How to Plan a Snowshoeing Vacation to Washington

Washington state offers lots of winter season outdoors activities, including snowshoeing trails, for your next vacation. You can plan your vacation to Washington around some of the well known snowshoeing trails and brush up on your skills in a snowshoeing class.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Investigate Top Snowshoeing Routes in Washington

1. Plan a scenic valley snowshoe excursion on the Lower Gold Creek Basin trail. This route takes about five hours to complete the full seven-mile round-trip trek. The trail is located in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
2. Schedule a snowshoeing outing to White Salmon Creek. This beginner's trail is 10 miles round-trip, and it features views of meadows and forest glades. Unlike many trails, White Salmon Creek is wide enough to snowshoe side by side.
3. Ramp up the difficulty level when you plan a hike on Keechelus Ridge trails. Located in Wenatchee National Forest, this six-mile trail rises quickly up the slopes.
4. Plan for the unique experience of snowshoeing up a closed popular highway. The Silver Star View trails near Winthrop begin on snow-bound Route 20. Experts advise that you stick to the lower areas, however, since the upper regions are known for snow slides and avalanches.
5. Head over to the Olympic Peninsula area to give the Hurricane Hill trails a try. These trails offer the most renowned winter views of Olympic National Park. These trails are suitable for both beginner and advanced snowshoers.

Plan to Take a Snowshoeing Class

6. Visit a website such as Seattle Mountaineers to check out snowshoeing courses (see Resources below).
7. Choose a beginner's class like "Snowshoe Lite" to learn the fundamentals of snowshoeing. You will also learn how to rent equipment, how to snowshoe safely and how to participate in basic snowshoeing groups after you complete this truncated course.
8. Sign up for a more advanced snowshoeing class to learn advanced techniques that will allow you to participate in moderate and skilled level snowshoeing group outings. These classes teach Alpine snowshoeing and wilderness survival training, as well. Expect snowshoeing classes to be moderately priced.

Tips & Warnings

• Ski resorts are often good vacation spots to lodge close to snowshoeing trails.
• Snowshoeing in Washington state parks typically requires a permit. Visit the Washington State Parks website for information (see Resources above).