Winter Hiking

On foot through the snow

Well-prepared winter hiking trails lead you across snow-covered meadows, up to glittering mountain peaks and through quiet forests. One or the other hut is also open in winter to provide you with a warm room and tasty refreshments along the way. Walking through the white landscape is a great experience for young and old. Discover the most beautiful winter hikes with Outdooractive!

The most beautiful winter Hiking Regions

Hiking through winter landscapes

Hiking is a sport that can be enjoyed not only in summer when the weather is warm and beautiful. When the snow glistens in the sun, icicles hang on the trees and every step you take makes a wonderful crunching sound under your feet, it is the perfect time for winter hiking. Whether you want to hike around a frozen lake or climb a snow-covered mountain peak, you can find your next winter hike on Outdooractive.

Unique moments and beautiful views await you. What could be more beautiful than walking through nature, the forests and meadows covered in fresh snow, the sounds muffled and everyday life far away?

Winter hiking in Kleinwalsertal in Austria — Recommended list **Winter hikes in Germany, Austria and Switzerland**

What to bear in mind when winter hiking

Hiking in winter does not generally require any special experience. Since some routes run in the valley or on well-surfaced mountain and panoramic paths, alpine dangers only play a role in exceptional cases.

Hiking trails in winter, however, are quite a bit more strenuous than in summer – especially if the trail is not freshly cleared and gritted. That's why winter hikes should always be planned and prepared separately.

Whoever is out and about with children should plan enough breaks for building snowmen, sliding and the obligatory snowball fight. Often, roads can be mastered by sled on the way back, frozen lakes are ideal for a round of ice skating – of course, only if safety is guaranteed.

It is important that in winter, just as in summer, nature must not be disturbed or damaged when hiking. Even if it is tempting to deviate from the path and take the shortcut through deep snow, animals could be awakened from hibernation. For this reason, it is best to find out before the hike which special rules apply in your hiking region.

The right equipment for your winter hike

The right equipment is an important point to be able to enjoy your winter hike in any case. No one wants to be wet and frozen through. In addition to the items that are already important in summer, you should therefore take the following equipment with you:

Grasses and gaiters
Warm and weatherproof clothing in multiple layers
Hat/headband
Scarf
Gloves
Possibly thermos bottle with hot drink

Packing list for hiking

Hiking backpacks

Features of Outdooractive

The features of Outdooractive will help you with your winter hike. Here you can be inspired by tour suggestions and pick out the best ones, or you can plan your own hike with the help of the tour planner. The map always shows you the current snow depth and informs you about the current avalanche situation in the mountains.

Offers and discounts from our partners

Benefit from exclusive offers from our partners

As a Pro and Pro+ member not only do you have access to additional features and the best maps at your disposal, but you can also benefit from exclusive offers from our partners, ensuring you are always fully equipped for the outdoors!

Explore all benefits and discounts