EXPAND THE DESTINATION BOXES BELOW TO SEE OUR DECEMBER HIKING AND BACKPACKING TOURS.
To see other calendars, just select the month you’re interested in. You can always give us a call 7 days a week at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) to learn availability immediately.
2023 December Trip Dates
U.S.A. Destinations
Arizona Hikes
Grand Canyon National Park
Backpacking Trips
Grand Canyon National Park has not yet issued backpacking permits for this month. It's extremely beneficial to register before the permit process (85+% of our guests do). You can pick any dates and you'll receive a 5% early registration discount! We have a great success rate and your deposit is fully transferrable or refundable if we're unsuccessful. Click here to read more about Grand Canyon's permit process, or get started by selecting a trip and hitting "Go!" below.
All Other Trip Types
Sedona Hiking Tours
California Hikes
Death Valley Hiking Tours
Eastern Sierras
Joshua Tree Hiking Tours
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lost Coast Guided Hikes
Sequoia - Kings Canyon
Yosemite Hiking Tours
Colorado Hikes
Flat Tops Trips
Rocky Mountain National Park
Montana / Wyoming Hikes
Absaroka-Beartooths
Jackson Hole Guided Hikes
Tetons Guided Hikes
Wind River Range
Yellowstone Hiking Tours
New Hampshire Hikes
White Mountains Hut Treks
North Carolina Hikes
Asheville Hiking Tours
Smoky Mountains Guided Hikes
Utah Hiking Tours
Arches & Canyonlands
Bryce Hiking Tours
Capitol Reef Guided Hikes
Grand Staircase Escalante
Paria Slot Canyons
Zion Hiking Tours
Vermont Hikes
Vermont Hikes
Washington Hikes
Mount Rainier Hiking Tours
North Cascades Guided Hikes
Olympic Hiking Tours
International Destinations
Alps Guided Treks
Alps Guided Treks
Canada Hiking Tours
Canada Hiking Tours
Iceland Hiking Trips
Iceland Hiking Trips
Nepal Treks
Nepal Treks
Norway Hiking Tours
Norway Hiking Tours
Patagonia Trekking (Chile)
Patagonia Trekking (Chile)
Peru Treks
Cordillera Huayhuash Trekking
Guided Hikes to Machu Picchu
Tanzania (Kilimanjaro)
Tanzania (Kilimanjaro)
Vietnam
Vietnam
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HIKING IN DECEMBER
BENEFITS OF HIKING IN DECEMBER
The biggest benefit with December – like other winter months in the northern hemisphere – is the lack of crowds at many destinations. Because many people are focused on preparing for the holidays and winter, recreational and adventure travel ebbs, which is a benefit to those who do desire to get out.
Some USA desert and canyon destinations are also in their prime in December. Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Joshua Tree and the Sedona area are all wonderful throughout December, as well as Zion, Bryce and the Grand Staircase-Escalante but more for inn-based tours.
A big benefit in winter is the ability to visit major USA national parks and have them mostly to yourself. Parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain National Park, Mount Rainier, and the Great Smoky Mountains offer wonderful winter hiking, snowshoeing or cross country skiing opportunities with amazing solitude.
Internationally, you can enjoy the Inca Trail in December with far fewer people on the trail but a higher chance of rain and wet conditions. Kilimanjaro is excellent in December. Also, southern hemisphere trekking destinations like New Zealand and Patagonia are in their prime in December and well worth a visit!
DRAWBACKS OF HIKING IN DECEMBER
The main drawbacks of December are that the northern hemisphere mountain destinations are fully entering winter and are no longer open for trekking. Many are open for snowshoeing and skiing though!
WHERE TO HIKE
There are three main categories of destinations to hike in December:
– USA desert and canyon destinations – these options include Grand Canyon, Sedona’s Red Rock Country, Joshua Tree, Death Valley and more.
– USA winter hiking and snowshoeing destinations – these options include Yellowstone, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain National Park, Mount Rainier and the Great Smoky Mountains.
– Trekking and backpacking internationally – recommended options for December are Kilimanjaro, Vietnam, New Zealand and Patagonia.