Winter Adventures: A Weekend in Photos

Snow and rain can't keep Washington's hikers inside, even in winter. Find fresh ideas for getting outdoors by following in the footsteps of trip reporters who faithfully reported their adventures over President's day weekend. They've got great destination ideas and tips for making cold-weather hiking more fun (like KatieMae's post-hike thermos of hot cocoa).

Seasonal safety basics

From the dramatic winter waves of the Pacific to snow-dusted oaks in the canyons of Central Washington, winter weather can paint some amazing views for hikers willing to explore this time of year. Plus, you'll find you get the trail to yourself a whole lot more.

The key to a successful, safe and fun winter hiking or snowshoeing trip is preparation. Hikers and snowshoers need to do plenty of advanced planning and take every precaution before hitting a trail in winter months. Check out our guide for safer backcountry exploration in winter, and start planning your next outing!

Six trails, one weekend in Washington

From a coastal walk at Ebey's Landing to a guided snowshoe at Commonwealth Basin, you can find a lot of different kinds of hikes this time of year. Match the photos to the trails and trip reporters who captured them below, and then dive deeper into trip reports for more ideas for your winter hiking.

The views from six very different trails. Photos (clockwise from top left) by: Ebey's Landing by KatieMae, Commonwealth Basin by Anna Roth, Wallace Falls by Taum Sauk, Sugarloaf by calixtomoon, Narbuck Wetland Sanctuary by SurvivingUrban, Oak Creek Road - Bethel Ridge by David Hagen.

Top row left: "The trail winds across the open prairie/farmland until it reaches the bluffs. Though we were bent over into the wind feeling like it was going to take us away, the views were gorgeous. ... Luckily we had a nice hot thermos of hot cocoa waiting for us at the car. Overall I would recommend this hike. Rain or shine, you will definitely feel alive!." —Ebey's Landing by KatieMae.

Top center: "This was a guided snowshoe walk into Commonwealth Basin via the PCT (ish). Because of the heavy snow we've had recently, we amended our route ... Our guide was very informative about the wildlife and the forest as we hiked through it. If you have the opportunity to join one of these guided hikes I highly recommend it." —Commonwealth Basin Snowshoe by nwroth

Top right: "The falls were running robustly due to the precipitation. Views included the Skykomish River valley, as well as occasional peek-a-boo glimpses of Mt. Stickney. ... We never had the trail to ourselves, but folks were genial, and we had an unqualified wonderful time." —Wallace Falls by Taum Sauk

Bottom row left: "We walked as far as the mouth of Hoover Canyon (3.7 mi) and found a bare spot under some Ponderosa pines for lunch." —Oak Creek Road - Bethel Ridge by David Hagen

Bottom center: "Fun family time at the Sanctuary. ... This is near the Boeing Everett Plant, but you will almost forget that you are in the city while exploring these trails.
" —Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary by Surviving Urban

Bottom right: "We had an enjoyable short hike up Sugarloaf on a super windy, but otherwise dry Sunday afternoon. ... We managed to get some views, but the wind was so strong and cold (but invigorating!!), that we didn't linger too long before heading back into the trees to complete our loop." —Sugarloaf by calixtomoon