Snowshoeing: How to Choose a Route and Get Started Safely

Snowshoeing: How to Get Started

Snowshoes spread your weight over a larger area, so your feet sink less into soft snow. But walking can still be challenging: snow varies in depth and firmness, and every step means lifting and moving extra gear. For your first outing, the goal isn’t to cover a long distance—it’s to get comfortable and be able to turn back while you still have plenty of energy.

Snowshoes are especially useful where boots would sink into fairly deep, soft snow. On a packed trail or ice, they may be awkward: on ice, good traction usually matters more than a wide platform. Check what’s needed on your specific route and what its organizers recommend.

Choose Snowshoes and Boots

For your first outing, renting snowshoes is a convenient option: you can check how the bindings fit and see whether you enjoy the activity before buying gear. Choose the size based on more than foot length. Manufacturers usually specify a weight range; account for your body weight, winter clothing, and backpack. The deeper or softer the snow, the more important it is for the model to keep you on the surface, but always check the sizing chart for the specific model.

• Try the snowshoes on with the winter boots you plan to wear: the bindings should hold your boots securely without pressing on them.
• Check how easy it is to tighten and undo the bindings while wearing gloves.
• For uneven routes, look for traction underneath and a heel lift, if the model has one.
• Find out where and how snowshoes can be used: you generally shouldn’t walk in the ski tracks on ski trails.
• Bring poles if you need extra support or expect uneven terrain; they aren’t essential on a familiar, flat route.

These figures describe a specific laboratory protocol: they don’t indicate a recommended walk length or prove that snowshoes reduce the risk of injury. To start, take a slightly wider step than usual so the platforms don’t catch on each other, but don’t spread your legs too far apart. Poles can help you keep your balance, but they’re no substitute for choosing a suitable route and staying alert.

Choose a Route Without Unnecessary Surprises

For your first outing, look for a gentle, familiar trail or a route that people regularly use in winter and that has up-to-date information about snow conditions. A loop or an out-and-back route with a clear turnaround point works well. Don’t rely on a summer map alone: snow can hide trails and landmarks, while soft snow can slow you down considerably. Consider not just distance, but also elevation gain, the forecast, daylight hours, and how quickly you can get back.

If your route is in the mountains, check the local avalanche forecast and the guidance from the park or trail authority. Knowing how to snowshoe doesn’t mean you know how to assess avalanche risk. As a beginner, it’s wiser to choose a route outside avalanche terrain than to cross a steep slope or travel beneath one. National park staff also remind visitors to check winter conditions and be prepared to turn back.

1. Before setting out, check the weather forecast, trail conditions, warnings, and sunset time.
2. Tell someone close to you where you’re going and when you expect to return.
3. Save an offline map of your route and don’t count on having cell service.
4. Bring a charged phone, water, a small snack, spare gloves, and a headlamp.
5. Don’t assume other people’s tracks mean a route is safe: they may lead the wrong way or into a dangerous area.

If you’re new to winter walking, you may also find our beginner’s hiking guide useful. For more on how clothing and conditions affect a winter walk, read our article about walking in cold weather.

In deep snow, the distance on a map doesn’t tell the whole story: how firm the snow is and how far you sink also affect the effort of every step.

Dress in Layers and Stay Dry

Walking generates heat, while wind, snow, and sweat can quickly change how you feel. It’s more comfortable to wear several layers you can adjust than to rely on one very warm jacket. Start your walk without feeling overheated; if you get too warm, unzip vents or remove a layer before your clothes become damp with sweat.

• The base layer wicks moisture away from your skin; cotton isn’t the best choice because wet fabric stays damp for a long time.
• The middle layer keeps you warm. Choose its thickness based on the forecast, your pace, and how sensitive you are to cold.
• The outer layer protects you from wind and precipitation while, if possible, letting excess heat escape.
• Wear warm socks and waterproof boots that fit your bindings. Gaiters help keep snow out.
• Cover your ears, fingers, and face as needed for the weather; bring spare gloves and dry socks.

Your clothing should not only keep you warm but also be easy to adjust: you may sweat on a climb and cool down quickly when you stop. Bring a layer that’s easy to put on during a break. In cold weather, remember to drink and have a snack, too: you may feel less thirsty in winter, but you still need water.

Pace, Climbs, and Breaks

Start more slowly than you think you need to. Aim for a pace at which you can speak in short sentences without getting noticeably out of breath. This is a practical way to avoid setting off too fast, when the cold and excitement can mask fatigue. If the snow gets deeper, your steps feel heavier, or you find yourself stopping often, slow down or shorten your route.

• On flat ground, place your feet securely and don’t try to take long strides.
• On a gentle climb, shorten your steps and use poles for extra support if you know how to use them.
• Don’t speed up to stay on schedule: stop if your breathing becomes labored or your legs start to feel noticeably tired.
• On a descent, take short, controlled steps; don’t shift your weight suddenly or try to catch up with a companion.
• Take short breaks before you’re completely exhausted. When you stop, quickly add a warm layer if you feel yourself cooling down.

Allow extra time for your walk: after snowfall or on soft ground, you may make slower progress than expected. Don’t judge a route by mileage alone or try to finish it at any cost. If you’re walking in a group, match the pace of the slowest person and agree in advance how often you’ll check in with one another.

When to Stop and Turn Back

It’s normal to get tired, sweat, or feel that walking has become more difficult. But don’t try to “push through” signs of dangerous cold exposure. Intense or persistent shivering, unusual fatigue, confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech, and clumsy movements mean you should stop exerting yourself immediately and start warming up. If this happens to you or a companion, seek shelter and get medical help if symptoms are serious or persist.

• Stop and check your face, fingers, and toes: numbness, unusual paleness, or white or waxy-looking skin are warning signs.
• If your clothes are wet, try to get to shelter and change into dry clothes.
• Warm the person gradually in a warm place; don’t leave them alone if you suspect hypothermia.
• Don’t rub areas that may have frostbite or warm them over an open fire or with a very hot source of heat.
• Call for emergency help if there’s confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, or a worsening condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Main Thing Is to Save Some Energy

Your first snowshoe walk will be a success not because you went as far as possible, but because you chose suitable conditions and returned without rushing. Check your bindings, start with an easy route, adjust your layers and pace, and turn back if the weather or how you feel worsens. That way, you’ll still have the energy—and the desire—to go out again.

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