Do you get sunburned hiking in snow more easily than on a summer trail? Often yes, and the reason is that the light arrives from below as well as above. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that snow, water and sand can reflect ultraviolet radiation, increasing potential exposure.
That changes which parts of you burn. The underside of the chin, the nostrils and the inside of the ears are the places people find out about afterward.
Cold is the other half of the problem, because it removes the sensation that normally prompts sunscreen.
Safety Disclaimer
This article is general information for hikers and is not medical advice. Sunburn and corneal sunburn are injuries. Severe or blistering burns, and eye pain or vision changes after snow exposure, need medical attention. Sun protection needs vary with skin type, medication and altitude.
Quick Answer
Yes, and reflected light means you burn in places direct sun never reaches. Cover and apply sunscreen to the underside of the chin, the nose, the ears and the lips, and wear eye protection, because the CDC states that snow blindness can occur when ultraviolet radiation reflected off snow nearly doubles the amount reaching the eyes.
Key Takeaways
- Snow reflects ultraviolet radiation back up at you.
- The burn lands in places shade normally protects.
- Altitude raises intensity on top of reflection.
- Cold weather removes the usual prompt to apply sunscreen.
- Eyes are at genuine risk, not just skin.
- Lips burn and are routinely forgotten.
- Cloud cover does not remove the need.
| Area | Why reflection reaches it | Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Under the chin | Faces directly down at the snow | Sunscreen, neck gaiter |
| Nostrils and under the nose | Angled toward the ground | Sunscreen, reapplied |
| Inside the ears | Open and upward facing | Hat with coverage, sunscreen |
| Lips | No melanin, constantly exposed | Lip balm with sun protection |
| Eyes | Reflected light bypasses the brow | Wrap-around glasses or goggles |
| Cheeks and forehead | Direct plus reflected | Sunscreen, brim, balaclava |
| Backs of hands | Exposed when gloves come off | Sunscreen before you start |
Do You Get Sunburned Hiking in Snow More Than on Bare Ground?
Light comes from two directions
On bare ground most ultraviolet radiation arrives from above and your brow, nose and chin shade what sits beneath them. Snow removes that advantage by bouncing light upward.
The reflection is substantial
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that snow, water and sand can reflect ultraviolet radiation, thereby increasing potential exposure to it. The Environmental Protection Agency puts the same point as water, snow and sand reflecting the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.
Altitude stacks on top
The CDC describes ultraviolet B as most intense during the middle of the day, at higher elevations, and closer to the equator. A snowy route at elevation combines two of those three.
Fresh snow is the worst case
Clean new snow is a far better reflector than old gray snow or a packed trail. A bright morning after a fall is the highest exposure day of the winter.
Our roundup of sunscreen for hiking covers what to carry.
Snow Blindness Is a Real Injury
This is the part people treat as folklore, and it is not. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes intense ultraviolet B exposure, even over several hours, as able to cause corneal sunburn, also called photokeratitis or snow blindness, and calls it an exquisitely painful condition.
The mechanism is the same reflection that burns your chin. The CDC states that snow blindness can occur when ultraviolet radiation reflected off snow nearly doubles the amount of ultraviolet B reaching the eyes.
The delay is what catches people. Symptoms typically appear hours after the exposure, often that evening, long after the hike has ended and the cause is no longer obvious.
For eye protection the CDC describes choosing sunglasses with polarized lenses rated UV 400 that meet the ANSI Z80.3 standard, which block nearly all damaging ultraviolet radiation, and describes wrap-around styles as offering the best protection.
Our roundup of winter hiking goggles and eye protection covers goggles for the same job, and our roundup of sunglasses for hiking covers the lens standards.
Do You Get Sunburned Hiking in Snow on an Overcast Day?
You can, and this is where most winter burns happen. Cloud reduces ultraviolet radiation without blocking it.
Flat light is deceptive because it feels benign. There is no glare and no warmth on your face, so nothing prompts you to reach for sunscreen.
The reflection continues regardless of cloud. Snow underfoot is still bouncing light upward on a gray day.
The EPA advises reapplying sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating. Sweating under winter layers is the version of that which applies here.
Why Cold Weather Makes People Skip It
Sunscreen is a summer habit, and winter removes every cue that triggers it. There is no heat on your skin and no sweat running into your eyes.
Layers hide the problem too. You are covered almost everywhere, so the small amount of exposed skin feels like it does not warrant the bother.
That small area is exactly the area receiving double exposure. Concentration rather than coverage is what makes a winter burn surprising.
Application is also harder in cold. Sunscreen thickens, gloves come off, and the whole job gets rushed, which is an argument for applying it before you leave the car.
The EPA advises generously applying about one ounce of sunscreen to cover all exposed skin fifteen minutes before going outside, with a sun protection factor of at least 15.
A Winter Sun Routine
- Apply before you leave. Indoors, warm, unhurried.
- Work upward as well as down. Under the chin, under the nose, into the ears.
- Do the lips separately. Balm with sun protection, reapplied often.
- Put eye protection on at the trailhead. Not once the glare annoys you.
- Carry a spare pair. Losing glasses on a snow route is a real problem.
- Reapply every couple of hours. Cloud does not exempt you.
- Do the backs of your hands. Gloves come off repeatedly.
The spare eyewear point is worth taking seriously on a long snow day. A broken or dropped pair converts a comfortable route into hours of unprotected exposure with no way to fix it.
A brimmed hat does less here than in summer, because a brim shades from above and the problem is from below. Our roundup of hiking hats for sun protection covers coverage patterns, and our roundup of balaclavas and face protection covers the fabric answer, which handles wind and sun at once.
If You Burn Anyway
Ordinary sunburn care applies, and the winter version is often on the face where it is hard to ignore. Get out of the light, cool the skin and keep it moisturized.
Eye symptoms are the ones to take seriously rather than wait out. Pain, grittiness, watering or light sensitivity after a bright snow day points at corneal sunburn, which the CDC describes as exquisitely painful.
Blistering, a burn over a large area, or any vision change needs medical attention. Our roundup of hiking first aid kits covers what helps in the meantime.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you get sunburned hiking in snow?
Yes, and often more easily than on bare ground. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that snow, water and sand can reflect ultraviolet radiation, increasing potential exposure, which means light reaches the underside of your chin, your nostrils and your ears where shade normally protects you.
Which spots do people miss?
The ones that face downward. Under the chin, beneath the nose, inside the ears and the lips, because those are shaded from direct sun and fully exposed to reflection off the snow.
Is snow blindness a real thing?
It is. The CDC describes intense ultraviolet B exposure, even over several hours, as able to cause corneal sunburn, also called photokeratitis or snow blindness, and calls it an exquisitely painful condition.
How much does snow increase eye exposure?
The CDC states that snow blindness can occur when ultraviolet radiation reflected off snow nearly doubles the amount of ultraviolet B reaching the eyes.
What sunglasses should I use on snow?
The CDC describes selecting sunglasses with polarized lenses rated UV 400 that meet the ANSI Z80.3 standard, which block nearly all damaging ultraviolet radiation, and describes wrap-around styles as offering the best protection against direct and reflected light.
Do I need sunscreen on a cloudy winter day?
Yes. Cloud reduces ultraviolet radiation without removing it, the snow keeps reflecting regardless, and the EPA advises reapplying every two hours even on cloudy days and after sweating.
Does altitude make it worse?
It does. The CDC describes ultraviolet B as most intense in the middle of the day, at higher elevations and closer to the equator, so a snowy high route combines reflection with greater intensity.
When should I see a doctor?
For blistering, a burn across a large area, or any eye pain, grittiness, watering, light sensitivity or vision change after a bright day on snow. Corneal sunburn symptoms often appear hours later, so do not assume a delay means it is unrelated.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sun Exposure in Travelers, CDC Yellow Book.
- Environmental Protection Agency. Sun Safety Tips.
