Snowshoeing
Rented snowshoes, warm layers and a marked winter trail. If you can walk, you can snowshoe; the first outing is a walk in the woods with wider feet.
What it is like
Snowshoeing is winter walking. Snowshoes spread your weight over a much bigger footprint, so instead of sinking to the knee in soft snow you walk on top of it, through quiet woods and across open fields that would be impossible in boots alone. A first outing needs no lesson: strap the bindings around your winter boots, widen your stance a little and walk.
It is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to enjoy winter outdoors. Nordic centers and many parks rent snowshoes by the day, and some national parks run ranger-led walks that lend them for free. There are no lifts and no special skills, just a trail, layers and the snow.
Progress is about distance and terrain rather than technique: longer walks, steeper climbs, poles, a pair of your own, and for some people winter camping or trips beyond marked trails.
The things to respect are the cold, the short days and, away from marked trails, avalanche terrain. On groomed trails, snowshoers also have one simple rule: keep off the ski tracks.
- A session
- An hour or two on a trail, a half day with a picnic.
- A week
- A weekend walk while the snow lasts.
- Season
- Winter, when there is snow on the ground.
Outdoors · Solo, For two, With kids, A club
Kinds and styles
Walking marked winter trails in woods and parks; where most people start.
Guided walks in national parks, sometimes with loaned snowshoes.
Longer trips on unmarked snow, with navigation and avalanche awareness.
Light, narrow snowshoes for winter running and races.
Wooden frames laced with rawhide, still made and valued for the craft.
Is it for you?
You will probably love it if
- You enjoy walking and want to keep doing it when the snow comes
- You like quiet winter woods more than speed
- You want the cheapest way into winter outdoors
Maybe not, if
- There is little snow where you live
- You want a sport with a clear skill to master
- Cold hands and feet put you off
What to buy first
- 01Snowshoe rental for a dayTry the right size and type before buying$19
- Everything you need to beginAbout $30 a month after that$19
Typical US prices for entry-level gear, rounded. Last checked October 2026. How we get the numbers
What to buy next
- 01Trekking poles with snow basketsBalance on slopes and in deep snowFind it on Amazon First outings
- 02GaitersKeep snow out of your bootsFind it on Amazon Deep snow
- 03Waterproof winter bootsWarm, dry feet; Crater Lake asked walkers for water-resistant footwearFind it on Amazon First winter
- 04Your own snowshoesA pair sized for your weight and the snow you walk onFind it on Amazon After a season of rentals
No prices here on purpose: these are later buys, and what to spend depends on how far the hobby has taken you. The Amazon links work like the ones above: a search for the type of item, and a possible commission for us at no extra cost to you.
From the rental counter to a winter loop, step by step
Snowshoes are thought to be 4,000 to 6,000 years old (Wikipedia), and they still work the same way, by spreading your weight so you walk on top of the snow. This guide goes from renting a pair and dressing for winter to walking, climbing and coming down, with the trail rules the National Park Service posts.
Warning: Before you start Snowshoeing is walking, but in winter. Wet clothing chills you fast once you stop: the CDC notes that hypothermia can happen above 40°F if you are wet from sweat or rain, and that shivering, exhaustion, confusion and fumbling hands are warning signs. Dress in layers, carry water, food and a dry layer, and tell someone your route (National Park Service's Ten Essentials). Stay on marked trails; steep, open slopes in the backcountry can avalanche, so check the forecast at avalanche.org and do not go into avalanche terrain without training and rescue gear. On groomed trails, keep off the ski tracks (National Park Service).
Nordic centers and some parks rent snowshoes; two examples: East Fork Mink Creek Nordic Center in Pocatello, $8 a day, and Frisco Nordic Center in Colorado, $30.
Some national parks lend snowshoes for free on ranger-guided walks; Crater Lake's needed no experience, for ages 8 and up.
Warm, water-resistant boots and several thin layers you can open as you warm up.
Fasten the bindings around your boots, then walk with a slightly wider stance than usual so the frames do not knock.
Stay on marked trails, keep beside any ski tracks rather than on them, and turn back before you are tired.
A modern snowshoe from above
From above: the frame and decking spread your weight; the boot sits in the binding over the pivot, with the crampon cleats under the ball of the foot.
- A Cleats Under the foot Kick in on climbs. Step 5 →
- B Binding Boot straps Tight, no twisting. Step 3 →
- C Frame Metal or plastic The rim of the shoe. Step 2 →
- D Decking Spreads weight Keeps you on top. Step 2 →
Steps 1-2Before the snow
- Step 1 of 7 · Before the snow
Choose where to go
Nordic centers, state and county parks and some national parks have marked snowshoe trails. Some parks run ranger-led walks with loaned snowshoes; at Crater Lake they were free, for ages 8 and up, with no experience needed.
Most people: ranger-led walk (first time).
Start here Ranger-led walkBest forFirst time
A guide, a set route and sometimes free snowshoes.
Nordic center trailsBest forOn your own
Marked loops, rentals and a warm building.
BackcountryBest forNot for a first go
Unmarked routes and possible avalanche terrain.
Not for a first try - Step 2 of 7 · Before the snow
Rent and dress
Rent snowshoes sized for your weight, and wear warm, water-resistant boots, thin wool or synthetic layers, a hat and gloves. Carry water, food and a dry layer.
Goes wrong: Cotton. It holds sweat and gets cold when you stop.
Steps 3-6On the trail
- Step 3 of 7 · On the trail
Fasten the bindings
Set your boot in the binding with the ball of the foot over the pivot, tighten the straps over the toe and around the heel, and check the boot does not twist.
- Step 4 of 7 · On the trail
Walk with a wider stance
Walk naturally but with feet a little further apart, so the frames do not knock together. Poles help with balance.
Goes wrong: Clipping one snowshoe with the other. Widen your stance.
- Step 5 of 7 · On the trail
Climb and come down
Warning: CAUTION Steep, icy or exposed slopes are not for a first outing; turn back or go around.
On climbs, take shorter steps and kick the cleats under your foot into the slope; pivot bindings let the toes drop below the deck for this (Wikipedia). On the way down, keep your weight back a little and your knees soft.
- Step 6 of 7 · On the trail
Share the trail
On groomed trails, walk beside the classic ski tracks, never in them, and step aside to the right to let skate skiers pass (National Park Service).
Step 7Keep going
- Step 7 of 7 · Keep going
Go further, safely
Warning: WARNING Avalanches can start on open slopes and in gullies. Do not enter avalanche terrain without training, a partner and rescue gear.
Build up to longer walks, and before any trip beyond marked trails check the avalanche forecast and learn avalanche safety (avalanche.org).
In shortIf it goes wrong
- Cotton.
- Step 2 · Rent and dress
- Clipping one snowshoe with the other.
- Step 4 · Walk with a wider stance
How you get better
- Day 1A short marked loop
Rented snowshoes or a ranger-led walk on easy trails.
- First winterLonger walks
Half-day outings, poles, and your own boots sorted.
- Second winterYour own snowshoes
A pair sized for your weight and terrain.
- After thatYour own direction
Backcountry trips with avalanche training, snowshoe races or winter camping.
- Choosing the right size of snowshoe
- Fastening bindings
- Walking with a wider stance
- Kicking the cleats in on climbs
- Coming down slopes
- Turning in a wide arc
- Breaking trail in fresh snow
- Using poles
- Layering for winter
- Reading a trail map
Small things that help
- Rent before you buy, and ask what size suits your weight.
- Walk with your feet a little wider apart than usual.
- Take shorter steps when climbing.
- Keep off the ski tracks on groomed trails.
- Start cool; you warm up within minutes.
- Carry water; cold air dries you out.
Beginner mistakes
- 01Stepping on your own framesA normal narrow stance makes the snowshoes clip each other. Widen your stance a little.
- 02Walking in the ski tracksSnowshoe prints ruin the classic tracks for skiers. Walk beside them (National Park Service).
- 03OverdressingA heavy jacket soaks with sweat on the first climb. Wear thin layers.
- 04Loose bindingsA boot that twists in the binding wastes effort and rubs. Tighten the straps.
- 05Heading out lateWinter days are short. Plan to be back well before dark.
Sharing groomed trails
From the National Park Service's winter trail etiquette for Valles Caldera; other areas post their own rules.
| Where | What snowshoers do |
|---|---|
| Classic ski tracks | Stay off them; they are for classic skis only |
| Groomed trail | Walk on the groomed lane beside the tracks |
| Skate skier coming | Step aside to the right to let them pass |
| On foot without snowshoes | Never walk on groomed trails or tracks |
Why people quit
- 01Cold, wet feetOrdinary trainers soak through. Water-resistant boots and warm socks make the walk.
- 02Too far, too soonSnowshoeing in deep snow is harder work than walking. Start short.
- 03No snow nearbyA season depends on snow. Watch the trail reports and go when it falls.
Words you will meet
- Frame
- The outer rim of the snowshoe, wood on traditional pairs, metal or plastic on modern ones.
- Decking
- The surface stretched across the frame that keeps you on top of the snow.
- Binding
- The straps that hold your boot to the snowshoe.
- Crampon cleats
- Metal teeth under the foot that you kick into a slope for grip; entry-level ones grip little on ice (Wikipedia).
- Flotation
- How well a snowshoe keeps you on top of soft snow.
- Bearpaw
- A traditional snowshoe with a rounded heel instead of a tail.
- Breaking trail
- Walking first through fresh, unpacked snow.
Questions people ask
Is snowshoeing hard?
If you can walk, you can snowshoe; Crater Lake's ranger-led walks needed no previous experience. Deep, fresh snow is harder work than packed trails.
What size of snowshoe do I need?
Bigger snowshoes spread your weight over more snow. Ask the rental shop for a size that suits your weight and the snow you will walk on.
What do I wear on my feet?
Warm, water-resistant boots; the bindings strap around ordinary winter boots.
Can I snowshoe on ski trails?
Only where it is allowed, and then beside the ski tracks, not in them (National Park Service).
Is it a good winter activity for children?
Many families snowshoe together; Crater Lake's ranger-led walks took children from age 8.
Where to go next
- 01Cross-country skiingFaster travel on the same winter trails, gliding instead of walking. $87 to start
- 02BackpackingLonger trips on foot once the snow melts. $660 to start
How it compares
| Snowshoeing | Cross-country skiing | Backpacking | Birdwatching | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start cost | $19 | $87 | $660 | $161 |
| Each month | $30 | $90 | $10 | Free |
| Space | Snowy trails | Groomed snow trails | Trails, and a closet for gear | Anywhere outside |
| Noise | Quiet | Quiet | Quiet | Quiet |
| First result | 1 walk | 1 day for the first loop | 1 weekend | Same day |
| Mess | Wet boots to dry | Wet layers to dry | None | None |
Where to learn more
- 01National Park Service: Ten EssentialsWhat to carry on any outing in a park, winter included.
- 02National Park Service: winter trail etiquetteWhere snowshoers walk on groomed trails.
- 03avalanche.orgUS avalanche forecasts, before any trip beyond marked trails.
Sources: National Park Service, Crater Lake: ranger-led snowshoe walks (2024) · National Park Service, Winter trail etiquette (Valles Caldera) · National Park Service, Ten Essentials · City of Pocatello, East Fork Mink Creek Nordic Center fees and rentals · Town of Frisco, Frisco Nordic Center ski and snowshoe rentals · CDC, Preventing hypothermia · Wikipedia, Snowshoe
Researched and written by the Fjords Team.