Winter Camping:

Winter Camping: How To Get Outdoors When It's Freezing Cold

It can beat summer camping—if you plan it right.

   

Winter opens up a whole new avenue of transportation. You can ski, snowshoe. It’s actually easier than in the summer. There are no rocks, no mud. You’re on snowshoes or micro spikes or crampons. Snow is a durable surface, too. Just keep your body temperature regulated. Sweat is deadly.


You want a sunny, high-pressure day. You can see forever.

Great Gear ______________

The Ultimate Camping Gear Guide

The Best Camping Gear for Kids


The main thing is: You need a goal.

You want something to accomplish. You want to climb something. My scouts always have a goal. I took my troop out camping once and it got down to minus 20. Even though they were absolutely frickin’ miserable, they never shut up about it afterward. Because we had a goal. Maybe it’s just learning to survive, or get from A to B in snowshoes, but when you achieve that goal, something changes with the group you’re with. It’s not an adversity thing. It’s about mindfulness. Intention.

Speaking of intention: Bring some hot chocolate. Gives you a big sugar wake-up, warms the inside of you. Put a pat of butter in it for the calories. Manhattans might be good for some people, but you can’t take a manhattan to bed with you in a Nalgene bottle to keep you warm.—Don DeClerck, camp operations director for Seneca Waterways, registered New York State trail guide, certified Voyageur, and longtime Boy Scout troop leader

Is Winter Camping Safe?

Yes. Obviously you need to keep an eye on the forecast. There are two less obvious safety issues that you’ll want to prepare for:

A Changed Landscape. A once-familiar place can be transformed by a layer of snow, making it seem like a completely new destination. Snow can also cover landmarks that you commonly use to navigate in the backcountry, too, adding a new challenge to finding your way around. True, you can follow your own footprints in the snow when hiking back to your campsite or the parking lot, but an unexpected storm can fill in those tracks quickly. Bring a GPS device to map important waypoints along the trail.

Dehydration: It’s a common misconception that you don’t need to drink as much water during the colder months because you’re not sweating as much as you would during other times of the year. But staying hydrated is just as important in the winter as it is in the summer. Hiking through deep snow can get your heart pumping, and while your body might not be producing perspiration, you can still exhale a lot of water vapor while breathing heavy. Add in the fact that most people drink less in cold conditions anyway, and suddenly dehydration starts to become a real possibility. Stay ahead of the situation by drinking plenty of water at all times.

Do I Need Different Camping Gear?

Most of the camping gear that you already own will work during the winter too. Your backpack, stove, headlamp, and even some of your clothing should perform well. That said, there are a few items that you may need to replace in order to stay warm, dry, and comfortable at the campsite.

Tents

REI
Thor 2P Tent
Marmot rei.com
$699.00
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During the warmer months, most campers get by with a three-season tent. During the winter however, you’ll need to use a four-season shelter. These tents sacrifice some ventilation and breathability in favor of improved warmth and protection from the wind. The Marmot Thor and the Mountain Hardwear EV 2 are good choices.

Pads

REI
NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad
Therm-a-Rest rei.com
$239.95
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Sleeping pads are essential for staying comfortable regardless of the season, but in the winter an insulated pad adds an extra layer of warmth between you and the ground, too. And they’re now smaller, lighter, and better insulated than ever before. We suggest the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm.

Sleeping Bags

REI
Hyper Cat Sleeping Bag
The North Face rei.com
$178.93
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On mild winter nights, a bag with a 20-degrees-Fahrenheit rating—such as The North Face’s Hyper Cat—should suffice. But in colder conditions, a zero-degree bag, like the Nemo Sonic, will likely be a necessity. There are even warmer sleeping bags for when temperatures drop below zero, but you should avoid camping in conditions that cold.

How Long Can I Stay in the Backcountry?

   

A winter camping trip can be just as long as any backpacking excursion that you’d take during the warmer months. If the weather conditions cooperate and you carry enough food and fuel canisters, it’s possible to stay out for days or even weeks if you choose. Again, you’ll want to use common sense and avoid extreme weather conditions when things can get potentially dangerous, but otherwise you can camp for as long as you feel comfortable being out in the wilderness.

One of the staples of any camping trip is a bonfire, although during the winter it’s usually more challenging to get that fire going. If snow is covering the ground, it can be difficult to find firewood, and when you do find something to burn, there is a good chance it will be wet, making it harder to ignite. Cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly make a good fire starter and can help get a fire going more quickly. Just remember, wet wood tends to generate more smoke, which makes sitting around the fire a lot less fun. If temperatures are too cold to stay outside, don’t be afraid to call it a day and escape to the comfort of your tent instead. Huddling around the campfire can be a lot of fun, but cold conditions can easily turn dangerous and nothing quite beats crawling inside a warm sleeping bag.

What To Put on Your Feet

Lowa Renegade Evo Ice GTX Winter Hiking Boots
Boots rei.com
$159.83
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If the ground has only a couple inches of snow on it, and walking is fast and easy, your winter hiking boots should be all you need.

Yaktrax Summit Traction System
Crampons rei.com
$59.93
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Crampons are especially helpful on rocky, technical terrain, such as when you’re going up or down a mountain. Trail spikes will come in handy on flatter surfaces where a bit of ice may make things slipperier than you expected.

MSR Snowshoe and Poles Kit 10235
Snowshoes rei.com
$199.95
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By adding more surface area to your feet, snowshoes allow you to stay above the powder rather than sink down into it. They’ll also help keep your legs feeling fresher, allowing you to walk farther and faster than you would just in boots.

Salomon Snowscape 7 PM Cross-Country Skis with Bindings
Skis rei.com
$156.93
Buy Now

Using a set of cross-country skis makes navigating the backcountry much easier and more efficient, but it requires some skill and experience. If you’re not familiar with how to cross-country ski, your first winter camping trip isn’t the place to learn.
The Best Places To Camp in Winter

First, you should go to your backyard if you live in a cold climate. You can test your gear and get a sense of what it is like to sleep on snow, while still having the safety net of going inside to get warm should you find yourself feeling uncomfortable.




Great Places To Camp in Winter

1. Crater Lake, Oregon
2. ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS, NEW YORK
3. GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO
4. THE ICE AGE TRAIL, WISCONSIN
5. PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE, MICHIGAN

ILLUSTRATIONS

Crater Lake, Oregon

Crater Lake, Oregon More than 43 feet of fresh powder fall on the park on average each year, making it one of the snowiest places in the U.S. If you go in well equipped and prepared, it is one of the best winter playgrounds imaginable.

ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS, NEW YORK Located in upstate New York, the Adirondacks are beautiful and rugged, yet still easily accessible. During the winter, the Adirondacks tend to be quiet and deserted, making them a worthy winter-camping destination.

GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO Snow isn’t especially abundant in Great Sand Dunes National Park, but due to its high elevation temperatures can get quite cold. Dress warmly, bring a warm sleeping bag and a four-season tent, and soak up the isolation. With few winter visitors, you’re likely to have miles of open space all to yourself.

THE ICE AGE TRAIL, WISCONSIN Stretching for 1,200 miles across Wisconsin, it can be remote, wild, and very scenic, particularly in the winter. Chances are you won’t see another living soul on the trail.

PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE, MICHIGAN Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore runs for 40 miles along the banks of Lake Superior and includes towering cliffs, massive sand dunes, and tranquil beaches. In the winter, the crowds that normally flock to the shore are long gone, making it an incredible place for winter campers to escape for a while.


Once you’re ready to hit the trail, however, you can go camping in many of the same places that you would during the summer. A lot of state and national parks, as well as national forests and other public lands, are open year-round, although they are often unstaffed and trails aren’t maintained. Before heading out, be sure to check online to see if your chosen camping destination has any restrictions or warnings that are in effect during the winter.

Will you get bored? If you get bored easily, yes. The colder temperatures, combined with the shorter days and longer nights of winter, mean you will be spending more time in your tent. But even if you don’t get bored easily, you’ll be . . . spending a lot of time in your tent. And probably on your phone. Keep the device as warm as possible to help reduce battery drain and bring a portable charger to extend battery life further.