These Are the 10 Best U.S. States for Winter Hiking-and the No. 1 Has 'Enormous Trail Mileage'

""Winter hiking in the U.S. is incredibly diverse because the country has so many different climates," Anja Hajnsek, a hiker at Hut To Hut Hiking Dolomites, shared in a statement. "You can walk along snowy alpine ridges in Colorado or Montana, enjoy warm desert trails in Arizona and Nevada, or experience lush green paths in places like Washington and Hawaii. That variety is what makes the U.S. such a rich destination for winter hikers.""

"After looking at all the information, the team found that Colorado ranked as the No. 1 hiking destination in the nation. As the findings noted, it pulled in the top spot thanks to having "an impressive mix of trail density, elevation, and trail length. Colorado's 5.81 trails per 100 square miles and more than 11,500 miles of designated routes provide an enormous winter playground." Additionally, its high elevation, topping out at 14,433 feet, and dry winter precipitation levels "help maintain stable trail conditions, explaining why it consistently dominates outdoor-recreation rankings.""

All 50 states were evaluated across nine environmental and trail-related metrics, including trail density and total mileage, average snowfall, winter temperatures, air quality, and review frequency. Colorado ranked No. 1 thanks to an impressive mix of trail density, elevation, and trail length, with 5.81 trails per 100 square miles and more than 11,500 miles of designated routes. Colorado's high elevation, topping out at 14,433 feet, and dry winter precipitation help maintain stable trail conditions. California placed second for enormous trail mileage, mild winter temperatures, minimal snowfall, and strong greenery scores that enable year-round access.

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