Snowshoe in Minnesota

Get out and snowshoe in Minnesota winter. Snowshoeing is not much more difficult than walking. It is a wonderful, low impact, winter sport that will get you out into our state parks and recreation areas to enjoy them in this season. Some nature centers in Minnesota have snowshoes that you can rent.

Snowshoes help you walk in snowy places...winter places you might not otherwise be able to explore.

Snowshoeing is basically a forward shuffle lifting one foot at a time. Anyone from young children to senior citizens can easily learn to snowshoe. It is a wonderful low-impact activity.

There are many types of snowshoes available for all ages and for the specific terrain you want to explore.

Make Your Own Snowshoes

Some of our family members have learned how to make snowshoes the old-fashioned way....from materials found in the woods and instructions passed on from older family members.

These traditional snowshoes become family heirlooms that are passed down through the generations.

If you are not interested in making your own snowshoes, there are many places to buy snowshoes, both traditional, wooden snowshoes and high tech modern snowshoes. All of them will get you out to trek the beautiful Minnesota woods and fields.

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Some Basic Information on
How To Snowshoe in Minnesota

Snowshoeing is a sport that you can enjoy your first time out. It has an easy "learning curve" and you can do it at your own pace. Some tips to get you started:

• Before your first snowshoeing trek, take a few minutes to become familiar with your snowshoes and their bindings. Ensure that you have the proper fit.
• The ball of your foot should be over the top of the hinge and centered on the snowshoe. Your toes should hang over the front of the foot bed.
• Tighten the straps...they don't need to be extremely tight, just snug.
• Tighten the front strap first, then the heel strap and, last, tighten the strap over your instep.

Where to Snowshoe in Minnesota

Snowshoe in Minnesota State Parks. Most state parks allow snowshoeing within the park; visiting in winter is a new way to experience these beautiful places. One example is Grand Portage State Park which offers an easy winter hike to the High Falls. Snowshoe any of the North Shore, or other, state parks just remembering to avoid the groomed ski and snowmobile trails.

The Gunflint Trail, Minnesota National Forests, the BWCA are all amazing places to explore on snowshoes. Here are a few other great snowshoeing areas:

• Right in the heart of the Twin Cities you can snowshoe at Fort Snelling State Park and, just a few minutes from the cities, William O'Brien State Park offer wonderful snowshoeing opportunities. Just choose a spot that is away from the groomed ski trails.
• Wild River State Park along the Saint Croix River has 1.5 miles of snowshoe trails. Don't miss the River Trail where you may have an opportunity to view trumpeter swans wintering along the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.
• Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, located near Onamia, allows snowshoeing anywhere in the park and, as well, along 7 miles of maintained snowshoe trails.

If you are not near any of these Minnesota recreation areas, strap on your snowshoes and trek through a city park, a woodland trail, a farm field...any place that gets you out to see the beauty of winter in Minnesota.

More Winter Sports Links:

Traditional Snowshoes

How to Make Snowshoes

Minnesota Cross-Country Skiing

Cross-Country Skiing Basics

How to Ice Skate

More About Learning to Ice Skate

Ice Fishing in Minnesota

Snowmobiling in Minnesota

Skijoring in Minnesota

Minnesota Ski Resorts

Minnesota Winter Activities

List of Winter Sports

Back to Minnesota Winter

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Boundary Waters Maps

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