The Peabody Mill Environmental Center and the Amherst Recreational Department in New Hampshire are hosting a series of twilight hikes over the next few months. The hikes are designed to give hikers a chance to view both full and new moons during the clear winter nights.

The idea of a winter hike is probably new to most folks but it’s a great way to add a new dimension to familiar trails. Trails look completely different by the light of a flashlight or headlamp and your sense of speed and distance will be completely changed. Limited vision on the trail means your other senses will be heightened, allowing you to hear, smell, and feel things you never noticed before.

Night hikes also reveal things like stars that you just won’t see during a daytime trip. Many forest animals are nocturnal meaning they’re snoozing during the day when most hikers are on the trail. Go out at night and you can catch glimpses of animals like raccoons while avoiding others like snakes that prefer the mid-day sun.

Hiking at night is not without its risks and it’s a good idea to hike trails you’re familiar with to start out. Make sure you have multiple light sources in case one gives out and be aware of potentially dangerous wildlife that may be out at night.

Night hiking can be a fun way to experience a familiar trail in an entirely different light - give it a try and see what you think!