10 Winter Hikes in America That Are Too Dangerous to Try
Winter hiking in America can be a magical experience. Even the most casual hikers can be tempted by the tranquility of untouched snow, icy rivers, and frost-tipped trees. Beautiful as it is, however, it hides some of the most unforgiving hazards imaginable. Outings can quickly become head-to-head battles for survival when the wind chill is bitter cold, the weather is unpredictable, and the trails are treacherous.
While there are well-worn paths leading to snowy happiness, there are also paths where the danger is at every step. Avalanches, hidden crevices, and sheer drops are risks no scenery is worth. These winter hikes are better off your bucket list unless you’re an adrenaline junkie.
Mount Washington, New Hampshire
The winter conditions on Mount Washington are infamous. The mountain is known for record-breaking winds, often topping 200 miles per hour, and in the colder months the mountain turns into a wind tunnel of ice and snow. Temperatures can drop to -40°F with wind chill and even experienced mountaineers have trouble here. This trail is one of the deadliest in the country, with the constant threat of frostbite and hypothermia. More than 150 people have lost their lives trying to make it up this climb.
The Muir Snowfield, Mount Rainier, Washington
Muir Snowfield is particularly deceptive, and Mount Rainier itself is a formidable challenge. Whiteout conditions quickly turn this seemingly smooth, endless expanse of snow into a dangerous place, where it is far too easy to get lost, and where crevasses in the glacier-covered slopes have claimed lives. Hikers are usually warned that winter weather on this route is simply unpredictable. Snow blindness or exhaustion won’t get you, but then the risk is that you slip into a hidden fissure.
Longs Peak, Colorado
In summer, Longs Peak in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park isn’t for the faint-hearted. In the winter it is transformed into an ice-covered beast with steep unforgiving terrain. The sheets of ice on narrow ledges during enemy “Keyhole Route” claim lives. Visibility can drop to inches in a matter of seconds, just like the sudden snowstorms can sweep in. This climb is for only the most skilled of mountaineers, not even worth consideration. For everyone else? Better to stick to postcards.
Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim, Arizona
You wouldn’t think of the Grand Canyon as a nightmare for winter hiking, but its desert reputation is deceiving. Winter conditions are risky with icy trails, freezing nighttime temperatures, and deadly descents. The Bright Angel Trail is a slippery nightmare, if you slip the wrong way, it’s a terrifying slide. Rescues in unpredictable winter weather here are complicated. Keep your distance—or you could be a news headline.
Cascade Pass, Washington
In winter, the Cascades offer awe-inspiring views at a price. During snow season, Cascade Pass becomes a magnet for avalanches, and hikers are left exposed on steep slopes. Conditions can change in minutes even with avalanche forecasting. If you’re not prepared to bet on those odds, you’re probably best to skip this hike.
Mount Hood, Oregon
Under a blanket of snow, Mount Hood looks pretty perfect, but the ice has no forgiving slopes. Whiteouts are ever present in winter storms, and avalanches are always a threat. Winter has been especially deadly on Mount Hood, where more than 130 people have died since the early 1900s. Extreme conditions make rescues harder and a simple climb can turn deadly fast.
Maroon Bells, Colorado
These famous Colorado Elk Mountains peaks, known as the “Deadly Bells,” are an ominous name for what these mountains become in winter. Snow and ice only amplify loose, unstable rock and sheer vertical climbs. Trying it in cold months can get very dangerous because the route becomes so treacherous. Despite its beauty, the Maroon Bells’ winter reputation is no joke: They are some of the most dangerous climbs in the Rockies.
Denali, Alaska
Even in summer, Denali, North America’s tallest peak is a real trial of human endurance. In winter it is nearly impassable. Temps can drop to -60°F and those same winds gust so hard you risk toppling over. Fewer than a handful of climbers attempt it during the coldest months, and many pay a big price for the attempt. Survival itself is the challenge here.
The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah
In winter, The Narrows turns into a frozen trap, a slot canyon. The Virgin River is most of the hike and it can get lethally cold when it dips. Even for the most prepared hikers, hypothermia is a real danger. If that’s not enough, flash floods are a danger year-round, and icy canyon walls make escape almost impossible. In short: Three words no one likes to equate with hiking: wet, cold, and deadly.
Ice Lakes Trail, Colorado
Don’t let Ice Lakes Trail’s serene-sounding name fool you, however, it might look like a winter paradise. The trail is blanketed in deep snow and hazardous sinkholes and frozen streams are hard to spot. Hikers at higher elevations are dealing with altitude sickness and the exhaustion of trudging through waist-deep powder. With avalanche risks on top of this already punishing trail, the risks continue to increase. Even in winter conditions, experts usually warn that a seasoned mountaineer can get overwhelmed here.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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