9 Awesome Winter Camping Destinations

Find prime winter camping right in your backyard. With the right gear and preparation, these 9 Active Junky-vetted destinations speak to your soul’s winter warrior. Don’t forget to sign up for Active Junky for exclusive deals and cash back on your hiking and camping gear purchases.

Car Camping

The La Sal Mountains, Utah*

Image via Jacob W. Frank

The La Sals span a range of options (pun intended) from desert car camping to pull-in mountain locations. Check snow reports to decide how much accumulation you can handle. Brush overnight powder off your tent as you rise to bucket-list views of a snow-covered desert. Enjoy B.C. laps for breakfast and Moab’s world-class mountain biking for lunch.

Mt. Monadnok State Park, New Hampshire

In the 1800’s, farmers tired of wolves killing their livestock and attempted varmint eradication by setting fire to Mt. Monadnok.  The out-of-control inferno created an East Coast peak with a treeline.  Camp at the base, get an early start and enjoy winter’s diluted crowds as you brave the bald summit.

Pike National Forest, Colorado

With a 4WD, navigate PNF’s spider web of dirt roads to find a slice of weekend car camping heaven.  Views of Pikes Peak abound for those willing to scamper up a never-ending moonscape of rock formations. Beginner bonus; civilization is never far away.

Backcountry Camping

Camping in a tent or a snow shelter depends on your goals – as well as snow quality and depth. The following locations suit either type of shelter. Do pre-trip research to prep for local conditions.

Dix Mountain Wilderness Area, New York

The Adirondack’s high peaks are gorgeous in winter, though they do attract peak-bagging hordes. Dix is a hidden gem, a place of hear-a-pine-cone-drop solitude reserved for travelers with competent map and compass skills.

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming*

These epic mountains make you question your place in the cosmos.  Go deep and the only visible tracks will be four-pawed or hoofed. Holler triumphantly from the summit, pausing to hear your echo bouncing around the massive rock faces.

Pemigewasset Wilderness Area, New Hampshire

Even when moose droppings clog the trail, you’ll be shocked to turn the corner and encounter either end of a bull. East Coast doesn’t equal tame, so camp low to dodge some of the country’s highest recorded wind speeds.

Sequoia/King’s Canyon National Park, California*

Moderate temperatures and heavy snow make Sequoia’s already beautiful landscape beyond pristine in winter.  Open bowls make any BC skier or rider’s mouth water.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Any photo you take in Yellowstone’s backcountry is frame-worthy.  Snap some solid ones on tours, too, realizing you’ll Photoshop out snow-buses and tourists later. Don’t just see Yellowstone, roam like the bison and be a part of it.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado*

Image via Jesse Varner

Winter camping in Colorado’s Rockies can be risky business as the snowpack’s instability incites more avalanches than in any other state.  Rocky Mountain National Park offers an intro to the experience.  Let bluebirds be your alarm clock as you utilize designated winter campsites.

*Avalanche training required.