Hi - We love to hike, kayak, snorkel and get away in the winter! The kayaking and snorkeling works for the Caribbean. We are now searching out hiking destinations for January through March. We don't need or want heat but trying to avoid snow.

So far I've found Joshua Tree National Park, Zion, Big Bend. Looking for other suggestions. Maybe state parks, too, as I don't know much about most of those.

Thanks for any info.
sue

Sue, I suggest Florida. I don't think any other state has as many state parks as Florida. Go to www.floridastateparks.org

I hike in Sedona at least twice every winter. Crisp and cool, and often by late morning I am peeling off the layers. It seldom snows in Sedona, only a dusting usually if it does (although this is not true for up in Oak Creek Canyon and Flagstaff).
Many many great hikes. Red Rock state park is there in west Sedona. But the red rock trails are all over Sedona and most are better than ones at that state park. If you go, get Richard and Sherry Mangum's book "Sedona Hikes" as your guide, get a red rock parking pass to park at the trailheads, and you will have a phenomenal time, regardless of your level of hiking. There are many easy, moderate, and strenuous hikes. If you want hike recommendations, post again.
Of the places you mentioned I've hiked in Utah at Zion and Bryce, and at Big Bend, but nothing matches Sedona for me. I just keep going back over and over again. I try other places and they are nice, but there's just something so special about hiking those red rocks, esp. the hikes where you hike by the intact Indian ruins in the cliffs.
Have you seen http://www.naturalbornhikers.com? Check it out.

and I am heading there next week to hike and I an counting the hours!!

My husband and I love to hike. We still talk about the most incredible hike we ever made (twice) to Last Chance Canyon (both legs). It is behind Sitting Bull Falls in the Guadalupe Mountains, the same mountain range that is home to Carlsbad Caverns. This is a mostly unmarked and untraveled trail but I was astounded at the diversity -- grottos, desert, a river bed, unbelievable rock canyons and arroyos, and Sitting Bull Falls. You could fit in Carlsbad Caverns on the same trip, if you've not been there. I also love Big Bend. Stay at the Grange Hotel. Is that the name? Old historic place. You can hear the distant train whistles in the quiet of the desert night.

Tandoori Girl, I did not know you were a hiker. Last Chance Canyon soudns great.
BTW- sueoz, if you go to Zion, try to hike in the Kolob Canyon section of the park as well as the main part of the park. Very different trails at Kolob. The Taylor Canyon trail was awesome, but I do not know if it sustained damage from the recent big floods.

Joshua Trees and Zion can get snow in those months. Not a lot, but didn't know if you wanted to avoid it totally. Zion is definitely a hikers paradise!

Big Bend and Death Valley should be good locations.

Utahtea

How about the Blue Ridge Parkway? Snow is over by early February usually and by March you should be seeing some wildflowers.

Thanks so much for the replies. Utahtea - We don't mind a little snow - just don't want to be stopped from hiking because of it. Just can't get enough of the wonderful hiking in this country!

Sue