Summer is typically considered prime hiking season. With trees full of bright green leaves, the sun high in the sky, and meadows in full bloom – the landscape and weather are perfect for getting outside. When winter rolls around, trails get covered with snow and ice causing people to shy away from hiking in these conditions. This article (I hope) will change this perspective and give you the tools to get out and explore our winter wonderlands.

Featured Trail: Tamanawas Falls

If you have never done a snow hike or if you want a winter hike that has it all – Tamanawas Falls Trail is for you. At only 3.5 miles out and back with 600 feet of elevation gain, this trail is an easy hike effort-wise. It is located near Mount Hood in Oregon making it accessible during the winter months. Due to the high foot traffic, the trail is distinct with packed snow and prints creating a straightforward trail to navigate, even in the snow.

BONUS: This hike is dog-friendly! Don’t forget to gear up your pooch with a jacket or vest if it is needed for warmth and snow booties. Hiking in the snow for long distances can cause paw irritation if your dog is not used to these types of elements.

Tamawanas Falls AllTrails Link

As always, I recommend downloading the map of the route prior to the hike. That can be found in the link above.

Your hike will begin by crossing a large bridge over a river before heading into the snow-covered trees. One of my favorite things about this trail is that it is alongside a river so you can watch the water carve a path around snow-covered boulders as you make your way to the falls. The trail ends with an approach to the waterfall which is in a beautiful open area with cliffs towering over you on every side. From here, you can head closer to the falls but be very careful as the rocks can be especially slippery and icy in the winter months.

After you spend some time admiring the sights, you will head back out the same way you came! A waterfall, rushing river, towering snow-covered cliffs, and more – as you can see this hike truly has it all.

Post-Hike Fuel

Obviously, an adventure would not be complete without a delicious meal to look forward to! After you conquer your snow hike, I highly suggest driving into Hood River for some beers and grub at some of our favorite spots! Along the water, you will find Ferment Brewing Company, pFriem, and Solstice Pizza to name a few. We frequently visit these on our day trips to Mount Hood and the Gorge before heading home back to Portland.

Tips for Winter Hiking

1. ALWAYS check the weather and trail conditions beforehand. I not only check the weather, but also read conditions about the trail to ensure I am prepared. AllTrails has a feature where you can write reviews and I often read through the most recent reviews to see recommendations on if microspikes vs. snowshoes are needed for example.
2. Tell someone where you are going! No matter if you are hiking alone or with others, always let someone know where you will be hiking and give them an approximate time on when you will be done. This way if something were to happen to you on the trail, you would have a much greater chance of being found and rescued in a timely manner.
3. Dress appropriately. Layers are the name of the game. You want to begin with a base layer of wool or thermals, a light mid-layer (I typically wear fleece), and then a top puffer or heavier wind/water resistant jacket to help protect you from the elements. I also bring an extra pair of socks, sweats, and a sweatshirt to change into after the hike if needed depending on how wet or sweaty my hiking clothes are. You can find my favorte hiking clothes here.
4. Gear up. Snowshoes, microspikes, or hiking/snow boots can all be used for winter hiking. That being said, depending on the trail conditions, recent weather, etc. some gear will be beneficial and some gear will be extraneous. This brings me back to checking the trail conditions! For example, this hike was fine with snow boots when we did it because it had just snowed so there was fresh powder. However, a few days of sunshine created a slicker, icier trail later in the week making microspikes necessary.

As always, we hope you enjoyed this post and find that winter hiking is definitely doable when prepared and up for an adventure! We hope to see you on the trail!

Please take a moment and comment below – we love hearing feedback or recommendations on what trail or adventure you would like us to blog about next!