Backpacking in the US in January

[dmar69]

I'm a senior in college and I'll have a fair amount of time off in January where I could really go wherever I wish.

I'm thinking of taking ~1 week for backpacking somewhere within the USA, but since it's the coldest month of the year I'm thinking my options are largely limited to the southwest.. Does anyone have any good suggestions for 4-5 day trips in this area? I did 4 days in Grand Staircase-Escalante this past April (incredible), but would that be doable in January?

 

[Brendan S]

Mos def. canyon bottoms can be wet and chilly but the benches are delightful.

 

[LarryBoy]

Hawaii is still technically the US! As is South Florida.

Now, supposing you don't like backpacking in the swamp, yeah, it's the desert southwest.

More specifically, lower elevations. So Joshua Tree may be to your liking, or maybe even Death Valley. Or check out the San Diego Trans-County Traverse. I've heard it's surprisingly nice. And a very interesting experience.

 

[slc_dan]

The longer nights can be tough, and you need to be flexible with soupy dirt roads, but January can be good. I generally go somewhere I can have little leave no trace fires.

 

[Brendan S]

I was mostly thinking about Utah in my earlier response but we’ve done outstanding and pleasant January trips in Big Bend and Arizona (Superstitions and Chiricauahs)...

 

[Outdoor_Fool]

Chiricahuas are awesome!

But seriously, suck it up, Buttercup, Alaska is awesome that time of year!

 

[Rockskipper]

I say Alaska - northern lights, no bear worries, Alaska Coffee Co., Circle Hot Springs, beautiful!

 

[wsp_scott]

I backpack in the SE Appalachians all year long. In January, you can get lots of snow at 5000 feet or you can get days like this (technically the last week of December) with daytime temps in the 40s or 50s. Long story short, don't write off the southeast, it is beautiful in winter.

 

[Nick]

If the weather works out and you catch it in a dry spell, much of the Colorado Plateau can be doable (just don't bank on it). This is probably the only time I've backpacked in January and it was at relatively high elevation in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. It was fantastic.

https://backcountrypost.com/threads/boulder-mail-trail.2829/

 

[gnwatts]

This Cedar Mesa trip was in early January.

https://backcountrypost.com/threads/hat-flat-cedar-mesa.1633/