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Official website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Snowshoeing

    Snowshoeing has been gaining in popularity in recent years. Snowshoers can travel the many trails of Pennsylvania's beautiful state parks and forests.

    Snowshoeing Safety

    • Be prepared
    • Plan carefully
    • Communicate your plan
    • Know when to turn around and go back
    • Listen to your body
    • Wear layers with synthetic cloth next to your skin
    • Bring a snack and water
    • Snowshoe on trails with 4 or more inches of snow
    • Trash in, trash out
    •  Take only pictures, leave only snowshoe prints
    • Share the trail and don’t snowshoe over cross-country ski lanes

    Snowshoeing as Fitness

    Instead of hitting the gym, hit the trails. Snowshoeing is a continuous, low-intensity form of exercise that can burn between 400 and 1,000 calories an hour. It helps decrease the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

    • Know your physical condition.
    • If you can walk, you can snowshoe.
    • A hiking trail is a snowshoeing trail.
    • Anticipate levels of difficulty and train accordingly.
    • Pick a trail that you feel comfortable with.
    • Stretch before you take off!

     

    Snow Conditions in State parks

    Find out where there is snow in state parks with the State Parks winter report, updated from first snow until spring thaw.

    Explore the Winter Report

    Snowshoe Loaner Programs

    Several state parks have snowshoe loaner programs. To borrow a pair of snowshoes, most parks require you to leave a form of ID with the office. Park staff will provide basic instruction to help get you started.

    Please check with the individual parks regarding their loan program hours and requirements.