Snowshoeing in Colorado
Get eye-to-eye with nature this winter in Colorado, try snowshoeing! They access any place with ample snow that has trails, or make your own trail. Walk (or run for a full-body cardio workout) through quiet forests and experience the solitude of this solo or group activity. Guided snowshoe tours are available at many resorts. Half-day and full-day trips are offered, and snowshoe rentals often come with poles and trail maps. Some resorts offer full-moon or starlight snowshoe tours throughout the season. View more tips in our Snowshoeing in Colorado guide.
Get ready to Snowshoe
If you are new to snow, snowshoeing is one of the easiest ways to acquaint yourself with snow. It is a very natural parallel body movement, just like walking. However, don’t be fooled. Snowshoeing is physically demanding and requires proper gear for your planned outing. Getting the right gear will make your excursion fun.
Along with selecting the snowshoes that will work best for you, using poles is popular as they will help with balance. Dress for the occasion as well. Snowshoeing is an aerobic sport, so dress in layers and consider bringing a backpack to stash extra clothes once you heat up. Bringing water and snacks is a good idea too.
Small Snowshoes
Snowshoes that have a small surface area are the easiest to get used to. They are lightweight and don’t extend that far in front of or behind your boot. This smaller diameter enables a more natural stride, whereas a larger snowshoe requires a more animated stride. You have to learn to pick up your feet to allow the snowshoe to clear the snow, so you don’t trip or catch the snowshoe. These small surface area snowshoes are best used on packed trails. As they will sink in deep snow, they will prove to be useless. They are popular when used for snowshoe running. However, snowshoe running is best on packed trails.
Larger Snowshoes 
Snowshoeing can go wherever there is snow; no trail is needed, however, if you’re heading out into deep, untracked snow. Untracked means no person has previously stomped in a trail. Then, it would be best if you were prepared with snowshoes with a larger surface area. The larger the snowshoe, the more they will “float” or stay on top of the snow. However, staying on top of the snow sounds like a wonderful idea. Snowshoeing through deep powder without a trail beaten in requires a great deal of effort and coordination. Trudging through fresh snow offers a lot of resistance, plus you have to be good at placing your snowshoe and balancing on it with each step. If you plan on going a distance, it’s best to have at least one or two people along so you can take turns breaking the new trail. That being said, it sounds like a lot of work, which it is. Breaking in your own trail offers a very pristine experience, not commonly found.
Old Snowshoes
Perhaps you want to try out snowshoeing, and a friend offers you a pair of old rawhide snowshoes with leather buckle straps. Honestly, these old snowshoes are best used as wall hangers. Renting snowshoes is really inexpensive. Don’t waste your time trying to make old snowshoes work. It’s best just to go rent the most modern snowshoes you can find.
Looking for another way to hit the trails this winter and get your heart pumping? Nordic or cross-country skiing is also another popular winter alternative to alpine skiing.
by Kathleen Fitzsimmons – Blogger and SEO writer for ColoradoInfo.com. Kathleen is a passionate Colorado resident who enjoys the many aspects the Centennial State has to offer, from the outdoor extremes to the eclectic people who make up the Colorado communities.
