Finding Light in the Short Days: A December Guide to Winter Wandering
by Melody Monberg, Hike for Life Operations Manager
If you’re reading this in early December, you might be feeling it already—that pull toward the couch, the extra blanket, the early darkness that makes 5 p.m. feel like midnight. The tourists have mostly headed home from Garden of the Gods by now. The red rocks wear a dusting of snow like powdered sugar, and the whole place feels like it’s holding its breath, waiting for you to discover it all over again.
Here’s what I’ve learned after years of wrestling with seasonal affective disorder: December doesn’t have to be something you endure.
Those short days and long nights? They used to send me straight into hibernation mode—couch, blanket, bread, maybe too much wine. But somewhere along the way, I stumbled onto what you might already suspect: the cure is right outside your door.
Maybe you’ve walked the Garden of the Gods a hundred times in summer.
But have you experienced it on a crisp December morning when the trails are empty and yours alone? When the rocks glow against winter skies and your breath makes little clouds in the cold air?
There’s something about moving through that landscape—properly layered up, boots crunching on frost—that pulls you back to center in a way nothing else can.
Your Perfect Winter Formula
You don’t need much to make winter hiking work. After years of trial and error, I’ve found my combination: the right layers (yes, layers are everything!), a downloaded map so you’re never guessing, and a hot flask of something warm waiting in the car for after. Ginger tea is my go-to, but you do you.
Is it extra? Maybe.
Is it worth it? Ask yourself that question standing at a trailhead with snow-dusted views all around.
Beyond the Garden: Two Winter Gems Worth Your Time
Ready to venture beyond the Garden this month? Here are two favorites that capture that same quiet winter beauty:
Limbaugh Canyon in Monument (8.2 miles, 2,322′ elevation gain) Just north of Colorado Springs,, this loop gets more snow than downtown, giving you that proper winter adventure feeling.
The trail starts exposed—you won’t need traction right away—but once you dip into the canyon, you’re surrounded by snow-dusted wonderland. The views from this trail will remind you why you live here. Pack those micro spikes, take your time with the steady climb, and afterward, grab a bite at one of Monument’s cozy spots. You’ve earned it.
Mount Esther in Green Mountain Falls (6.58 miles, 1,457′ elevation gain) This one feels like a secret you’re sharing with just a few other people. The trailhead is tucked away (literally across the street in the trees—keep your eyes peeled!), and parking maxes out at three cars. That first mile climbs steeply through switchbacks, getting your blood pumping fast.
But once you’re up? Aspen groves, connections to the Ring the Peak trail, and if you add the jaunt to Crystal Reservoir, jaw-dropping views of Pikes Peak that’ll take whatever breath the climb didn’t already steal.
Want Company on the Trail?
Maybe you’re not quite ready to tackle winter hiking solo, or perhaps you have visitors coming to town who want to experience our trails with someone who knows them inside and out. Hike for Life leads guided hikes year-round—yes, even in December!—through Garden of the Gods and beyond.
Whether you want to learn the hidden stories behind those red rocks you’ve walked past a hundred times, or you need a confident guide to show your out-of-town guests the best views, check them out. Sometimes the trails you know by heart reveal something entirely new when you experience them with a fresh perspective.
The Bottom Line
You know that feeling when December’s darkness starts creeping in? When the short days feel heavy?
That’s your signal.
Not to hibernate, but to layer up and head out. Whether you’re walking the familiar trails at Garden of the Gods or venturing to new winter landscapes, the cure for the short-day blues is waiting for you out there.
Download that map. Pack your warm drink. I’ll see you on the trail.