Winter Activities

NPS Photo / S. Spencer

 

Winter Safety

Whenever you're out recreating in the colder months, here a few tips to help keep yourself safe:

• Winter weather in the area can be unpredictable - expect unfavorable conditions and early darkness. Temperatures are usually 10F to 20F cooler in mountainous areas than in the lowlands and weather conditions can change quickly. What comes down as rain in valleys below can be ice and snow in the mountains.
• Wear extra clothing layers, and bring extra water, food, flashlights, and a map in case you get caught in a winter storm. Extreme temperatures and windchill can damage exposed skin. Beware of hypothermia, a condition where exposure to cold causes the body’s inner core to lose heat. Untreated, hypothermia leads to mental and physical collapse.
• Be sure to carry traction footwear with you. After a big snowfall and a few days of melting and with continued use, the trails become so well packed and icy that snowshoes are no longer effective to provide traction and stable footing.

Traction Devices

For some of the winter, sections of the trail may be so icy that portions cannot be safely traversed without some sort of additional traction device for your hiking shoes or boots. Mountaineering crampons or other, lighter options which fasten over your winter footwear work well. We recommend wearing these devices throughout the trail, especially in parking lots and other paved areas to avoid injuries from slipping and falling.

 

Winter Sports

Just because fall is over doesn't mean you have to give up hiking or the outdoors for the year! With all of the leaves off the trees, trails can offer views during the winter that they don't feature the rest of the year. See our recommendations below for winter fun and learning!

Sections of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail may allow:

• Winter Hiking
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Snowshoeing
• Ice Fishing
• Dog Sledding