Snow hiking can be a fun and challenging activity to try in the winter months. A little cold shouldn’t stop you from experiencing outdoor adventure, right?
As a tactical hiker, however, you’re trained to calculate the risks even while planning to do something fun. A fair number of hiking trails do become risky to explore in snowy and icy conditions. You’ll want to look for a trail that doesn’t offer too great a risk while still delivering a suitable level of challenge. It’s even better if the trail can reward you with spectacular views and an overall exhilarating adventure experience.
We’ve narrowed down our list to the three trails we consider to be the top winter hiking destinations in the US. Read our guide, decide which trail to conquer, then strap on your tactical backpack and get ready to rock the wilderness!
JUD WIEBE TRAIL, TELLURIDE, COLORADO
Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail is celebrated for its beautiful winter scenery. It is a moderately challenging hike, and can be quite risky if conditions are harsh, so avoid doing it in rough weather. If the conditions are right, though, it provides a strenuous but rewarding trek experience with stunning views. The main overlook is found at the trail’s highest point at 10,000 ft. From there, you can enjoy amazing vistas of the Telluride Valley and the neighboring peaks.
In winter, the Jud Wiebe Trail does pose a number of challenges. The less elevated stretches of the trail can get thick with mud, left from melting snow running down the path. At the higher elevations, the trail may lead you into areas of deep snow. We recommend using footwear with ice grips, or spikes, to help you traverse it safely. Another thing to keep in mind is that you will run into a few steep inclines while making the ascent or descent. If you’re a fairly seasoned hiker, you should manage it fine, but it can be a test of your physical fitness.
Because of the risks, we recommend having a trekking buddy with you in the winter. Snow hiking on the Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail can prove fairly tricky. As a tactical hiker, you will surely be prepared for an emergency situation, but it’s better to prevent such a thing from happening as much as possible. And having a trail buddy (a fellow experienced trekker) should reduce the risk of a troublesome incident occurring.
Hiking Information for Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail
- Estimated duration (loop): 2.5 hours (approx.)
- Trail length (loop): 3.2 miles
- Highest elevation: 10,900 ft.
- Elevation Gain: 1,100 ft.
CUMBERLAND TRAIL, CUMBERLAND TRAIL STATE PARK, TENNESSEE
“Cumberland” appears to be a somewhat popular trail name, and you’ll find a number of hiking trails with the moniker in various states. The one this list focuses on is located in Tennessee’s Cumberland Trail State Park. Actually, the entire trail is divided into different segments, which are trails in their own right. For a day trip, we advise you to focus on hiking a particular segment rather than trying to do the entire Cumberland Trail (which would take several days at least).
The Cumberland Trail segments differ in trek duration, difficulty and sites of interest. Take time to research the various routes and decide which one is most appealing to you.
Our recommendation is the Grassy Cove Segment, more specifically the Black Mountain Trail section, which takes you on a long route on a well marked path. The trek, out and back, will take you about 4 hours. It is not a difficult trail, especially when going north to south. It is fairly low-risk even during the winter months, though of course you should still take precautions. It does get quite cold and windy, so be prepared to handle that. Solo hiking on the trail is a valid option, as well.
The Black Mountain Trail section takes you through a lovely forested area to a moderately challenging steady ascent. You will encounter several overlooks along its route, where you should be able to enjoy beautiful views of the landscape. The trail then brings you to the summit of the mountain, where you can find massive rock formations. Here, you can walk the Black Mountain Loop Trail that passes through more rock formations and offers good vantage points for admiring the scenery.
Another interesting route in the Grassy Cove Segment is the Brady Mountain Section. This offers a fairly challenging hike along a ridge line with incredible vistas. A good portion of the route is taken up by paths along old, overgrown roadbeds where the trail can get obscured. Along the route, you will find some huge boulders and the Brady Arch Rock Formation. The highlight of this section is the Brady Bluff Overlook, which provides a 180 degree panoramic view and is considered one of the best panoramic lookouts in the entire park. This is a good section for enjoying a pleasant day hike that also offers a few tests of your physical fitness. We suggest that you use hiking poles on this route.
Hiking Information for the Black Mountain Trail in Cumberland Trail State Park
- Estimated duration (out and back): 4 hours (approx.)
- Trail length (one way): 3.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 900 ft.
Hiking Information for the Brady Mountain Section in Cumberland Trail State Park
- Estimated duration (point to point): 5.5 hours (approx.)
- Trail length (one way): 7.8 miles
- Elevation Gain: 800 ft.
CAPE FALCON TRAIL, OSWALD WEST STATE PARK, OREGON
If you fancy a nature walk by the ocean, check out the popular Cape Falcon Trail. This is a relatively busy recreational area, and from summer to early fall, you’re likely to see people enjoying various activities—running, bird watching and, of course, hiking. When winter comes, fewer people will be around, so it’s not a bad time to hike the trail if you are hoping to enjoy relative solitude.
It’s a short hike, and not too strenuous. We would categorize it as a moderate challenge. The route can be considered part of the larger Oregon Coast Trail. Due to its popularity, you can expect some rather eroded portions. Given that it is exposed to the ocean and you’re winter hiking, you can expect to encounter mud—so be sure to have waterproof footwear and take care not to slip and fall! Tree roots will often prove to be obstacles on this hike, which can be a reason for you to use trekking poles. Fog can also prove troublesome at times.
In the early part of the hike, you’ll have an opportunity to veer off to Short Sand Beach. Since the hike itself is a short one, you can feel free to spend some recreation time at this picturesque beach. If the tide is high, though, not too much of the beach will be exposed. It is a popular spot for surfing, if you happen to be into that.
Continuing your hike will lead you across a couple of creeks and up a seaside cliff. Then the path slopes downward, and you’ll descend to the trail’s lowest point at Blumenthal Creek. You’ll walk through a forested area with some scenic vantage points, then eventually come out and make your way through overgrown vegetation to a rocky promontory that marks the southern headland of Cape Falcon.
Hiking Information for the Cape Falcon Trail
- Estimated duration (out and back): 2 hours (approx.)
- Trail length (out and back): 4.8 miles
- Highest elevation: 250 ft.
- Elevation Gain: 160 ft.
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