MULLAN — Winter has a way of changing our landscape and making any outdoor excursion all the more an adventure. It also makes said excursions more difficult.

Stevens Lakes Trail, just west of our border with Montana, has intrigued me since I started hiking in North Idaho. It’s about 4.6 miles out-and-back and climbs about 1,650 feet in elevation gain — an enticing challenge even in ideal conditions.

The diversity of the landscape is what makes hiking in this particular valley so interesting. Before making it up to Lower Stevens Lake (which is larger and said to be more accessible than Upper Stevens Lake), the trail runs alongside a creek closely enough to offer ambient noise and waterfall views. Further up, you traverse across rockslide areas that provide dramatic views of the densely forested valley you’ve just climbed out of.

Of course, snow changes all of this. As of this past weekend, there is a few feet of snow blanketing Steven Lakes Trail — which isn’t to say you can’t get out there, but the phrase “know before you go” definitely comes to mind.

Despite there being very little snow on the ground on Interstate 90, National Forest Development Road 8008 leading to the trailhead is currently impassable by vehicles without high clearance — adding a little over a mile on each end of the hike if you choose to park at the end of the road and hike in. While this was certainly doable, the icy road conditions make for a slow and relatively anticlimactic climb.

Don’t get me wrong, this hike is breathtaking in the snow — but trekking uphill through at least 2 feet of snow can be brutal. Snowshoes are essential (and fun!) if you choose to head out there before spring.

Another thing to factor in when planning a hike this time of year is the value of daylight, and how little of it we have right now. The sunlight began to wane much too quickly on the trail, leading to the decision to turn around before making it to the lake itself.

Failing to summit is always a little disappointing, but it’s a good reminder that hiking is about the journey, not the destination. And it's great motivation to get out there and try again — perhaps when conditions are a bit better.