Lifestyle

Photo Journal: A Winter Beach Walk

January 31, 2025

The beach and beach grass covered in snow.

A photo journal of the coastal landscape in January in the Northeast.

January brought numerous snowstorms, and I couldn’t keep myself from taking a winter beach walk despite how cold it was. Blanketed in snow, the beach is peaceful and also mysterious. It felt so far from summer days, but also served as a quiet reminder that the ocean’s beauty doesn’t depend on warmth or summer crowds. The beach is beautiful in all seasons.

Despite the below-freezing temperatures, I bundled up and headed down the path to the beach, trudging through the snow. But I wasn’t the first one to step onto the beach after the storm, for in front of me was a collection of deer prints — signs of life across the vacant landscape.

It was so cold that the water had frozen in the more shallow areas, and waves were freezing as they lapped the shore. With the wind chill, the temperature must’ve felt in the single digits. Despite my hands going numb, I was able to snap some photos with the help of touchscreen gloves. The beach in winter feels both familiar and unexpected.

Here are some snapshots from a winter beach walk that I took after a snowstorm in January.

Winter beach walk photos

1. My first view of the beach as I reached the top of the beach path. The sea looked extra blue against the snow.

Looking across icy water to a snow-covered beach area.

2. Looking across the frozen water of a more shallow inlet to a snow-covered beach. The water is frozen in a beautiful blue.

3. A close-up of more icy frozen water. I can’t remember the last time that I saw the water freeze like this.

Related: How to Make the Most of Winter When You’re a Summer Person

The beach shoreline with snow and frozen waves.

4. It was so cool to see the waves freezing as they reached the snow on the beach. The tide was coming in.

5. It was interesting to see how the snow had gathered on the beach grass.

Related: Best of Beachcombing: My Favorite Shells, Sea Glass, and Beach Pottery Finds

Winter at the beach is something that most people don’t have the opportunity to see. Unless you live near the coast, chances are you aren’t making a trip to the beach during the winter months, instead visiting during the warm summer months when you can enjoy the best of what the beach has to offer.

There’s beauty to be found at the beach any time of year, including in the middle of January after a snowstorm. Although almost guaranteed to be empty, the beach in winter shows us that there is still life and movement all around. With deer tracks in the snow, seagulls flying overhead, and the never-ending coming and going of the waves, it almost feels as if this quiet season allows the coastline to restore itself after working so hard to bring us joy during the rest of the year.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my winter beach walk photo journal and that it offers a new perspective and appreciation for the coastal landscape during the coldest season.

All photos in this blog post are my original photography. Feel free to repost them uncropped, but please credit me with a link back to this blog. Thank you!

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