Hiking and camping in the snow can be a thrilling and peaceful experience. It’s a chance to immerse yourself in winter’s beauty. However, the cold and unpredictable conditions require careful preparation and the right knowledge to ensure safety and enjoyment. That’s why this winter, we turned to our amazing staff and team of brand ambassadors to learn their tips and tricks for snowy adventures.

Whether taking your first trek into a winter wonderland this year or just looking for ways to level up your snow game, we hope these insights help keep you warm, safe, and comfortable while exploring the frosty wilderness this season. Get ready to embrace more winter adventures with confidence and glee!

1. Layer Clothing for Cold Weather

There’s a saying that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. If hiking or camping in the snow this season, make sure to dress for the occasion. This means staying warm enough while also preventing overheating, which can leave you wet with sweat. 

The key to dressing for time in the snow is layering. Make sure to check out our full guide on cold weather layering for hikers, which covers the basics of base, mid, and outer layers and offers tips on how your personal temperature, activity level, and weather and trail conditions can impact your experience. Our brand ambassador Arlette Laan also wrote an excellent article on the topic, where she also includes a winter hiking gear checklist to get you started.

We’ll also leave you with some insight from another of our snow-loving brand ambassadors, Kathy Kimberlite: “Wet clothing in the cold is uncomfortable and dangerous. I always bring a dry, wool underlayer to change into if necessary. Fabric choices are important. Wool and fleece are my top choices—down jackets are perfect for cold and dry conditions, but wool and fleece can withstand some dampness, whereas down cannot. I always choose hooded layers, as well; the hood is key for neck and head warmth and easy to pull on and off.”

2. Travel in the Right Footwear

The right hiking boots and footwear depend largely on the individual. However, if you’re doing longer treks in the snow, you’ll want to consider traction, warmth, and wetness. 

Start with your socks. Arlette travels with medium-weight knee socks, heavy-weight knee socks, waterproof socks, and dedicated warm sleep socks, and bases which pair she’ll wear on the day’s conditions—while always keeping one pair sacred and dry in her sleeping bag.

She then hikes in waterproof, insulated boots with good traction. When the waterproofness of her boots starts to wear off, she adds her waterproof socks to the mix.

If you find you need more traction for icy areas, you can carry a set of microspikes or crampons to take on winter hiking trails.

3. Keep Your Hands Warm

The colder your hands get, the more limited your finger dexterity becomes. In extreme situations, you can also begin to develop frostbite. Keeping a warm core goes a long way for keeping your hands warm, but if you’ll be in the snow for a while, and especially if your hands touch the snow, take additional precautions to keep your fingers nice and toasty.

Here are some pointers from our brand ambassador Nancy East: “My hands are very sensitive to cold, so I’m especially mindful of keeping them warm. Whether it’s gloves or mittens I’m carrying, I try to keep them in a zippered pocket close to my body before I need them so they’ll stay a bit warmer. Mittens are my go to for ultimate hand warmth, since the radiant heat generated from my fingers is more effective than wearing gloves. And regardless of which hand accessory I bring, sandwiching my bare fingers in my armpits for a couple of minutes to warm them up has never failed me, no matter how cold they are—especially if I’m struggling with dexterity while completing camp chores.”

You may also opt to keep a pair of gloves in a Ziploc bag for safe storage and carry a couple hand warmer packs in case of an emergency, or if you’re just craving a little more warmth.

4. Pack a Ground Tarp

Kathy recommends bringing along a ground tarp for snowy hikes or camping trips that you can use during breaks. “Breaks are short lived in the cold, but can be necessary for layer changes, an eating stop, or an emergency,” she said.

When adventuring in snow areas, having the right gear keeps you off the cold ground where you can quickly lose body heat to conduction. We recommend bringing along lightweight items that can help, such as the Solo Tarp, Polycryo Ground Cloth, Thinlight Foam Pad, or emergency bivvy sack, which can be paired with a SitLight foam pad or Little Sit Pad.

5. Ensure Key Gear Is Accessible

You don’t want to be digging around for crucial gear when in snowy conditions. This is why Kathy carries an easily accessible “warm bundle,” that she can pull from while moving. 

“I tuck gloves and a buff or neck warmer into a warm hat, and this can be tucked under my waist belt. I can easily put on and remove these items as the temperature fluctuates and my inner temperature warms and cools,” she said.

In addition to warm layers, here are some other key pieces of gear you’ll want to keep handy while hiking in the snow:

• Sunglasses – snowy conditions can cause a blinding glare
• Headlamp – snow season comes with shorter daylight hours
• Trekking poles – snow and ice can create slippery conditions

Also consider using a pack liner or pack cover to keep gear inside your backpack nice and dry.

6. Keep Your Batteries Warm

The lifespan of batteries plummets in cold conditions. When hiking or camping in the snow, keep your batteries insulated. This means gear like phones, headlamps, battery packs, and satellite communicators—anything with a battery.

You can keep them wrapped in extra layers in your pack, stored in a warm pocket, or in your sleeping bag at night. And if you’re using a piece of technology for navigation, make sure to bring paper maps just in case your battery gives out.

7. Stomp Out a Good Tent Site

So, you’ve made it to camp, now what? Every good tent site is covered in snow! No worries, friends, your tent site will just require a little more preparation when spending the night in the snow.

Here are some tips from our brand ambassador Carolyn Blessing on tent setup in the snow: “One thing we always do for camping in snow is stomp out a tent pad for setting up our shelter. Packing down the snow is helpful for creating a smoother and firmer surface to set up on. We then dig down (with an ice axe or whatever we have) to bury stakes to secure the shelter, before packing snow on top of the stakes.”

For additional tips on tent setup, check out our blogs on tips for preventing and managing tent condensation and setting up in windy conditions.

8. Stay Hydrated on Trail and at Camp

Hiking and camping in the snow sometimes tricks us into thinking we’re not thirsty. Other times, we may avoid drinking many fluids because we don’t want to have to use the bathroom in the cold, snowy conditions. However, it’s actually extra important to stay hydrated while hiking or camping in the snow.

Nancy, who is a member of her local search and rescue team, explained why this is the case and how she handles it: “A dehydrated body has a harder time staying warm, especially at rest or while sleeping. Since nothing is worse than drinking cold water on a cold day, I often splurge and bring a small thermos containing hot soup on my hikes to enjoy as a snack and help with my water intake.”

If you’re someone who typically drinks from a hydration bladder and tube while hiking, you may also want to consider going a different route during your snow treks, as tubes and bladders can more easily freeze in these conditions.

9. Sleep With Hot Water Bottles

If you’re looking for both a way to stay hydrated and a little warmer at night, Carolyn recommends bringing along extra fuel so you can fill up hot water bottles when it’s time to go to sleep. Place these in your sleeping bag or quilt at night for help staying warm. In the morning, you’ll also have water that’s ready to go and not ice cold.

10. Shape Your Shoes for Overnight Freezes

This clever tip comes from our own Glen Van Peski: “When shoes are wet from hiking in snow all day, leave them open so that when they freeze overnight, you’ll still be able to jam your feet into them the next morning and start hiking to warm them back up.”

Sometimes wet shoes are inevitable, so this tip, combined with the right socks, can make a big difference when you’re ready to start trekking in the morning. If your feet run cold, you can also consider placing a hand warmer pack in for a bit until your blood starts circulating more.

11. Remember to Prepare and Respect the Climate

There’s a difference between heading out for a hike in the snow and haphazardly trekking out into a full-blown blizzard. Snow adventures can be beautiful and great fun, but always show reverence to nature and prepare for the elements.

As Kathy puts it, “Prevention, preparedness, and respecting the climate that you have chosen to adventure in are all keys to staying safe and warm.”

Bring your winter ten essentials, check the weather forecast for the days you’ll be out and the few before and after, share your trip plans with a trusted off-trail person, and always be willing to change course if the conditions seem like they may become unsafe.

Plan Ahead to Enjoy Hiking and Camping in the Snow

Camping and hiking in the snow offers a unique and invigorating experience during what can feel like long, dark winter months. While it requires careful planning, the rewards are well worth the effort—whether it's the breathtaking winter landscapes, the tranquility of a snow-covered peak, or the sense of accomplishment after a successful trek. So, bundle up, hit the trails, and let the beauty of winter camping and hiking unfold before you!

Have stories or tips from hiking or backpacking in snowy conditions? Share your insight with us by tagging Gossamer Gear on social media (@gossamergear) and using the hashtag #takelessdomore.

Looking for more outdoor adventure inspiration? Check out some of our other articles on the Light Feet blog:

• 7 Popular Park Dupes for More Adventure and Fewer Crowds
• 6 Common Mistakes Made on a First Thru-Hike
• Learn the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace
• 6 Best Waterfall Hikes in the Pacific Northwest
• 3 Triple Crown Thru-Hikers Compare the AT, CDT, and PCT

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