Read Time: 5 minutes   |   Best for: All Hikers

The Intro

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 Hiking in the Mid Atlantic is a four-season way of life. The bloom of spring, the warmth of summer and the colorful tapestry of fall are their own marketable reasons to hike in those seasons. However, I am here to represent Winter, a much underrated and misunderstood season. A season that’s often characterized as cold, harsh, raw and drab. While not poetic, they can form a bias that the Winter season has little to offer. Quite the contrary! Winter is an epic season filled with spectacular opportunities to explore, experience, and engage the wonders of the trails. (Big emotions, right?)

​Why Winter Hiking Rocks

1. Bugs – Spring has black flies, summer has mosquitos and ticks, fall has gnats and winter has....... that's exactly right, it has no insect friends. Leave the bug spray at home and enjoy the freedom of the season. 
2. No Foliage – Wait, it's so beautiful to have leaves! (no doubt, stay with me though) but in the winter the lack of foliage gives way to bigger summit views, new views that may have been hidden along the way and then there is the natural artistry of tree trunks, branches that shape and form these giants. 
3. Less Trail Traffic– Oh my is this a popular one, who hasn't had an experience marred with hikers upon hikers spilling over one another. Add in dogs, kids, runners and you have yourself a less than experience. Fear not Winter is here, find trails a plenty with only the tried and true adventurers out and about. Leave the tourist destination feeling you get during the other seasons and go out and enjoy some solitude. 
4. The Elements – Let's hear it for heat and humidity! (crickets!!!) Right, none of that here , instead cool, chilly days where lungs inhale fresh crisp air that invigorates the soul. .The elements can also breathe life into the terrain with blankets of snow, ice to recoat your favorite trail as a winter wonderland postcard. 
5. The Sky – Have you noticed that in the winter the night skies seem to help stars sparkle, sunsets dazzle with an array of vivid colors and the haze of summer has given way to clear horizon views? FUN FACT  Because winter is colder and drier, it does not hold the moisture within our atmosphere so therefore haze and washed out skies are non existent in the winter! 

Winter Hiking Necessities:

• Hiking Shoes ! – A great pair of waterproof shoes or boots can save you from a poor experience. Learn more at our Trail Shoe Guide
• Spikes – a little dandy of a need to stop the slipping and spilling on the trails. Learn more here
• Clothing layers – Read more here on why dressing in layers is optimal for winter performance on the trail.
• Gloves – try a base layer glove and add a water resistant glove!
• Water – reality is hydration is equally if not more important than a summer day. Dehydration occurs because of the dry air, lack of sweat and false sense of not needing water. All tricks on the body and brain! Water is an important winter need.
• Hat – Keep your noggin’ warm and save the body heat from leaving you.​

Try these Trails Click the photo to learn more