5 Simple Ways to Enjoy Your Snowshoes This Winter

Snowshoeing is a great way for almost anyone to spend time outside in the winter. It’s easy to learn, simple to do and keeps you active when the snow starts to pile up. So grab your snowshoes and check out these five easy and fun ways to get out there!

A great place to start with your snowshoes is often somewhere you already know. Even the most familiar places can feel brand new in a different season. Whether it’s your yard, a local park, or a nearby land trust, snowshoes give you easier access to the spots you love when snow is on the ground.

One of the best parts of snowshoeing is the freedom snowshoes give you to explore places you’ve never been to before. That could be a new park, but it could also be a trail in a familiar place that only appears when there is enough snow on the ground. With enough snow, the world becomes wide open for you and your snowshoes. Activities like snowshoe geocaching can also help introduce you to places you haven’t explored yet.

Looking for more adventure? Try a full moon or starlight snowshoe tour with our Outdoor Discovery Programs, or discover snowshoeing trails in national parks with Find Your Park.

Ready for some laughs? Try playing your favorite summer games while wearing snowshoes! It could be as simple as a round of cornhole or as challenging as a game of soccer. Almost any game you play outside in the warmer months can be done in snowshoes. Try wiffle ball, badminton, or even hide-and-seek. You can also use snowshoes to pack down your favorite sledding routes.

There are many ways to learn more about nature with your snowshoes. Activities like birding are still very possible and can even be better without leaves to obstruct your view. Speaking of no leaves, can you identify a tree by just looking at its bark? How do you tell the difference between a maple and an oak? And after a fresh snowfall, heading into the woods can reveal different animal tracks. Do you know what made the tracks? Although it may seem quiet and peaceful, you’ll be amazed at how alive a forest really is in the winter.

It’s no secret snow can be used for building things like snowmen or igloos, but a fresh snowfall can also be the perfect blank canvas to create some unique snowshoe art. Try creating geometric patterns or drawing giant pictures by packing down the snow with your snowshoes. Let your imagination run wild, and then find a higher vantage point to look down on your creation.

Find the right gear with our Get Started Snowshoeing guide, learn basic techniques in our How to Snowshoe video, and browse our full selection of snowshoes and equipment.