This month has been the snowiest February on record across much of the Midwest. But that doesn’t mean that Midwestern hikers need to stay inside. Not at all. In fact, winter hiking can be better than warm weather hiking in this part of the country. Here’s why you should hit the trails at the coldest time of year.

Reason #1: Winter hikes are better workouts

Let’s face it: Midwestern hiking is pretty easy. There’s a whole lot of flat, and not much elevation. With a little bit of snowfall, however, the difficulty ticks up a notch. You need to work harder to plow through the snow. And your body burns more calories to maintain your core temperature during cold weather. It’s true: winter hiking is the better workout. So layer up a bit. And tackle your favorite trail for some winter hiking, trail-running, or fat-tire biking.

Reason #2: Winter scenery

Yes, the winter grays get depressing. But if you get outside the Midwest’s slushy cities, the winter landscape is clean and fresh. The rivers clear up. Snow dusts the trees. And you’ll find natural ice sculptures around rivers and rocky bluffs. If you’re a four-season hiker, you’ll be more attuned to the subtle changes and pleasures of your local woods, rivers, and parks.

Reason #3: Winter hikes let you see migrating waterfowl

December, January, and February are great times to to spot migrating birds from Canada and the Arctic along Midwestern waterways. You can easily spot hundreds–if not thousands–of migrating birds if you hike near open water. Canadian geese. Snow geese. Tundra swans. Trumpeter swans. Loons. And more ducks that you can name. This is “warm” weather for them, so it should be warm enough for hikers, too.

Reason #4: Hike with Bald Eagles

Iowa is not much of a hiking state, but it’s one of the best places in the country to spot bald eagles in the winter. Thousands of bald eagles line the Mississippi River. And hundreds more congregate below dams on the state’s other rivers. They’re shy and easily spooked. However, careful hikers can spot dozens of eagles along the river bottoms as they hunt and forage for fish. I grew up watching winter eagles near the tailwaters of Red Rock Reservoir. Now that I’m back in Iowa, I’ve gotten to know dozens of bald eagles who winter along the Des Moines River below Saylorville Dam.

Four Season Hiking

If you stay inside all winter, you may be missing out on some of the year’s best hiking. So layer up. Grab a camera. And maybe some hiking poles. Just get outside. Find a local trail. And enjoy some time outdoors.

Happy hiking!