Where to hike warm during winter months

My strategy, because it’s in my backyard :) is sections of the California coastal ranges.  Most of my trips are 2-4 days but it’s certainly possible to construct a path that will be 1 week+. For example, a full loop in the Kings Range can get to about a week. Lots of paths could be constructed in the Ventana Wilderness.

If you don’t mind mixing wilderness with some more urban you could walk the california coastal trail.

http://www.frankrevelo.com/hiking/index.htm who was active here around 10 year ago seems to really like the desert (CA, NV, etc) during the winter, and also seems to like Southern Europe.

I’ll try finding the links later

Forgot to do that.  Anyways these use the desert  to the west (mostly) of the Tucson to Phoenix line … low relatively hot desert that you only really want to hike in winter unless a true desert rat (well, even then rat status vs AZ sun in low desert outside of winter .. I’ll bet on the latter). Note there’s some water caching but also some alternatives in these reports.  Is it too late now?  Not sure as the Sonoran desert (AZ) usually gets it’s first rainfalls in January so that may help the water situation (that said don’t camp in flood zones). Speaking of water pretty sure I’d add a chemical virus-defeating treatment as some of these sources are recreational areas (including the Colorado river in the Laughlin NV area .. pool floaties in the river, beer, .. guess the rest).

Also noticing the packing lists below tend to be 3+ season variety, as it’s still “winter”.

Ok, enough warnings .. here’s the links w/brief description.

Here’s a 660 mile or so route skimming around Tucson then going west by northwest towards Riverside Co. in California

https://blisterfree.wordpress.com/2019/12/18/the-desert-wth-winter-thru-hike/

Arizona Winter Traverse 460 miles of southern AZ using Laughlin NV (south of Las Vegas, Baby) as a terminus.

https://bucktrack.com/arizona-winter-traverse/

If an early spring trip, it going up towards the Chihuahuan desert on Arizona’s east side (Duncan) since the rise in elevation should keep it cooler overall.

Now here’s one that zigzags a bit across the Colorado River a bit, coming from the Las Vegas area down to Yuma AZ or vice versa (AZ, CA, and NV).  May want to look at prevailing winds..

https://seekinglost.com/thru-hikes/mojave-sonoran-trail-thru-hiking-route/

This last one gets to Yuma which can be pretty hot.  When I lived in Phoenix AZ eons ago, the alt-paper had a mid-summer article reminding residents at least it wasn’t as hot as Yuma.  So hot and cold can occur with winds.

Add there were some posts by the author(s) on thru-hiking forums about a potential link of these with some trails headed towards St George UT but think they’d be more seasonal (the Vegas – St George area can get a bit colder for winter).

Heck I might try one of these for the exercise .. so no one offers me a mall Santa job.

re: Fontanillis lake and environs. Depending on conditions…it’s easy to do long day hikes or overnights even in winter in this area. If the snow is packed; or if winter snows have been skimpy, hiking up to Dick’s Lake area even in packed snow is safe and pretty easy on a day hike. I’ve stayed at Tamarack Lodge just outside of Tahoe City in winter for years. They’re located at a state park. You can don skis or snowshoes almost at your door and head off into the park, where snowmobiles are banned. Assuming that you will rent a car…? Tahoe rim trailheads are abundant within five to twenty minutes. the “Poker Cabins” are cheap and warm and wonderful. In spring I’ve hiked up to Dick’s Lake  over mostly snow many times. I’ve overnighted with friends at Velma Lakes but I prefer to hike out in a day trip and be warm and well fed and slightly buzzed on good wine at Tamarack instead. It'[s winter after all. I’ve done a lot of day backcountry skis out of this same lodge over the years. So this is one option!

You could start on the AT in Virginia’s pastoral Grayson Highlands at the beginning of your time range and hike south with fall.

We have had two glorious months of an extended fall this year. A green tunnel becomes on fire with blazing red, orange, yellow. Day after day immersed in golden light, filtered in endless variety through constantly changing leaves. When a strong wind blows and they begin to fall around you like snowflakes, you’re transported.

Mount Rogers high country is a special place, thus it gets well visited in the fall, relatively speaking.

If you don’t outpace cold weather snaps as you go south there are usually ample opportunities to come down out of elevation for awhile.

There seems to be a penchant for dramatic, sweeping views on BPL. But I’m biased. I grew up in the Appalachians and a forest has always felt like home; a sacred place I want to be. I have hiked in the southwest. I feel exposed, away from the abundant resources and protection a forest provides.

So that is my pitch. For me it isn’t a tunnel, it’s a place of peace, solitude, and wonder.

Mark

Some great suggestions so far (love the Trans-Catalina Trail and Superstition Wilderness in Winter). One trail I am currently planning for December that I haven’t seen mentioned is the Ozarks Highland Trail. I haven’t been there yet, but it looks like a nice walk in winter.

A shameless plug for my two favorite trails. They are the Ozark Highland Trail and the Ouachita Trail. I have seen the temps as high as upper 60’s and as low as lower 20’s. The average high is in the 50’s and the low are in the 30’s. With that being said we do get the occasional ice storm and snow. They do not last long.

They are both well maintained and are not highly used. There are a fair amount of PUD’s on both trails. The OT has shelters spaced every 15-20 miles.

The views are very good this time of year due to the leaves being off the trees.