Hey guys,
I finish up grad school in December and start at my new job in late January. I really want to get a winter trip in before I start at my new job.

I want to spend a week to 10 days hiking/backpacking. I don't have any experience backpacking in the snow. I'm looking for a place with a lot of choices for day hiking and a easy first winter backpacking trip(1-2 nights). I'm interested getting input on how difficult trips would be or any additional information.

Trip Ideas-
Yosemite Valley
Moab
Eastern Sierra
Capitol Reff
other suggestions

Thanks
kevin

Canyonlands in the winter is the perfect place to winter camp. Cold nights and virtually no people in the park.

I backpack then

Beach of Olympic Peninsula is unique. Like Third Beach to Toleak Point. But you have to look at weather reports, if it's heavy rain the whole time it's not so good.

Rogue River West of Grants Pass is pretty nice. I have heard the Lost Coast between San Francisco and Eureka. Those aren't quite as rainy as the Olympics but...

I miss my winters in the Central Oregon Cascades. Tons of winter trails for snowshoeing and X-country skiing. A gazillion miles of trail within 15 minutes of downtown Bend. It's where I'm going when I die.

Rog any suggestion on where to go in canyonlands in the winter? I have a truck with high clearance but no 4 wheel drive.

Jerry thanks for the suggestion, I'll check the lost coast.

http://www.climbwild.net/INFO_The_Lost_Coast_page_one.html

The Utah parks are great in winter. Needles dist. has lots of loop options and it's easy to shorten/lengthen the trip on the fly if needed. No need for 4wd. Here's a trip report from the Needles last Feb:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=59349

That was an abnormal amount of snow for the area.

Just what Brendan said. Definitely do the Needles District and you can leave your tent behind. I've done three or four winter trips to Canyonlands and never needed anything more than a sleeping pad, bag and ground sheet. Sometimes we were the only hikers in the park.

If you have never been to Canyonlands I would park at Elephant Hill and follow the jeep trail into the Devil's Kitchen. From there head south to Chesler Park via the Joint Trail. From there you can stretch your trip out as far as you'd like, time depending.

There is so much to see and experience in such a condensed area of sandstone... truly amazing. Make sure you check with the rangers as to where the springs are. Water should be plentiful for the desert in winter. Have fun.

Thats an great trip report Brendan. Needles look like a fun place. Thanks for the input everyone.