Stick to low-elevation, south-facing trails in early spring.

Yes, there are safe trails — but you have to choose carefully. Snowmelt timing varies hugely by elevation, aspect, and latitude. A trail that’s perfect in Denver might still be a muddy, icy mess in Portland.

The safest bets after snowmelt are trails below about 6,000 feet that face south or southwest. Those catch the most sun and dry out first. North-facing trails at higher elevations will hold snow and ice well into May, especially in the Rockies or Sierra. Don’t trust “spring” to mean “clear.”

For most major cities (Denver, Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake, Los Angeles, etc.), the front-range foothills, coastal bluffs, or low-elevation canyon trails are your friends. Look for trails with good drainage — avoid anything that follows a creek or stays in deep shade. And check recent trip reports on AllTrails or local hiking groups. Mud season is real, and postholing through wet snow or trudging through shoe-sucking mud is not fun.

Check conditions the morning you go, not the week before.