Last Updated on April 12, 2022
When my husband mentioned that we were going to Park City for the weekend so he could snowboard with his buddy, I was far from thrilled. Snowboarding and skiing are just an ACL tear waiting to happen in my mind. I hatenot having control over a situation, and having gravity push me down a mountain is not my definition of fun. That’s why I decided to try snowshoeing in Park City instead.
I know, I know, snowshoeing somehow has a weird reputation for being completely lame and very American Girl Kirsten-like (if you’re getting that reference, let’s be BFFs!…I definitely still have Kirsten in her little blonde braids hanging out at my parents house).
Anywho, I’m here to tell you that snowshoeing can actually be really fun and a great way to enjoy the snow without putting your life in gravity’s hands.
Something I’m also a huge advocate of is staying fit and healthy while traveling. As cozy and relaxing as it sounded to hang by the fire or go to the spa, I knew that getting out and moving was the best decision I could make! Snowshoeing was the perfect answer.
Where can I snowshoe in Park City?
There are multiple tour and rental companies in Park City that offer snowshoe rentals or snowshoe group or private tours.
If you choose to just rent snowshoes for the day, there are plenty of local trails to trek around, some groomed and some ungroomed.
If you choose to go with a tour, you can leave the trails to your tour guide. This I find especially helpful if you’re not comfortable exploring the wilderness on your own.
Booking a Snowshoeing Tour in Park City
While the boys were snowboarding, I booked myself a snowshoe tour with All Seasons Adventures in Park City.
I booked my tour two days before and had absolutely no problem jumping into a tour group. Though, some other tour companies can fill up or they sometimes require more notice, so be sure to check ahead of time.
If you have any sort of preference of what type of trail you would like to be on, mention this at the time of booking. On my tour, we were hiking on Gamble Oak Trail, which is part of the mountain where there weren’t many trees around but mainly leafless shrubs. Though, two others on my tour had done the same tour the day prior, but said they hiked in a much more beautiful part of the mountain that was full of pine and birch trees, called the Ontario Trail.
How Much does it cost to snowshoe in Park City?
Prices start around $90 plus tip (recommended) for a 2-hour local snowshoe tour and go up from there if you prefer to snowshoe in the backcountry or would like a private tour.
If simply renting snowshoes for the day to hike on your own without a tour company, expect to pay around $20.
If you’re wanting some guidance but not really wanting to commit to a full snowshoeing tour (and maybe need food as motivation), I highly recommend trying out All Seasons Adventures’ S’mores Tour. You’ll snowshoe for about 10 minutes to a campfire, where you’ll receive s’mores and hot chocolate upon arrival before snowshoeing back. This is around $40 per person and requires 4 people in your group.
How difficult is snowshoeing? What kind of workout will I get?
When you initially book your tour, you will be asked what level tour you would like to be on – leisurely, moderate, or aerobic.
A leisurely tour will hike around 2 miles without much elevation change.
A moderate tour will hike around 3-4 miles with slight elevation change.
An aerobic tour will hike around 5 or more miles with a steeper elevation change.
I opted to do a moderate tour but really felt like I could have handled an aerobic tour. The whole tour was on groomed paths in the snow, so I never had to put in much work.
What does snowshoeing feel like?
I honestly felt like I was just walking normally but with duck feet. Since I was on a groomed path in the snow, I didn’t have to use as much leg power as I had initially anticipated. You also use poles to snowshoe, so this helps a lot with getting your footing or walking on icy surfaces.
Every now and then, I would go off the path to just see what it felt like to walk in ungroomed snow. I found that to be much more challenging and honestly a little more exciting than just walking on a path.
Next time, I would definitely opt for an aerobic tour or to go snowshoeing on my own – I enjoy a challenge, getting my heart rate up, and breaking a sweat.
Be upfront when booking your tour to let them know what exactly you are looking for. They’re providing a guided tour to make sure you have a great experience!
What to wear snowshoeing?
Bundle up and wear lots of layers! It can get pretty chilly when just starting out, but after moving a bit, you will start to warm up.
- Wear a warm pair of leggings or long underwear
- Wear snow pants or some sort of waterproof pants over your leggings or long underwear
- Wear a moisture-wicking shirt as your base layer
- Add multiple layers on top, such as a fleece or vest
- Wear a waterproof jacket on top of your layers
- Wear waterproof mittens, not gloves (these will keep your hands warmer)
- Put hand warmers in your mittens or pockets in case your hands get cold
- Wear warm waterproof boots (you use your own shoes and attach the snowshoes to them. Note that All Seasons Adventures mentions on their site that they provide boot covers, but on my tour, they did not.)
- Wear wool socks inside your boots to help absorb any moisture
- Attach feet warmers to your socks if you tend to get cold feet
- Remember a warm scarf
- Don’t forget a hat and/or headband to cover your ears
- Bring a pair of sunglasses, as the snow can be bright
What to bring snowshoeing?
Along with everything above that you should be wearing:
- Pack a snack in case you get hungry (though, typically your guide will bring granola bars for the group)
- Bring a bottle of water (again, your guide will probably bring this but just in case)
- Bring your phone for pictures (with the snow, your camera may get wet, so I suggest not bringing your nice camera unless you are prepared)
- Bring some cash to tip your tour guide at the end
- Pack some tissue in your pocket in case of a runny nose
- Wear sunscreen on your face
- Either a hiking backpack that’s easy to carry or try to avoid bringing a backpack at all
Overall, I highly recommend giving snowshoeing a try. It is such a fun way to get out and about to enjoy the snow without the risk of tumbling down a mountain!
Tell me about your snowshoeing experience in Park City in the comments below!
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