard turnaround time.
• Hydration + fuel: You still sweat and burn calories in the cold — drink and snack regularly.
• Check conditions: Road closures, avalanche forecasts (mountain trails), and weather windows.

For the full breakdown of how to dress and what to carry, see our dedicated winter hiking gear & layering guide — it’s the companion piece to this list.

A Quick Reflection

The hike that converted me to winter hiking was Bryce Canyon, two days after a storm. I’d hiked the rim in summer and remembered it as gorgeous but packed — a slow shuffle of selfie sticks and tour groups. This time I stepped out to the Sunset Point overlook just after dawn and there was no one. The hoodoos stood there capped in fresh snow, glowing orange against a sky so blue it looked saturated, and the only sound was my own microspikes crunching on the path.

I had one of the most famous viewpoints in the national park system entirely to myself for almost an hour. A raven cruised past at eye level. My breath hung in the air. And I remember thinking: I almost stayed home because it was “the off-season.” The off-season is the secret. Winter asks for a little more effort and a little more gear, but it hands you these places stripped of the crowds, dressed in snow, and quiet in a way summer never is. Buy the microspikes. Go anyway.

Frequently Asked Questions

For current trail and road conditions, always check the relevant park page at nps.gov and local avalanche forecasts before heading out.

Final Thoughts

Winter hiking is the great hiking secret: a little more gear and grit buys you snow-draped scenery, frozen waterfalls, and famous viewpoints with nobody else on them. Start with the easy, accessible options — Zion’s canyon floor, Sedona’s red rock, a closed park road you can snowshoe — and work up to frozen alpine lakes once you’ve dialed in your layers and traction.

Buy the microspikes. Pack the headlamp. Watch the daylight and the weather. Then go see Bryce’s hoodoos in the snow, or Acadia’s surf crashing on frozen granite, and discover the version of these trails that summer hikers never get to meet.

Planning a winter hiking trip? Use our Trip Planner to organize your route and plan around weather and road closures.

Related Reading:

• Winter Hiking Gear & Layering Guide — exactly how to dress and what to pack
• Best Headlamps for Hiking & Camping — essential for short winter days
• Best Time to Visit Zion National Park — why winter is underrated
• Best Sunrise Hikes in the USA — pair early starts with winter light