Off season public lands.

As a trout fisherman and hiker it is seldom better than the off season to get into the back-country and explore new trails and fish new streams. To leave the crowds and gimmicks of seasonal trap towns behind, as the water parks and go cart tracks finally run silent on the roadside. Fair-weather campers and their multicolored inner tubes wont be barreling down your favorite trout stream for months to come. Most trail heads you pull into will be empty and most streams will feel as if they are yours alone. Let the natural sounds of rivers and winds consume you. Forget the generators, crowds, and constant noise of progress. While daylight may be limited, its as if time stands still (or at least slows down) take lunch when you want, sleep in or beat the birds its up to you. Wind down your days with the warmth of a campfire, maybe a good book, a glass of bourbon and the wonder of a clear night sky. All its stars that elude you on any city night filling in the gaps around the few bright ones you know that always show through the smog. 

While this solitude can be very rewarding, without a little planning and preparation you can go from a John Muir moment, to the Donner party without ever realizing what went wrong.

The first thing to remember is that most federal lands draw down resources in the winter, so for the most part you will be on your own. Most Forest service, and National park campgrounds, bathroom facilities, snack shacks, and gift shops will be closed! You will be left to your own facilities. Most of the federally managed land is still accessible for back-country camping as long as you are 300 to 500 ft off the roadways.(always check the rules where you are.) Plus many state and private campgrounds stay open year round but may also have limited amenities. 

The weather and road conditions can change rapidly in the off season and they are more likely to shut down a trail system or road gate during this time. 

Surrounding areas are not guaranteed to be of much help, many rural stores will close seasonally when the parks draw down. Make sure to stock up on your way in, with plenty of water and supplies. 

Always be sure to tell someone where you are headed, leave a plan behind of where you will be.

Consult the national parks/ state parks/ or government lands websites you plan to visit, as they are pretty quick to list any road or area closures as well as environmental hazards, you may encounter.

If you want to experience the woods like Walden, do a little research, stock up on the right provisions, and come up with a solid plan, you can explore like Daniel Boone. Rise with the birds, run with the wind, and rediscover what made America so great in the first place.