With 80 miles of trails winding through the city, Concord is a great place to go for a walk in the woods and reconnect with the natural environment.

That’s true when snow blankets the ground or even when it begins to wisp away into the streams during spring’s thaw.

Yet for others, the cold presents an opportunity for outdoor exploration.

In many ways, winter and spring hiking is the same as any other time of year, with the exception of the number of layers you need and, sometimes, what you wear on your feet. One big plus: no bugs to pester you on your path.

Hiking veterans have some advice for novices who want to head out to have fun while still maintaining safety.

Temperature matters: Hiking on a cold morning after a thaw means walking on firm snow or ice, which requires foot traction like micro-spikes.

“If there is snow or ice on the ground, regardless of how you think it might be, it’ll be different in the woods,” said Fran Philippe, chair of the Concord Trails Subcommittee. “Have some kind of boot traction, like micro spikes or stabilicers or something like that. And bring along some extra warmth, just in case you slip and fall and twist an ankle and can’t get out right away, or, if you’re not moving any longer, to keep warm.”

Philippe finds the transformation of her natural environment in colder months offers an endless source of delight. An avid hiker, Philippe says there’s nothing quite like traversing snowy trails.

“Often the branches and pine needles are coated with ice,” Philippe said. “It’s so beautiful seeing the snow crystallize in very, very cold weather. Each flake becomes a prism of color, and to stand there you feel like you’re in this winter fairyland.”

In both winter and spring, it’s important to dress in layers, because it will feel cold in the parking lot, but warm once you start walking.

“Sometimes you can overdress,” said Wendy Olson, who leads group hikes through the Concord Trails Subcommittee. “You get really warm as you hike along. You have to be smart about it. On really cold days, make sure you bring extra layers. A lot of people use handwarmers.”

And on spring days like the sunny ones this week when the air feels extra warm, the woods trap the cold, it’s wise to keep an extra layer or two on hand, especially if you want to hang around and enjoy the view.

If you’re interested in trying out local winter hiking, you may be surprised at how many options exist practically right in your backyard. Concord has a network of over three dozen trails with free access. The Concord Trails Subcommittee’s group hikes run monthly and offer people of all ages and experiences an opportunity to explore nature together, Olson said. There’s no registration or fee required – anyone interested just has to meet at the trailhead at the designated time.

“There’s a whole range of people that come. I think it depends on the season of the year. The hardy souls are here now,” Olson added.

The group hikes, which sometimes include local history, also help participants not fret about finding their way alone, especially in the winter when snow makes it difficult to see the path.

For people hiking outside of a group, Philippe recommended always telling someone where you’re going ahead of time and making sure to follow the blazes – color-coded dots of paint – on the trees.

As winter fades to spring, she also looks forward to seeing grass and flowers start to sprout from the snow. She hopes others can experience the sense of adventure she finds while hiking in the cold.

“No bugs, cool, crisp, clean air to breathe, and animal tracks – to be out there and see tracks, and if you’re on snowshoes or if there isn’t much snow, to be able to follow them a little bit and see if there’s any other signs of the animal, it’s wonderful fun.”

The next group hike in Concord will take place on the Morono Park Trails on Saturday, March 29 at 9:30 a.m. Led by Peter Bartlett, the hike will be around two miles on a mostly flat road with points of interest including West Concord River Oxbow Pond, a mill site, and skunk cabbage, the earliest flower to bloom in the spring.

For more information on the group hikes and Concord’s network of trails, visit https://www.concordnh.gov/1033/Trails-Maps-and-Trails-Information.

Rachel Wachman can be reached at rwachman@cmonitor.com