The Ultimate Snowshoeing Guide: Gear, Tips and Staying Warm

For many people, winter means the end of hiking for the year. But it doesn’t have to thanks to snowshoeing! Hiking in winter is absolutely magical, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t go prepared. There are many hikes I still haven’t done because I haven’t taken the proper preparedness courses myself, therefore it’s not a safe choice for me to venture to places that pose higher risk. I hope to help you learn how to safely go outside and what equipment you should plan to take with you.

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Snowshoeing Trail Etiquette

Winter hiking is similar to hiking any other time of the year. You should always practice proper trail etiquette. This means slower hikers should yield to faster hikers. Uphill hikers have the right of way so downhill hikers should step to the side and let them continue uphill unless they decide to stop for a break. Always be aware of your surroundings and make yourself known on trail. On top of normal trail etiquette there are a few extra rules to follow while snowshoeing.

• Never walk on ski trails. Cross country skiers and snowshoers often share the trails in winter months. Snowshoers should never walk on their tracks. Walks to the side if there are established tracks.

• Make sure walking on the correct trail. Most sno-parks have designated trails for snowshoers and cross country skiers. Read the trail signs and look for the diamond markers in the trees marking the snowshoe trail. It usually have the image of a snowshoer on them.

• Avoid designated sno-parks if you don’t have snowshoes. Hikers without snowshoes will posthole, where you leg falls through the snow. This causes large holes on the trail which can cause snowshoers to twist their ankle. Avoid designated sno-parks if you don’t have snowshoes and stick to regular hiking trails. Be respectful of your fellow hiker and do not ruin the trails for others if you do not have the proper equipment.

Snowshoes

Snowshoeing allows you to get to some amazing places you normally wouldn’t be able to in winter. The mountains are stunning in winter but they’re difficult to get to without snowshoes. They allow you to “float” on top of the snow instead of your foot sinking down into the snow. They disperse your weight so you can stay on top of the snow. Without them you will find yourself knee to waist deep in snow at times, which is not easy or enjoyable to hike through.

It’s important to read the specs of your snowshoes before purchasing. They’re designed for specific weights, so make sure you purchase the size needed for your weight or they won’t properly keep you above the snow. You can find this information in the description of the snowshoes. If you plan to carry a heavy pack, be sure to take that into consideration and add that to your overall weight.

There is always the option of purchasing an add-on extender if you are close to needing a different size or you want the option for when you carry a larger pack. These extenders allow you to adjust your weight as needed and attach right to your snowshoes to make them longer. I personally have never purchased one because my snowshoes allow me to carry a decent amount of weight in my pack still. If I wanted to winter backpack then I may need to purchase an extender someday, but for now I just day hike.

Three Types of Snowshoes

Snowshoes come in three types: Flat terrain, rolling terrain and mountain terrain. If you plan to stick to flat surfaces you don’t need to purchase a snowshoe that’s designed for the mountains. My snowshoes are from MSR and are mountain terrain snowshoes. I picked them for their weight, durability, grip on the underside and the heel lift.

A heel lift is an absolute must if you know you’ll be doing any hikes with elevation. They are a small metal piece that sits under the heel while you hike. If you hit a steep incline it can be elevated so the heel doesn’t have to fall as far. It basically levels your feet while on a steep hill, which makes such a huge difference and I would never purchase a shoe without them.

If you don’t need full mountain snowshoes but you still want a pair that can handle some elevation and has a heel lift, the MSR Evo snowshoe is a great option.

Gaiters

Because I find myself getting pretty warm hiking in the winter, I prefer to wear leggings with gaiters over them. If it is actively snowing, I will wear my soft shell pants because they are waterproof, but gaiters allow my legs to breathe better while still keeping me dry. While snowshoeing, the back to the snowshoes tent to kick up small amounts of snow onto the back of your legs. The gaiters keep your legs dry from the constant snow pelting them.

Sometimes while I’m snowshoeing and breaking trail, the powder will be so deep that I will sink knee deep or farther even with my snowshoes on. Having gaiters will keep my legs up to my knees dry while breaking trail.

MICROSPIKES

If you don’t have snowshoes, you can use microspikes. You should never wear microspikes on sno-park trails or the backcountry though. They are best for developed trails because you will post hole, where the leg sinks into the snow, in the backcountry and at sno-parks. Post holes are dangerous for snowshoers because it ruins the trail and makes it more likely they will twist an ankle. Microspikes are a great option for getting out on hiking trails because if the trails have snow they will turn icy. Microspikes fit over trail runners and hiking boots and have small spikes on the bottom to give traction. They allow hikers to safely maneuver the trail over snow and ice.

Hiking Poles

I like using hiking poles to keep myself balanced but also to help my knees if there is a steep incline. Hiking poles with cork handles are the best because they don’t slip if your hands get sweaty. I have a pair of REI brand hiking poles and have used them for year. When you’re snowshoeing, you will need to add baskets to your hiking poles to stop them from sinking into the snow. If your hiking poles don’t come with the round baskets (as picture at the bottom of my pole above) you can purchase these ones off Amazon, which is what I did.

Avalanche Safety

It’s so important to be aware of the dangers when entering nature year-round, but especially in the winter. If I plan to hike in an area that is more mountainous, I always check the avalanche forecast here and Central Oregon has information here.

I always review the weather forecast as close to when I’m going as possible for the most accurate predictions. It’s import to always “know before you go,” one of the leave no trace principles. Being willing to change your plans for safety is extremely important! Never do something if the conditions and warning signs are telling you to not go.

If you do not have any avalanche backcountry training, under no circumstance should you enter an area that has any avalanche danger. Backcountry hiking requires the proper equipment, safety tools and training. If you have not taken the training courses but you have the gear, you still should not venture in the backcountry. I personally stick on areas that do not pose a risk of avalanche because I have not done the trainings necessary. I also check the avalanche forecast to make sure it’s safe where I am choosing to go.

If you want to take an avalanche safety course you can visit avalanche.org where they explain the course levels required for various activities as well as how to get signed up to a course for each state. If you don’t find a course you’re wanting, feel free to Google “(your state) avalanche course” or see if your local REI has something being offered.

Safety Essentials

It is so important to go prepared year-round, but especially in winter when the elements are not as forgiving. You can read about my first aid kit in my “The 10 Essentials” guide. It is extremely important to always carry the 10 essentials in your backpack in the winter. Always go out with the thought that you may have to spend a night out on trail. What would you need to survive? Below are the 10 essentials you need in your backpack while snowshoeing:

1. Navigation 
2. Headlamp
3. Extra water 
4. Sun protection
5. Extra clothes 
6. First aid 
7. Knife 
8. Fire 
9. Shelter 
10. Extra food

During the winter I usually pack a few extra things in my safety kit. In the winter my extra safety must- haves are:

• Hand warmers
• Space Blanket
• Jet boil for melt snow

Always tell someone where you are going and when you will return when you go hiking. In winter, if something happens and you need help, you want to be able to be found quickly, so letting someone know where to look could literally be the difference between life and death.

What to Wear

Winter hiking clothing is slightly different than the rest of the year, but still pretty similar. Avoid wearing cotton, wool will be best to keep you dry. Winter hiking is also all about layers. Even though it is cold out, a majority of the time you will be rather warm while you’re hiking. Packing plenty of layers will allow you to remove layers when you’re hot but also add layers if you’re cold. Below is my list of clothing:

Base layer:

• Omni heat leggings
• Wool socks
• Tank top
• Wool long Sleeve

Warm Extra Layers:

• Shell pants or second pair of leggings
• Fleece
• Down Jacket
• Water proof wind breaker

Other:

• Light weight gloves
• Heavy snow gloves
• Beanie
• Gaiter for legs
• Gaiter for neck
• Mountaineering sunglasses

Inside tip: I wear a pair of lightweight gloves inside my heavy snow gloves. If I need to take my hands out of the warm gloves to snap a photo or grab something out of my backpack I now have something protecting my hands from the cold. If I get too hot I’ll just wear the light weight gloves.

To learn more about what I hike with go here to see my must-have gear, trail clothes and more!

Warming Huts

One of my favorite things to do while snowshoeing is find warming huts along the route. Not all trails will have them, but if they do, they are so fun! They will have a wood-burning stove inside and are great stopping for lunch or just to get warm. Nothing beats making lunch or sipping on hot cocoa inside a warming hut halfway through a snow-filled hike! It is alway popular to snowshoe to them at night.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced snowshoer, I hope this helped you! The mountains are calling and you should definitely answer. Finding ways to get outside year-round is so important and snowshoeing is one of the easiest, least expensive ways to do that. But don’t forget to be safe and educate yourself about the risks. You don’t want to have to rely on others for your own safety knowledge. I hope to see you in the mountains!

Be sure to check out my “The Best Winter Hikes In Central Oregon” guide for some trail ideas.

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