Best Long Distance Hikes in December
30 trails ranked for December — by monthly climate and walking season
December is a low-level, coastal and southern walking month, with short days shaping every itinerary. Mediterranean fringes and milder Atlantic zones can work well between storms, while high mountains, Scandinavia and exposed uplands shift firmly into winter conditions requiring specialist judgement.
Pictured: GR221 (Dry Stone Route) — a top pick for December Conditions in December
- ▸ Alps and Pyrenees: snow closes high passes; many huts and services are limited.
- ▸ Mediterranean coasts and islands: cooler walking suits lower routes, though storms can be abrupt.
- ▸ UK and Ireland: Atlantic fronts, saturated ground and early darkness dominate planning.
- ▸ Scandinavia: limited daylight, snow and ice make most long distances specialist undertakings.
- ▸ Japan: Pacific-side lowlands can be viable; mountains bring snow, closures and ice.
Planning tips
- ✓ Build days around daylight, not guidebook stage lengths.
- ✓ Check accommodation, transport and resupply before committing to remote sections.
- ✓ Carry winter traction and waterproofing where frost, mud or storms are likely.
Fishermen’s Trail (Rota Vicentina)
View trail →
Portugal · 226.5 km · 11-13 days · Hard Typical December weather: 8°C average (-5–20°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Nov–Apr.
Rota Vicentina (Fishermen's Trail and Historical Way)
View trail → Portugal · 450 km · 20 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 12°C average (1–20°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Oct–Apr.
GR221 (Dry Stone Route)
View trail →
Spain · 140 km · 8-10 days · Hard Typical December weather: 14°C average (8–19°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Year-round.
Ruta de los Monasterios
View trail → Spain · 77.3 km · 3-4 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 8°C average (-5–22°C), low rainfall. Best months: Nov–Apr.
PR8 SMR (Rocha da Pena Trail)
View trail → Portugal · 6.7 km · 1 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 8°C average (-5–20°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Nov–Apr.
Paiva Walkways (Passadiços do Paiva)
View trail → Portugal · 8.7 km · 1 days · Hard Typical December weather: 8°C average (-5–20°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Nov–Apr.
Costa da Caparica Boardwalk
View trail → Portugal · 6 km · 1 days · Easy Typical December weather: 8°C average (-5–20°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Nov–Apr.
Norfolk Coast Path
View trail →
United Kingdom, England · 133.5 km · 6-8 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 6°C average (-3–13°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Year-round.
Dune du Pilat Trails
View trail →
France · 2.7 km · 1 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 9°C average (-3–18°C), wet. Best months: Oct–May.
Rovinj Coastal Path
View trail →
Croatia · 8.5 km · 1 days · Easy Typical December weather: 7°C average (-4–16°C), wet. Best months: Sep–Jun.
Ponta de São Lourenço Trail
View trail → Portugal · 7 km · 1 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 18°C average (14–21°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Year-round.
Ogasawara Islands Hike
View trail →
Japan · 10 km · 1 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 23°C average (18–27°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Year-round.
Mont-Saint-Michel Bay Circuit
View trail → France · 14 km · 1 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 6°C average (-3–15°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Sep–Jun.
Hydra Island Coastal Walk
View trail →
Greece · 9 km · 1 days · Easy Typical December weather: 14°C average (6–21°C), wet. Best months: Sep–May.
Profitis Ilias Mountain Trail
View trail → Greece · 7.2 km · 1 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 12°C average (1–19°C), wet. Best months: Year-round.
Madeira Island Levada Walks
View trail → Portugal · 17.4 km · 1 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 8°C average (-5–20°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Nov–Apr.
Canal du Midi Towpath
View trail → France · 240 km · 8-10 days · Easy Typical December weather: 6°C average (-8–20°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Nov–Apr.
Sandlings Walk
View trail → United Kingdom, England · 92 km · 4-6 days · Easy Typical December weather: 6°C average (-3–14°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Year-round.
England Coast Path
View trail → United Kingdom · 4328 km · 210-300 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 7°C average (-3–14°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Year-round.
Blackwater Way
View trail →
Ireland · 168 km · 10 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 7°C average (-4–14°C), wet. Best months: Year-round.
Masca Gorge Trail
View trail → Spain · 5 km · 1 days · Hard Typical December weather: 6°C average (-6–20°C), low rainfall. Best months: Oct–Apr.
Aran Islands Loop Trails
View trail → Ireland · 12 km · 1 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 9°C average (2–14°C), wet. Best months: Year-round.
Lough Derg Way
View trail → Ireland · 68 km · 3 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 6°C average (-6–14°C), wet. Best months: Year-round.
Pembrokeshire Coast Path
View trail →
United Kingdom, Wales · 299 km · 12-15 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 6°C average (-6–13°C), wet. Best months: Year-round.
Test Way
View trail → United Kingdom, England · 71 km · 4 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 5°C average (-6–14°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Sep–Jun.
GR34 (Sentier des Douaniers)
View trail → France · 2000 km · 80 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 5°C average (-5–15°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Sep–Jun.
Holyhead Mountain Circular Walk
View trail → United Kingdom, Wales · 7.3 km · 1 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 8°C average (1–13°C), wet. Best months: Year-round.
Herefordshire Trail
View trail → United Kingdom, England · 248 km · 10-14 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 4°C average (-8–13°C), wet. Best months: Year-round.
Ruta de los Cahorros
View trail → Spain · 9.5 km · 1 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 6°C average (-6–20°C), low rainfall. Best months: Oct–Apr.
The Sandstone Trail
View trail → United Kingdom, England · 55 km · 2-3 days · Moderate Typical December weather: 4°C average (-8–13°C), wet. Best months: Year-round.
How this list is ranked: each trail's monthly climate normals (average, minimum and maximum temperature plus rainfall, from NASA POWER satellite-era data, adjusted for the trail's altitude) are combined with its published walking season and its overall HikeList Score. Rankings refresh as trails are added. Always check current conditions before travelling.