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Franconia Ridge in winter, a long snow-covered ridgeline under a clear blue sky, seen across a forest of spruce so thickly coated in snow and rime that every tree is white

Winter hiking for beginners in the Northeast

In winter the Adirondacks and Catskills go quiet, you can see out through the bare hardwoods, and the spruce on the high summits turn white with rime. Getting started takes skill more than toughness: traction matched to the ground, layers you don't sweat through, and a day planned backward from sunset.

SkillsPublished September 15, 202619 min read

Photo: Ericshawwhite — CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Winter hiking in the Northeast pays you back for showing up. Trails that were crowded in October thin out. The leaves are gone, so ledges that were walled in by forest all summer suddenly have views. And the spruce and fir near the summits turn white, coated in rime ice that builds up on every needle facing the wind. A mountain you walked in July looks like a different mountain.

The National Weather Service defines rime as an opaque coating of tiny, white, granular ice particles, formed when supercooled water droplets freeze the instant they hit something. You don't need the definition to enjoy it, but it's worth knowing that rime forms where cold, wet air meets the mountain. That's also the part of the mountain where a winter hike gets serious.

We hike the tri-state area and travel for bigger mountains when we can, and what we wanted to know was where a sensible first winter hike is. The jump from three-season hiking is smaller than it looks. What changes is the ground under your boots, what sweat does to your layers once you stop moving, and how early the sun goes down.

The ladder below has four hikes on it, built from what the people who manage these mountains publish. It starts on a Lake George summit that New York's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) calls a great place to begin. It tops out at Mount Washington, the rung you work toward rather than start on.

Where to start

Where should a first winter hike in the Northeast be?

Somewhere below treeline, with a built-in turnaround, on a trail other hikers use. A sensible Northeast progression runs from Buck Mountain near Lake George to Slide Mountain in the Catskills, then Cascade Mountain in the Adirondacks, and only after those to Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

Each rung adds one new problem to the one before it: first cold and a long climb on snow, then deep snow, then an exposed summit, then weather that can kill. Take them in order, and repeat a rung until it feels routine.

Every distance and climb here comes from the agency or organization that describes the trail, and we name it each time.

A rocky ledge with bare hardwoods and low brown shrubs in the foreground, above a forested slope falling away to Lake George, where white ice still covers much of the lake below blue mountain ridges
Lake George from the west side of Buck Mountain on March 31, 2018, with ice still on much of the lake. A still from the photographer's video.Photo: Ned n07b07 — CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped
01

Buck Mountain, from Pilot Knob

Lake George Wild Forest, Adirondack Park, New York

Round trip
6.6 miles to the summit, per DEC
Climb
Close to 2,000 feet, per Protect the Adirondacks
Shorter options
Half a mile to a stream crossing, or a 3.2-mile loop
Trailhead
Buck Mountain/Pilot Knob parking area, Pilot Knob Road
What's new here
Cold, snow, and a real climb

DEC's list of great winter hikes singles this trail out as a great place to begin if you're introducing a family to hiking or snowshoeing in the Adirondacks, and the reason is its shape. From the parking area to the first stream crossing, at the half-mile mark, it's a wide, primarily flat woodland trail. DEC names that crossing as a good stopping point for anyone who doesn't want to climb to the summit.

Past the stream the trail gets steeper and rockier. DEC gives the full climb to the summit as 6.6 miles round trip, and it also describes a 3.2-mile loop that turns off the yellow summit trail at about 1.2 miles onto the red trail toward Inman Pond, then returns on the blue trail. The views from the top take in Lake George, Bolton Landing and the wider Adirondacks.

DEC opens its list of winter hikes with one warning and repeats it in this hike's entry: without snowshoes, hiking in deep snow can make even an easy hike very difficult.

Why it's the first rung: You can turn around at half a mile, at the loop, or at the top, and each one is a real hike. Pick yours before you start and practice sticking to it.

A patch of open rock dusted with snow and ice at the foot of a dense stand of dark green balsam fir, lit by low sun under a blue sky
Snow and ice on the summit of Slide Mountain, where balsam fir closes in around the open rock.Photo: Daniel Case — CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped
02

Slide Mountain

Slide Mountain Wilderness, Catskill Park, New York

Round trip
5.4 miles, per DEC
Climb
1,780 feet
Trailhead
Oliverea Road South (Slide Mountain Trailhead) parking area
What's new here
Deeper snow, and snowshoes

Slide is the tallest peak in the Catskills. By DEC's figures its shortest route is 5.4 miles round trip with 1,780 feet of climbing: 0.7 miles southwest on the yellow Phoenicia East Branch Trail, then left onto the red Burroughs Range Trail for two miles east to the summit rock and a plaque to the naturalist John Burroughs.

It's also one of four mountains the Catskill 3500 Club makes members climb a second time in winter, along with Blackhead, Balsam and Panther. The club's by-laws define winter as December 21 to March 21 inclusive, whatever the solstice and equinox happen to be doing that year.

The Catskill 3500 Club says views are available from a few ledges and openings around the peak, but the summit itself is viewless. DEC describes thick stands of balsam fir channeling hikers upward at higher elevations on the Burroughs Range Trail, so much of the climb is in the trees rather than out in the wind. That makes it a good place to add snow depth without adding exposure. DEC notes that snowshoeing is permitted on every hiking trail in the Slide Mountain Wilderness.

Why it's the second rung: This is where to get used to snowshoes, so they already feel normal the first time you need them somewhere open.

A bare, snow-dusted rock summit in the foreground, above a valley of spruce forest turned completely white by rime, with a line of blue High Peaks on the horizon under a clear sky
The view on the Cascade Mountain hike in February 2016: rime-white forest below, open rock underfoot.Photo: stillwellmike — CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped
03

Cascade Mountain

Adirondack High Peaks, near Lake Placid, New York

Round trip
4.8 miles, per Lake Placid's tourism office
Climb
1,940 feet
Summit
4,098 feet
Trailhead
Route 73, east of Lake Placid; check before you drive
What's new here
An open rock summit in the wind

Lake Placid's regional tourism office puts Cascade at 4.8 miles round trip and 1,940 feet of climbing to a 4,098-foot summit. It also calls Cascade a serious winter hike that should only be attempted by people with prior winter hiking experience, which is why it sits third here. In winter its page lists snowshoes as required on the generally well-packed trail, and says microspikes or trail crampons should be carried for steeper icy sections along the ridge and near the top.

The new problem is the summit itself. Cascade has an open summit, and the same page warns you to expect a significant drop in temperature as you climb and strong winds on top. DEC's general winter advice says the same of summits everywhere: temperatures will be lower, winds stronger and snow deeper than at the trailhead.

DEC places the Cascade Mountain Trailhead within the High Peaks Wilderness, where it requires skis or snowshoes when snow depths are at least 8 inches. The tourism office also notes that DEC is creating a sustainably built trail up Cascade that will become the main way to hike it, so check DEC's Adirondack backcountry notices for trail and trailhead changes before you drive.

Why it's the third rung: It's short enough to fit inside a winter day and high enough to show you what wind does on an open summit. Better to learn that on a short day than on a long one.

The broad snow-covered summit of Mount Washington under a clear blue sky, with a long plume of snow blowing off the top, above darker forested ridges and a snowy valley
Snow blowing off the summit of Mount Washington in high wind.Photo: Greg Neault — CC BY-SA 3.0
04

Mount Washington

White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire

To Hermit Lake
2.4 miles one way and 1,800 feet from Pinkham Notch, per the Forest Service
Summit wind
Over hurricane force on more than 100 days a year, per NH State Parks
Record wind
231 mph, on April 12, 1934
What's new here
Above treeline, in mountaineering conditions

Mount Washington is where the ladder leads, and its weather is the reason it comes last. New Hampshire's state parks division says wind on the summit exceeds hurricane force, 75 mph, on more than a hundred days a year, and that a wind of 231 miles per hour was clocked there on April 12, 1934. It adds that an average wind of 35 mph and an average temperature of 27.1°F make for extreme wind chill conditions.

The trail up changes in winter too. The Forest Service's page for the Tuckerman Ravine Trail says that each winter the trail is covered in snow and ice above exposed cliffs and slopes, that from late fall through late spring, or even early summer, it's better thought of as a mountaineering ascent than a hike, and that without equipment such as an ice axe, crampons and avalanche gear it shouldn't be attempted.

That doesn't put it off limits. The way there is through lower peaks and training, and the Adirondack 46ers suggest the Adirondack Mountain Club's Winter Mountaineering School as a good place to start for winter peaks. The state parks division notes that the summit observatory is staffed through winter, when access to the summit is both limited and dangerous.

Why it's the top rung: Every lesson from the lower three comes due on the same day, above treeline. Save it for a later winter.

Which traction do you need for which winter surface?

Match your traction to the surface under your boots, not to the calendar. When overnight temperatures are expected to drop below freezing, DEC's Catskill backcountry notices say traction devices are highly recommended for safe travel on icy trails.

SurfaceWhere you meet itWhat to wearWhere it stops working
Ice on the trail, with little or no snowEarly and late winter, and wherever a thaw has refrozenMicrospikes, which DEC's winter packing list names, along with crampons, for icy conditionsSteep, hard ice, which is crampon ground
Packed snow on a well-used trailPopular trails a day or two after a stormMicrospikes for grip, though the High Peaks Wilderness still requires skis or snowshoes once snow is at least 8 inches deepDeep, soft snow, where the spikes sink with you
Deep, unpacked snowAfter a storm, before anyone has broken the trailSnowshoes or skis. DEC requires them in the High Peaks Wilderness when snow is at least 8 inches deepIcy ledges and ridges, where you may need to switch to spikes
Steep hard snow and ice above treelineMount Washington and the high White Mountains in winterCrampons and an ice axe, and training in bothAvalanche terrain, which needs its own equipment and training
Rotten spring snow and monorailsHigh elevations as the snowpack meltsNothing. DEC's spring advisory urges hikers to postpone Adirondack hikes above 2,500 feetWalking around a monorail widens the trail, and above treeline it destroys alpine plants

Microspikes and crampons are different tiers, not different brands of the same thing. Microspikes are short spikes and chains on a stretchy harness that pulls over a hiking boot. A crampon is a rigid metal frame with longer points that binds to a stiff boot, and it goes with an ice axe and the training to use both.

A worn brown leather hiking boot standing in snow with a red rubber traction harness stretched over it, and short chains with small steel spikes wrapped under the sole
Microspikes on a hiking boot. The harness stretches over the shoe, and the chains and short spikes do the gripping on packed snow and ice.Photo: HopsonRoad — CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped

Why is sweat, not cold, the thing to manage on a winter hike?

Because on a winter climb you can soak your own layers from the inside. DEC's winter safety page warns that overheating and sweating can result in significant cooling and hypothermia. Its answer is to add or remove layers to keep your body temperature comfortable, which is far easier with several layers than with one heavy coat.

DEC describes the usual layering system: a base layer of moisture-wicking fabric against your skin, an insulating layer such as wool or fleece, and a waterproof or water-resistant outer layer. Avoid cotton, which holds moisture. Yosemite's winter safety page comes at it from the other side and notes that synthetic or wool clothing keeps you warm when wet.

In practice, start a climb a little cold, since you'll warm up soon enough, and take a layer off before you sweat through it rather than after. Put the insulating layer back on the moment you stop, because standing still on a summit is when a damp base layer catches up with you. And pack an extra hat, socks and mittens. DEC's packing list has all three.

Food and water help from the inside. DEC's advice is to drink water regularly and to eat and rest often. A cold day won't remind you to, so make it a habit: a few swallows and a bite at every stop.

When is winter hiking season in the Northeast?

From the first icy trails of late fall until the high trails dry out in late spring. Along the way the ground goes through three stages (ice, then snow, then rotten snow and mud), and the rules change with it.

  1. November

    Ice before snow

    Days shorten fast. The US Naval Observatory's tables give Lake Placid about 11 hours between sunrise and sunset in mid-October and under 9 by the solstice. Trails can ice over before real snow arrives. For below-freezing nights, DEC's Catskill advice is that traction devices are highly recommended.

  2. December 21

    Winter starts, by the clubs' calendar

    Both the Adirondack 46ers and the Catskill 3500 Club count winter ascents from December 21 to March 21. On the shortest day of the year, Lake Placid gets 8 hours and 52 minutes of daylight, and the sun sets at 4:20 p.m.

  3. January–February

    Snowshoe season

    Deep snow is when DEC's High Peaks Wilderness rule comes into play: skis or snowshoes are required when snow depths are at least 8 inches. The light comes back slowly. By mid-February Lake Placid has about ten and a half hours of daylight, with sunset at 5:25 p.m.

  4. March 21

    The clubs' winter ends. The mountains' doesn't.

    Winter rounds stop counting, but snow and ice hang on at high elevation for weeks. That lingering melt is why DEC has issued spring conditions advisories for the Adirondacks.

  5. April–May

    Mud season and monorails

    As the high snow melts, DEC's spring advisory encourages hikers to avoid all Adirondack trails above 2,500 feet. It says the compacted ice and snow left on those trails, known as monorails, is rotten and slippery and will not reliably support weight. The White Mountain National Forest asks for similar restraint in mud season: choose hikes at low elevations and on south-facing slopes, which dry out faster.

A packed, curving track through deep snow between dark conifer trunks in a quiet winter forest
A packed snowshoe track on Plateau Mountain in the Catskills, January 2006. Walking in a broken track is far easier than breaking your own.Photo: Daniel Case — CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

What numbers shape a winter hike in the Northeast?

8 hr 52 min
Daylight in Lake Placid on December 21

Sunrise 7:28 a.m., sunset 4:20 p.m., per the US Naval Observatory

9 hr 15 min
Daylight in New York City the same day

Sunset 4:32 p.m.

8 inches
Snow depth at which DEC requires snowshoes or skis

In the High Peaks Wilderness

100+
Days a year of hurricane-force wind on Mount Washington

Winds over 75 mph, per New Hampshire State Parks

How do you plan a winter hike around the daylight?

Work backward from sunset. DEC's winter page says days are short, so know what time the sun sets, plan your hike so you're back before dark, and remember it takes as long to return as it did to hike out.

  1. 01

    Look up sunset for the trailhead

    Not for home. The US Naval Observatory publishes sunrise and sunset for any coordinates and date. On December 21, every trailhead region on this page gets less than ten hours between the two.

  2. 02

    Set a turnaround time and write it down

    If the walk out takes as long as the walk in, the latest you can turn around is halfway between your start and sunset, and in snow you want margin on top of that. DEC points out that moving through snow takes more effort and energy. Pick the time at home, while you're warm and calm.

  3. 03

    Check the forecast for the summit, not the town

    DEC warns that temperatures will be lower, winds stronger and snow deeper on summits, and advises postponing if conditions look too harsh. For Adirondack summits, DEC points to the National Weather Service's Mountain Point Forecasts. In the White Mountains, read the Mount Washington Observatory's Higher Summits Forecast, which the Mount Washington Avalanche Center links to.

  4. 04

    Read the trail conditions page

    DEC keeps backcountry information pages for the Adirondacks and the Catskills with recent notices about trail conditions, closures and parking. Read the one for where you're going the night before.

  5. 05

    Leave your plan with someone

    Where you're going, your route, when you'll be back, and who to call if you aren't. DEC asks for exactly that, and New Hampshire's Hiker Responsibility Code, posted at major trailheads there, makes leaving your plan one of its six points.

    In New York, DEC's Forest Ranger dispatch is 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264), or call 911.

  6. 06

    Pack for the surface and for stopping

    Traction for the conditions you expect, an extra hat, socks and mittens, a headlamp with extra batteries, and emergency shelter such as a bivy sack or space blanket. All of it is on DEC's winter packing list. DEC also says not to use your phone as a light source, which drains the battery, and to use the flashlight you packed instead.

  7. 07

    Turn around on time

    Even when the summit feels close. As New Hampshire's hiking safety page puts it, the mountains will be there another day.

When should you turn back on a winter hike?

Turn back when you reach your turnaround time, when the weather gets worse, when anyone shows signs of hypothermia, or when the snow or ice is more than the traction you brought can handle. Agree on the list before you start, and there's nothing to argue about on the trail.

Turn back

  • You've reached the turnaround time you wrote down
  • The weather is getting worse. DEC's advice is to head back immediately
  • Anyone is shivering hard, stumbling, slurring or moving unusually slowly
  • You're sinking to your shins or knees and didn't bring snowshoes
  • The ice ahead is steeper than your traction can hold
  • The slowest person in the group is struggling

Keep going

  • You're ahead of your turnaround time with daylight to spare
  • You're warm while moving without sweating through your base layer
  • Everyone is eating, drinking and talking normally
  • Your traction is biting and the trail is packed or broken
  • The summit forecast you read that morning is holding

What do winter hiking words like monorail and flotation mean?

Microspikes
Stretchy harnesses carrying short chains and small spikes that pull over a hiking boot for grip on packed snow and ice. They aren't mountaineering equipment.
Crampon
A rigid metal frame with longer points that binds to a stiff boot for steep, hard snow and ice. It goes with an ice axe, and both take training.
Flotation
How well a snowshoe keeps you on top of the snow instead of sinking into it, set by its surface area against your weight with your pack on.
Heel lift
A bar behind the heel of a snowshoe that flips up on steep climbs, so your calves aren't held at full stretch all the way up.
Postholing
Breaking through soft snow with every step and leaving a line of deep holes behind you. DEC notes it makes trails more difficult and hazardous for the people who come after you.
Monorail
The White Mountain National Forest describes it as hard-packed snow left in the center of a trail as the snow around it melts. DEC calls it rotten and slippery in spring, and walking around it widens the trail.
Rime ice
In the National Weather Service's words, an opaque coating of tiny, white, granular ice particles, caused by the rapid freezing of supercooled water droplets on impact with an object. It's what turns summit spruce white.
Treeline
The elevation above which trees stop growing. Above it there's no shelter from the wind. That's why the high White Mountains are a different undertaking in winter.
Layering system
A base layer, an insulating layer and a waterproof shell, worn so you can add or remove pieces as you warm up and cool down.
Winter round
A peak list climbed between December 21 and March 21. The Adirondack 46ers and the Catskill 3500 Club both recognize one.

Gear that changes what a winter day asks of you

Traction, flotation and warm layers are the difference between a winter hike and a cold autumn one, and we've ranked the gear for each. None of it replaces a turnaround time.

Best Microspikes of 2026

Best Microspikes of 2026

Read the guide →

Best Snowshoes of 2026

Best Snowshoes of 2026

Read the guide →

Best Winter Hiking Boots of 2026

Best Winter Hiking Boots of 2026

Read the guide →

Best Hiking Base Layers of 2026

Best Hiking Base Layers of 2026

Read the guide →

Best Insulated Hiking Jackets of 2026

Best Insulated Hiking Jackets of 2026

Read the guide →

Best Hiking Gaiters of 2026

Best Hiking Gaiters of 2026

Read the guide →

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Winter hiking questions, answered

Is winter hiking in the Northeast safe for beginners?

It can be, if you start on a short, forested trail with an easy turnaround and build up from there. DEC's list of great winter hikes calls Buck Mountain, near Lake George, a great place to begin if you're introducing a family to hiking or snowshoeing, and rates Long Pond Trail in the Catskills' Willowemoc Wild Forest particularly good for youngsters and beginners. Winter gets riskier because short days, cold and ice arrive together. A turnaround time, the right traction and a partner are how you handle that.

Do I need snowshoes or microspikes for winter hiking?

It depends on the surface. Microspikes are for ice and packed snow, and snowshoes are for deep, unpacked snow. One trail can ask for both. For Cascade Mountain, Lake Placid's page lists snowshoes as required in winter and also says microspikes or trail crampons should be carried for icy sections along the ridge and near the summit.

Are snowshoes required in the Adirondacks?

In the High Peaks Wilderness, yes, once the snow is deep enough. DEC's High Peaks page says skis or snowshoes are required when snow depths are at least 8 inches, and its winter safety page words the same rule as depths exceeding 8 inches. Snowshoes also prevent postholing, which DEC says makes trails more difficult and hazardous for others.

What should I wear for a winter hike?

Layers you can change as you go: a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating layer such as wool or fleece, and a waterproof or water-resistant shell, plus a winter hat, gloves or mittens, thick socks and waterproof insulated boots. That list is DEC's. Leave cotton at home, because it holds moisture.

Can a beginner hike Mount Washington in winter?

Not as a first winter hike. The Forest Service describes the Tuckerman Ravine Trail in winter as closer to a mountaineering ascent than a hike, and says it shouldn't be attempted without equipment such as an ice axe, crampons and avalanche gear. Build up through lower, forested peaks first, and think about a winter skills course or a guide.

What is a New Hampshire Hike Safe card?

A voluntary card sold by New Hampshire Fish and Game for $25 per person or $35 per family, good from purchase through December 31. People who hold one are not liable to repay rescue costs if they need to be rescued, although state law (RSA 206:26-bb) sets out circumstances in which a person can still be billed. Card revenue goes into the Search and Rescue Fund, except for a small transaction fee.

When does winter hiking season end in the Northeast?

The clubs count winter as December 21 to March 21, but the mountains run later. As the snow melts at high elevation, DEC's spring advisory encourages hikers to avoid Adirondack trails above 2,500 feet until conditions improve, and the White Mountain National Forest suggests hikes at low elevations and on south-facing slopes during mud season.

Sources

Facts on this page were checked against these. Conditions, fees and rules change — check the official page before you go.

  1. Winter Hiking Safety — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation · checked September 15, 2026
  2. Great Winter Hikes — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation · checked September 15, 2026
  3. High Peaks Wilderness Complex — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation · checked September 15, 2026
  4. Slide Mountain Wilderness — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation · checked September 15, 2026
  5. Catskill Backcountry Information — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation · checked September 15, 2026
  6. Adirondack Backcountry — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation · checked September 15, 2026
  7. Backcountry Information For The Adirondack Park — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation · checked September 15, 2026
  8. Sentinel Range Wilderness — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation · checked September 15, 2026
  9. DEC Issues Spring Conditions Advisory for Adirondacks — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation · checked September 15, 2026
  10. Hike Buck Mountain — Protect the Adirondacks · checked September 15, 2026
  11. Membership — Catskill 3500 Club · checked September 15, 2026
  12. Peaks — Catskill 3500 Club · checked September 15, 2026
  13. Winter 46ers — Adirondack Forty-Sixers · checked September 15, 2026
  14. Cascade Mountain — Lake Placid Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism · checked September 15, 2026
  15. Mount Washington: About its Weather — New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation · checked September 15, 2026
  16. Tuckerman Ravine Trail — White Mountain National Forest, USDA Forest Service · checked September 15, 2026
  17. Safety and Outdoor Ethics — White Mountain National Forest, USDA Forest Service · checked September 15, 2026
  18. Hiking Safety — New Hampshire Fish and Game Department · checked September 15, 2026
  19. The Code — hikeSafe (White Mountain National Forest and New Hampshire Fish and Game) · checked September 15, 2026
  20. Mount Washington Avalanche Center — Mount Washington Avalanche Center · checked September 15, 2026
  21. Understanding Wind Chill — National Weather Service · checked September 15, 2026
  22. During Extremely Cold Weather — National Weather Service · checked September 15, 2026
  23. Colorado Winter Weather Preparedness Week - Wind Chill Temperatures and Hypothermia — National Weather Service, Grand Junction · checked September 15, 2026
  24. Glossary — National Weather Service · checked September 15, 2026
  25. Preventing Hypothermia — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · checked September 15, 2026
  26. Winter Safety — Yosemite National Park, National Park Service · checked September 15, 2026
  27. Complete Sun and Moon Data for One Day — US Naval Observatory · checked September 15, 2026

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