The best walks for every month of the year

Every month has a best walk

There is no single best season for walking. The high Alps open in summer, deserts are kind only in winter, and some of the most memorable days on foot are tied to a few weeks of blossom, falling leaves or migrating birds. This guide goes through the year month by month and picks walks from the Waymark library that are at their best in each one. Every month links to its own page, where you can see all the routes that suit it.

Seasons shift from year to year, and some trails close in bad weather, so always check the route page and local conditions before you go.

January

Winter is the season for the desert and the Mediterranean. In northern Israel, common cranes spend the winter in the Hula Valley. KKL-JNF, which runs the Hula Lake Park, says about 35,000 cranes arrive in the autumn and about 15,000 of them stay for the winter, and a flat circuit of the restored lake lets you walk or cycle past them. Further south, Ein Gedi and the white canyon of Ein Avdat are pleasant from October to April, when the heat is gentle. See more on the January page.

February

February is still desert and winter-sun weather. The pools of Ein Avdat are full after the winter rains, and the Banias waterfall runs at its strongest from December to May. In Patagonia, it is the height of summer: the W Trek in Torres del Paine and Laguna de los Tres are in season. More on the February page.

March

Spring arrives in the Mediterranean. Cities such as Granada, Córdoba and Seville are at their best before the summer heat, and the Galilee hills are green. Late March brings the first cherry blossom in Japan. See the March page.

April

April is blossom month. In Kyoto, the Higashiyama walk from Kiyomizu-dera to the Philosopher’s Path is at its most famous from late March to mid-April. In Italy, walks such as Florence and the Bologna porticoes are comfortable, and the Path of the Gods on the Amalfi coast is in season. See the April page.

May

Late spring is a sweet spot almost everywhere. On Yosemite’s Mist Trail, the waterfalls are usually at their strongest: the National Park Service says peak runoff in Yosemite typically happens in May or June. The West Highland Way is quieter in May, before the midge season peaks. See the May page.

June

Early summer opens the mountains. The Tour du Mont Blanc season runs from mid-June to mid-September, and the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites opens in late June, once the rifugios are open. Long evenings in Scotland and Canada are perfect for city walks such as Edinburgh. See the June page.

July

July belongs to the high country. In Iceland, Ferðafélag Íslands (FÍ), the touring association that runs the huts on the Laugavegur Trail, says the trail is open on average from 25 June to 15 September, depending on snow and on when the highland roads open. In Canada, Garibaldi Lake is clear of snow from July. Book huts and refuges early, because this is the busiest month on most long trails. See the July page.

August

August is still prime time in the Alps, Iceland and the Canadian Rockies, though crowds and prices are high. Lower routes in the south of Europe can be very hot, so start early. Hallstatt and the Dachstein are a cooler alternative, and in 2026 the operator ran the Krippenstein cable car and the Giant Ice Cave daily from 1 May to 1 November. See the August page.

September

September is many walkers’ favourite month. The Alps are quieter, Mediterranean coasts cool down, and the colours begin in Canada: Jacques-Cartier National Park near Quebec City is at its best in late September. The Cinque Terre Blue Trail and the Camino Portugués are in season again. See the September page.

October

October is foliage month. In Toronto, the Don Valley ravines and Rouge National Urban Park are at their most colourful from late September through October. In Japan, Nikko turns red and gold from October to early November. Desert season returns in Israel and Jordan, with Petra comfortable again. See the October page.

November

In Kyoto, autumn colour peaks from mid-November to early December. In the Hula Valley, KKL-JNF says the main migration season is in the autumn, when cranes arrive in huge flocks. The trekking season in Nepal, which runs through October and November, offers clear mountain views on routes such as Annapurna Base Camp. See the November page.

December

December is quiet on the trails but rich in other ways. Desert walks are at their best, the Banias waterfall begins to swell, and city walks such as Strasbourg add Christmas markets. In the southern hemisphere it is summer: Table Mountain and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing are in season. See the December page.

Shoulder seasons are worth it

Many of the best days on foot fall in the shoulder seasons, the weeks just before and after the busiest period. On popular routes such as the Cinque Terre or the Tour du Mont Blanc, late spring and early autumn bring cooler temperatures, easier bookings and fewer people on narrow paths. The trade-offs are real: some huts and cable cars run shorter seasons, the weather is less settled, and days are shorter. Check opening dates for any transport or accommodation you rely on, carry an extra layer, and plan a shorter day than you would in midsummer.

How to use this list

Pick the month you can travel, open its page, and filter by difficulty and length. Then read the route page for its own best season and practical notes. For help putting a trip together, see the trip planner and our tips.