Snowshoeing for Beginners: How to Start and What You Need

By Justin McKelvey · Updated November 5, 2026

Why snowshoeing is easy to start

There's no lift ticket, no lesson required, and almost no learning curve. You walk with a slightly wider stance than normal, and the snowshoe does the rest. It works on flat meadows, forest trails, and rolling hills, and it's one of the cheapest ways to get outside in winter. Many ski areas and Nordic centers rent snowshoes and keep marked trails, which makes a first day simple.

How to choose snowshoes

Size by weight, not height

Snowshoes are rated by the total load they support: your body weight plus clothing and pack. Bigger snowshoes float better in deep, light powder; smaller ones are easier to maneuver on packed trails. Check the manufacturer's load range and pick the size where your loaded weight falls comfortably inside it.

Match the terrain

• Flat and rolling trails: simple frames and basic bindings are all you need.
• Hills and mountains: look for aggressive crampons (the metal teeth underfoot) for grip, and heel lifts (risers) that flip up to reduce calf strain on long climbs.
• Deep backcountry snow: larger snowshoes for float, and solid bindings that hold your boot firmly.

Bindings

Good bindings are easy to adjust with gloves on and keep your foot centered without pressure points. Try them with the boots you'll actually wear.

Browse snowshoes and trekking poles (adjustable poles with snow baskets work well).

What to wear

Snowshoeing is real exercise, so you'll heat up fast. Dress in layers you can shed, the same system skiers use: a moisture-wicking base layer, a light insulating layer, and a waterproof or windproof shell. See what to wear skiing for the full layering approach.

• Boots: waterproof, insulated hiking or winter boots. See how to choose snow boots.
• Gaiters: keep snow out of your boots in deep snow.
• Gloves and a hat: bring a lighter pair for climbing and a warmer pair for breaks.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen: snow reflects a lot of sunlight.

Snowshoeing technique

1. Walk naturally with a slightly wider stance so the frames don't clip each other.
2. Going uphill: kick the toe of the snowshoe into the slope to engage the crampons, keep your weight forward, and use heel lifts on steep sections.
3. Going downhill: keep your knees soft, weight slightly back, and plant your heel first. Poles help with balance.
4. Traversing a slope: press the uphill edge of the snowshoe into the snow to make a flat step.
5. Getting up after a fall: roll onto your knees, plant your poles, and push up. Falling in powder is soft, but getting up takes a moment.

Where to go

• Nordic centers and ski areas: many have marked snowshoe trails and rentals.
• State, provincial, and national parks: summer hiking trails often become snowshoe routes in winter. Check the park's winter trail info.
• Local trails after a storm: fresh snow makes even familiar trails feel new. Check where it's snowing this week.

On shared trails, avoid walking in groomed cross-country ski tracks; snowshoe prints ruin the grooves for skiers.

Winter safety basics

• Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back. Winter days are short.
• Carry water and snacks. You burn a lot of energy in snow, and cold dulls thirst.
• Watch the time. Turn around early; descending in the dark is harder and colder.
• Know about avalanche terrain. Steep, open slopes and the runout zones below them can slide. Stay on low-angle, forested trails unless you've taken an avalanche course and carry the right gear.
• Stay dry. Wet clothing loses warmth fast. Change layers before you get chilled.

Looking for more ways to play in the snow? See all winter adventures beyond the lifts.