Low temperatures and sheets of soft white snow are no reason to stay inside. Instead, take advantage of the chance to frolic in the cold and get your cheeks good and ruddy when you explore the parks through winter sports. For a unique way to discover the parks, plan ahead and prep yourself for the trip, then strap on a pair of snowshoes and take a hike! Below are 7 parks located across the country that welcome snowshoe-ers to experience the majesty of the winter season in the great outdoors,
Crater Lake National Park is no stranger to visitors snowshoeing. The park offers snowshoeing hikes each weekend in the winter, providing the perfect setting, considering that it receives about 43 feet of snow each year! The two-hour walk veers off trail for a 1-2 mile lesson about the park’s plants, animals, and people.
Forget sand dunes and think about snow dunes! Beginning the first week of January, tag along with a park ranger each Saturday to explore Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in a whole new way. You’ll first drive from the visitor center to a trailhead, then heading out on an exploration of the park, learning facts about some of its unique aspects as you snowshoe for 1.5 miles.
Last time you thought about snowshoeing, did you picture New Mexico? Well, it’s possible at Valles Caldera National Preserve. Most trails are left unplowed in the winter, but a couple of poles and a pair of snowshoes below your boots will allow you to explore the wintery wonderland, just as you would on a hike. Remember to wear waterproof pants to stay dry, and if you don’t already own snowshoes, stop by the Valle Grande Bookstore, where there is a limited number of snowshoes and poles for rent.
This Retro WON first appeared January 26, 2018.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
