Expand the destination boxes below to see our January hiking and backpacking tours.
To see other calendars, just select the month you’re interested in. You can also always give us a call 7 days a week at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) to learn availability immediately
2022 January Trip Dates
U.S.A. Destinations
Arizona
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 Red Rock Country
California
Death Valley
Eastern Sierras
Joshua Tree
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Sequoia - Kings Canyon
The Lost Coast
Yosemite National Park
Colorado
Flat Tops Trips
Rocky Mountain National Park
Montana / Wyoming
Absaroka-Beartooths
Jackson Hole Area
The Tetons
Wind River Range
Yellowstone National Park
New Hampshire
White Mountains Hut Treks
North Carolina
Blue Ridge Mountains
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Utah
Arches & Canyonlands
Bryce Canyon National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Grand Staircase Escalante
Paria Slot Canyons
Zion National Park
Vermont
Vermont
Washington
Mount Rainier
North Cascades
Olympic Hiking & Backpacking Tours
International Destinations
Alps Guided Treks
Alps Guided Treks
Canadian Rockies Treks
Canadian Rockies Treks
Iceland Hiking Trips
Iceland Hiking Trips
Nepal Treks
Nepal Treks
New Zealand Hiking Tours
New Zealand Hiking Tours
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 January
Benefits of hiking in January
The biggest benefit January provides avid trekkers and travelers around the world is the lack or reduced sizes of crowds at many destinations. In January the northern hemisphere is neck deep in winter, and the holidays have just passed (which involve lots of travel for many people.) These two factors make mid to late January one of the lightest travel periods of the year for Americans, Canadians and Europeans. This means destinations even outside of the USA, Canada and Europe are less busy.
Another benefit is of traveling in January is that the southern hemisphere is in the middle of their summer. So if you live in the northern hemisphere and would like to escape the winter, head to New Zealand, Patagonia, or Peru to take advantage of the southern summer season.
drawbacks of hiking in January
The biggest drawback for many areas is of course winter conditions. Mountain destinations across the USA, Canada, Iceland and Europe are going to be cold and snowy. We offer guided snowshoe tours at many mountain locations in the winter, which is a wonderful option for many people, and is a way to turn lemons into lemonade.
Where to Hike
There are three main categories of destinations to hike in January:
– Desert destinations in the northern hemisphere – these options include Grand Canyon National Park, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Utah national parks, and the Sedona Red Rock Country.
– Skiing and snowshoeing in mountain destinations in the northern hemisphere – we provide tours in this category to Rocky Mountain National Park, Yosemite National Park, Mount Rainier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. We also provide some winter backpacking trips in the Great Smoky Mountains, which are not snowshoeing but are fun, more temperate backcountry experiences.
– Trekking and backpacking in mountain destinations in the southern hemisphere or near the equator – recommended options here are New Zealand, Chile (Patagonia), Peru, and Tanzania (Kilimanjaro).