Crack the Code to Cold: Colorado Winter Hiking Tips

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Chill-Proof Your Hike: Essential Colorado Winter Hiking Tips

I tiptoed my way into winter hiking in Colorado on a Spring Break trip during college. Our hosts declared Mueller State Park the perfect place for beginners to learn how to snowshoe. Recently transplanted from Africa, winter hiking was a foreign concept to me.

Armed with borrowed snow pants, rented snowshoes from REI and trekking poles, I was ready to tackle one of the best winter hikes in Colorado.

Or so I thought….

Fast forward three hours, my hands were icicles, my feet freezing and I was OVER the adventure. Thankfully I didn’t let my unpreparedness bar me from ever snow showing again.

I learned, on that fateful winter day, that keeping my core warm, head covered, feet dry and body hydrated would have made the day’s adventure so much more fun.

You don't have to be an expert hiker to enjoy winter hiking. In fact, there are many things you can do to prepare yourself before hitting the trail.

THESE TEN SIMPLE WINTER HIKING TIPS will keep you safe, dry and enjoying Colorado trails.

CLICK BELOW for a free downloadable PDF of the 10 things you need to know winter hiking in Colorado.

How to Get Ready for Hiking in Winter

Before you head out on your first winter hike, make sure you're prepared with the right gear. Start by checking the weather forecast so you know what to expect. Then, pack a light jacket, warm hat, gloves, and boots.

If you plan on spending more than two days outside, consider packing a sleeping bag. Finally, bring plenty of water and snacks.

Staying dry is key to a successful day on the Colorado trails. To prevent hypothermia or other cold related calamities, have the 5 C’s with you.

What is hypothermia and how does it happen? Take a listen to Outside Podcast “Frozen Alive”.

This fascinating episode narrates one hiker’s tale of surviving hypothermia. He was on a familiar trail, prepared with gear.

However, simple mistakes carried him into a world of extreme danger he barely survived.

The 5 C’s of survival

Carry these five essential items on Colorado winter hikes.

  • Cover

    A waterproof layer like a 8x10 tarp or extra large garbage bag along with an emergency blanket. We love Dagmi Outdoor’s reusable emergency blankets. Each comes in its own compression sack, super lightweight and easy to stash in our daypacks.

  • Cutting Tool

    Knife and/or sharp edge for protection and food procurement. We each carry a mini leatherman tool that includes a knife and tweezers.

  • Cord

    Hardware store standard paracord works in a pinch. However, consider a newer product - Mariner’s Net line. It’s lightweight and best of all, doesn’t fray easily.

  • Combustion

    For day hikes, we carry waterproof matches sealed in a small snack size ziplock bag. Other options include fire cubes, zippo fire starter and bee’s wrap.

  • Container

    Winter hiking in Colorado creates thirst despite the cold. Along with an insulated water reservoir, we carry an insulated water bottle. Having an extra cup gives you the ability to boil water or melt snow in a pinch.

PSSST…Are you a podcast junkie?
The best teacher is experience, they say. Some of our favorite podcasts like "Against the Odds" and "Outside" podcasts are your thrilling guides to learning outdoor survival.These podcasts share gripping stories and invaluable advice to help you stay safe and thrive in the great outdoors. Happy listening and hiking!

Learn from other’s mistakes on the best outdoor podcasts.

Headed on out a snowy winter hike near Divide, Colorado

Tip 1 | Dress Warmly

It's easy to forget how cold it gets during the winter months. In Colorado, the winter day might start around 0°F and within a few hours, once the sun is out, it will feel like 50°F.

Make sure you dress appropriately for the season. Bring layers of clothing, such as a sweater, sweatshirt, and windbreaker.

Wear a hat and gloves when you go outdoors.

And, if you're planning on going on a longer hike, pack a sleeping bag.

It took us several tries to get the layering thing right. Learn from our mistakes and check out this handy dandy Colorado Hiker’s Capsule Wardrobe checklist.

Included is a Colorado hiker’s basic clothing list. Depending on the season and weather, add or subtract items listed. Each season has suggested gear along with items we really think you should bring.

Click the button below for the free checklist.

PRO TIP! The night before your winter hike, lay out your entire hiking outfit. In the running world this is called a “Flat Stanley.” While you’re welcome to take a picture, minimize and mail it (as was the trend a few years ago), we’d recommend sticking with the runner version of simple clothes layout. This weird but super helpful activity kept me from certain claimity on many races and hikes.

Tip 2 | Pack Light

Hiking down Barr Trail on Pikes Peak mountain

If you plan to spend more than one night out on the trail, consider packing a tent instead of just a sleeping bag. A tent will keep you warm at night and provide shelter from the elements.

We’re excited to try out the newer trend of quilts vs. sleeping bags. While we haven’t winter camped with a quilt, the idea of taking an extremely lightweight but insanely warm blanket on a long snowshoe hike in Colorado sounds like a brilliant idea.

RUMPL blankets vary in weight, around 1/2 lb to just over 2 lbs depending on size.

Taking a bit more gear on Colorado winter hikes brings peace of mind, in my opinion. That said, don’t overload your back, creating fatigue. Winter hiking is hard enough without carrying excessive amount of gear.

PRO TIP! Load your daypack and take it for a spin on a neighborhood walk before you hit a long trail. See how it feels on your back and hips. Readjust (heaviest items belong in the bottom of the pack) and remove as needed.

Tip 3 | Wear the Right Layers for Winter

The brighter the colors, the better on Colorado winter hikes.

Colorado winter hikes can be downright unpredictable thanks to the variety of weather this state gets in one day. Wearing the right layers for winter hiking can make or break a day of adventure.

Below is what we wear on winter hikes in Colorado. Consider buying previously owned gear from local gear stores. Or shop sales, like us! We love REI for their one year money back warranty and sales.

HANDS AND FEET:

Start at the top of your head, donning a warm beanie. Bold and bright is our motto around here - it allows others to see you on the trail, a particularly helpful visual for hunters as when heading on backcountry winter trails. It also makes you memorable to others on the trail.

Gaiters work for blocking wind and snow. The Buff is lightweight, perfect for all weather hiking or winter runs. Smartwool’s merino wool gaiter kept Melody warm on Mt Kilimanjaro’s summit and long Colorado winter hikes.

For our toes, Colorado winter hikes are synonymous with wool socks. While it’s best to avoid getting feet wet, wool is marvelous at maintaining some semblance of heat if that happens.

BASE LAYER:

Avoid cotton and stick with wool blends. Check clothing descriptions for words like “moisture-wicking” and “breathable”

  • Short sleeve merino wool or polyester shirt, perfect for wicking sweat on those uphill winter hikes in Colorado.

  • Merino or polyester leggings work great

PRO TIP! Body heat leaves the body through the head and extremities (hands and feet). Keeping your hands and feet dry, along with a warm winter hat goes a long way in staying toasty warm on the trail.

See our favorite base layers:

MID LAYER:

A winter hike on Section 16 - layers are key!

Add this layer for temperatures below 40°F or excessive wind.

  • Thin fleece

  • Lightweight down jacket

Typically, even when it’s super chilly, leggings are enough to keep us warm hiking in winter. Adding long gaiters helps with keeping feet and lower legs warm and dry.

Add a wind proof pant to your daypack as insurance.

These mid layers are on repeat for our winter hikes:

Staying toasty warm on a long snowshoe hike near Leadville, CO

OUTER LAYER:

Think waterproof and windproof for this final layer. For temperatures at freezing, long sleeved jackets are best. Down vests are perfect in temperatures above 30°F or bright and sunny winter days.

Hands down favorite outer layer jackets and vests:

Not if, but when you get hot, stash your layers in a right sized for you daypack. We spend a lot of our winter hikes in Colorado putting on and taking off layers.

Outdoor gear can be pricey. As two thrifty moms, we get it!

Add a piece or two of essential hiking gear each season, investing in solid reliable clothing from companies that have warranties.

Patagonia, Cotapaxi, and Osprey are some of our favorite companies for those very reasons.

Osprey has a fabulous backpack online tool. With just a few clicks, find out what size and style to purchase for your body type.

For more tried by us and used on repeat gear, head to the ultimate outdoorsy gear guide we created just for you.

PRO TIP! Carry a compression sack and bungee cord. On long winter hikes, stash layers in the compression bag and bungee to the outside of your daypack. Easy access and allows you more room inside your pack for snacks and a hot drink!

Tip 4 | Bring Water (and extras….)

Tanya hydrating on one of our many Colorado winter hikes near Palmer Lake, CO

Before heading into the woods, bring water, food, and shelter. This means having enough supplies to last through the day and overnight. It also means planning ahead so you won’t run out of anything when you need it.

While you might not want to drink water, bring it and drink it. Often times flavored water is easy to put down on cold weather hikes.

Rule of Thumb: Bring enough food for an extra day.

If you are new to Colorado winter hiking, pack more food than you think. Winter hiking ignites hunger in a way summer hiking seems to diminish. This means quick easy access food like bars, water flavor packets, and nut butters.

Stash them in a ziplock bag within easy access in your daypack.

PRO TIP! Indulge in warm drinks. Fill that insulated flask with hot cocoa or tea but stay away from coffee (at least on the trail). Caffeine dehydrates (and makes you pee a lot!)

CoHH Winter Snacks and Drinks

PRO TIP! Make winter hiking fun, planning fun hot drinks. Hot chocolate, fresh ginger tea and chai are calorie laden, warming your insides and giving you those vital calories. If you’re in a savory mood, warm broth and carry it along.

Tip 5 | Know Where You're Going

Checking our hiking route in Red Rock Canyon

If you plan to hike somewhere new, research the area first. Find out what weather patterns are common, where the best places to camp are, and how much snowfall has been recorded.

Also, check with local authorities to see if any special precautions should be taken.

With so many weather apps at the touch of our fingertips, there is no excuse to not check weather.

Don’t pull a rookie move like I did when hiking Pikes Peak for the first time. We forgot to check the weather the morning of and got caught in an insane August sleet storm near the summit.

Check the weather the night before AND the morning of the hike. Colorado’s fickle weather is constantly shifting and changing. Keep an eye out for snow warnings, particularly in areas that are less traveled.

Favorite Weather apps

  • Mountain Forecast: great for high elevation hikes, precise three day forecasts

  • Weather Bug: free, includes “feels like” temps

  • Weather Underground: free, current temperatures and radar maps

Tip 6 | Be Aware of Avalanche Forecasts if Necessary

Hiking in winter means looking at ALL the signs

Recently we met with a Pikes Forest ranger regarding guiding permits. We learned that while many areas in Colorado are not prone to avalanches, it’s important to know the signs on any winter hike in Colorado.

Be mindful of avalanche prone areas. According to REI, three things are needed to create an avalanche: unstable snow, avalanche terrain, and a trigger. Check avalanche weather before you head out.

Look for basic signs of impending avalanches:

  • area had recent avalanches

  • shooting cracks in snow as you hike

  • Whumpfing sounds as you hike

  • big changes in the weather

Consider taking an avalanche safety course. Perhaps, like us, we often don’t think we’ll be in unstable snow. However, sometimes a wrong turn or an extra mile veers into avalanche area. Knowing what to look for and understanding basic safety in an unstable situation might save your life.

Tip 7 | Safety First

Being a safe hiker means you are an educated hiker. No, we don’t mean you have to get a winter hiking degree.

Following a few simple tasks EVERY TIME you hike sets you up for success and enjoyment.

There are many tips for hiking solo. So many, in fact, that we wrote an entire post on that topic. While hiking solo requires a few more steps, most of the rules apply to hiking in groups as well.

When hiking in winter, here’s some basics to consider:

  • Pick a route, print a copy of the map to leave in your car. If you don’t make it back, search and rescue have a starting point to look for you.

  • Notify someone of where you’re going and when you’ll be back. Give them a “call search and rescue by this time” information.

  • Carry first aid essentials that include the 5 C’s.

  • Download a map on your phone and bring a paper copy as well. If you’re winter hiking in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas, purchase PocketPals maps. Weather and tear resistant, these little maps have tons of trails marked with waypoints.

PRO TIP! Make sure to notify your person when you get off the trail. We’ve been busy drinking our post hike beer only to have a spouse buzz our phontes to make sure we were safe. Oops!

Tanya busting out her spikes in Red Rock Canyon

Tip 8 | Carry Cold Weather Gear

While we recommend keeping things light on Colorado winter hikes, there are a few essentials best brought along for those just in case moments.

Melody wearing all the layers in Leadville, backpack snuggly strapped to her back with more essential hiking gear.

  • Spikes or Yaktrax

    These work great in light snow and ice. Visit Colorado Springs and you’ll hear the words “the Incline” at least once. This almost one vertical mile extreme hike is on many people’s bucket lists. It’s exceptionally beautiful in winter - less people and more calm.

    BUT as with many Colorado winter hikes, attempting it without spikes can mean a serious fall or worse.

  • Snowshoes

    We find snowshoes work great in fresh and deep powder. We often bungee our snowshoes to our back, popping them on for deeper portions of the trail

  • Tall gaiters

    Gaiters accomplish two things: keep your legs warm and dry. OR makes a fantastic Gore Tex gaiter that we both use.

  • Extra pair of wool socks

    PRO TIP! Stash these warm dry socks in a mini ziplock bag. They’ll stay dry no matter what weather comes your way. Add a large garbage bag as well. It’s a cheap way to guarantee a dry butt on a lunch break or stave off wet when a sudden sleet or snow storm arrives.

  • Power source

    Whether it’s a rechargeable battery brick or batteries, keep extras in your daypack for those just in case moments.

    Cold weather does havoc on electronics. Carry your phone near your body to maintain consistent temperatures.

  • Emergency Heat Gear

    Stash in your daypack hand warmers and an emergency blanket for winter hiking

Tip 9 | Protect Your Skin

A magical snowy cloudy day winter hiking near Grand Junction, CO

When the skies are cloudy and the sun is hidden, it’s easy to think sunscreen is not necessary. I learned my lesson the hard way snowshoeing a few years ago.

Oblivious to the sun’s radiation, I’ve gleefully played in the snow for several hours. That evening I had the fiercest racoon eyes along with a brilliant red face.

  • Apply sunscreen before and during winter hikes.

  • Wear a hat, preferably one with some type of brim.

  • Carry and use chapstick with SPF.

  • Vaseline is great for cold chapped hands.

Tip 10 | Add Time - Winter hiking is hard but fun

Goofing off in snow on a winter hike near Grand Junction, CO

On my first solo snowshoe, I mapped out an amazing 10 mile route on the Burro Trail near Breckenridge, CO. I’d done this hike many times in summer months, knocking out the trail in half a day. Boy did I underplan and underestimate the slow slog of a snowshoe hike.

A few miles in at the 3 hour mark, I was ready to turn around. How did I get my timing so wrong?

Looking back, this newbie mistake could have cost me a lot had I been more remote without essential gear.

PRO TIP! While everyone has a different hiking pace, plan on adding at least 10 minutes extra to each mile if you are snowshoeing or snow ploughing (breaking fresh snow trail with hiking shoes and spikes).

Trekking poles are handy for post holing (putting hiking pole into ground ahead of you, determining depth of snow) and maintaining balance on unpredictable terrain covered with snow.

Speaking of trekking poles, there were many years I thought they were for the more “mature hiker.” (ahem…full disclosure, I am that more “mature hiker” now).

That mindset could not be farther from the truth!

Trekking poles stabilize the core, give a great full body workout, help with balance and when needed, created a pole for an emergency shelter.

Our FAvorite trekking poles:

Black Diamond Trail Cork Trekking Poles (Melody’s)

Black Diamond Pro Shock Trekking Poles (Tanya’s)

Hiking in winter tends to be a solitary sport. Experience the quiet serene calm of pine forests, the snow buffering sounds. Many people shy away from the cold.

We say, get out there and explore!

While winter hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing can be a challenge, the beauty around you is worth every labored breath.

Armed with the right know-how and gear, you can also enjoy serene camping in winter in Colorado.

These ten winter hiking tips are ones we use on repeat at Colorado Hikes and Hops.

Adventuring in Colorado, no matter the time of year, is a blast. Keep it that way by staying ahead of the weather, employing a few safety tips and staying on trail.

We’d love to hear what winter hiking tips have worked best for you on Colorado hiking trails.

Leave us a comment!

Melodie Monberg