The
Hudson Valley is famous for hiking, but when the last leaf falls and the
“peepers” all head home, what’s left for us locals over the winter? Winter
hikes can take your breath away (and not just from the cold temperatures) with
pristine snowscapes and frost-glazed forests.
I’ll
never forget waking up to a white Christmas last year and taking my family out
for a hike at Poet’s Walk in Rhinebeck. I wrapped up the baby in her carrier
while my husband took off through the snow with our older daughter. We spent
that Christmas morning building snowmen and mini snow castles for my daughter’s
new Little People toys (a Santa, an elf, and a reindeer). With the cozy gazebo
nearby and the sweeping vista of the Hudson River and the Kingston-Rhinecliff
Bridge in the background, the snow transformed the hike and our morning with
its wintry magic.
READ MORE: The best cold-weather hiking spots
The whole world looks different in winter, and our favorite trails are no
exception. Snow-covered trails provide great opportunities for observing and
identifying animal tracks. Bare trees open up viewpoints covered by the canopy
during the other three seasons.
With a
little preparation and the right gear, there’s no reason for your family not to
enjoy hiking just as much in the winter as in any season.
Lots of layers
Becky
Copenhaver, a Tillson mother of three, loves
hiking in a fresh snowfall. She fondly recalls the experience of wrapping her
first child in a carrier and walking through the snowy trails with her sleeping
baby. Becky recommends lots of layers and advises parents to bring along extra
mittens and socks. And, she adds,
“hat and scarves are non-negotiable.”
Pleasant
Valley mom of two Kerry Schwarz agrees there’s no need for snow to forestall a
winter walk in the woods. She cites the Scandinavian expression, “There is no
bad weather, just bad clothing” and declares, “We love all-weather fun.” On her
blog, The Adventures of Chicolini and Company, she encourages parents to experiment with different baby-wearing
methods to make hiking and nursing with little ones easier and enjoyable for
the whole family.
READ MORE: How to dress your baby for the cold
Kid-friendly hikes
That’s also the
purpose of one local dad’s website Hike the Hudson Valley. An experienced outdoorsman from Hopewell Junction and father of
two, the site’s creator Mike Todd provides “step-by-step trail guides to 52
(and counting) of the best hikes in the area,” and the green pins on the site’s
map indicate hikes that work especially well with children in tow.
Some of
Mike’s favorite area hikes with his kids include Dover Stone Church, Burger
Hill, High Falls Conservation Area, Falling Waters Preserve, Poet's Walk, and
Peach Hill Park. Mike recounts a frightening fall he took while hiking with one
of his children in a back-carrier, and offers his No. 1 tip for parents who
baby wear: “Use a pair of trekking poles. They're extremely handy for giving
you extra stability, since stumbling is not really an option.”
Armed
with these tips, you and your family can enjoy winter beyond downhill skiing or
sledding. Some trails allow for snowshoes or cross-country skis, but many are
accessible with good walking shoes or boots.
Erin Wyble Newcomb hikes, writes,
runs, reads, plays, and loves with her husband and two daughters in the Hudson
Valley. She teaches literature and composition at SUNY New Paltz and escapes
into the forest with her family every chance she gets.