Snowshoeing for Beginners in Canada: Gear, Trails and Safety
To start snowshoeing in Canada, choose snowshoes rated for your total weight with gear, wear warm layers you can vent, bring poles, and begin on marked, packed trails in a national, provincial or municipal park. Stay off groomed ski tracks, leave a trip plan, and do not enter avalanche terrain unless you have avalanche training and rescue gear. If you can walk, you can snowshoe: the learning curve is short, but winter planning matters.
Choosing snowshoes: size, snow type and terrain
Snowshoes work by spreading your weight over a larger surface so you sink less. The right size depends on two things: how much you weigh once you are dressed and carrying a pack, and the kind of snow you expect.
Sizing by weight
Snowshoe makers publish a recommended load range for each length. Sizing is not standardized between brands, so always use the chart for the model you are considering. A few general rules help:
- Add your body weight, winter clothing, boots and a loaded day pack (often several kilograms) to get your total load.
- If you sit near the top of a size's range, or plan to break trail in fresh snow, consider the next size up.
- Smaller snowshoes are lighter and easier to manoeuvre on packed or wooded trails; larger ones float better but feel bulkier.
Matching the snowshoe to the snow
| Typical conditions | What tends to work | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Packed, groomed or well-used trails | Smaller, lighter frame; basic crampons | Little need for float; easier walking |
| Deep, dry powder (Prairies, interior, Rockies) | Larger surface area; tail extensions if available | More float so you sink less |
| Wet, heavy coastal or spring snow | Mid-size frame | Wet snow supports more weight than powder |
| Rolling or hilly terrain | Aggressive toe and heel crampons; heel-lift bar | Better grip and less calf strain on climbs |
| Icy or crusty sections | Steel or aggressive crampons and side rails | Bite into hard snow and reduce sideways slipping |
Bindings
Bindings should hold your boot snugly without pressure points and be easy to adjust with gloves on. Try them at home with the boots you plan to wear. A good fit lets your heel lift while the toe stays centred over the pivot point. Waterproof, insulated winter hiking boots are the usual choice; avoid cotton socks.
Poles, clothing and the essentials
Poles
Adjustable trekking or ski poles with snow baskets add balance on uneven ground, help on climbs and descents, and make it easier to stand up after a fall. Shorten them slightly going uphill and lengthen them going down.
Clothing
Snowshoeing is warm work, so the biggest mistake is overdressing and then getting soaked in sweat. Use a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating mid layer and a wind- and water-resistant shell, plus a toque, gloves or mitts, gaiters and sunglasses. Start slightly cool, open zips on climbs and add a layer when you stop. Our winter layering guide explains the system in more detail.
What to carry
AdventureSmart recommends leaving a trip plan with someone you trust, getting the training you need and carrying the essentials. Its list includes a flashlight, fire-making kit, whistle, extra food and water, extra clothing, navigation and communication aids, a first aid kit, an emergency shelter, a pocket knife and sun protection, with hand and foot warmers and moleskin for blisters. Phone batteries drain quickly in the cold, so keep yours in an inside pocket.
Trail etiquette: don't walk on ski tracks
Many winter trails are shared with cross-country skiers and fat bikers. Parks Canada's Jasper trail etiquette page is clear: do not walk or snowshoe on ski tracks, because footprints in the set track endanger the skiers who use it later.
- Use designated snowshoe trails, or walk beside the track on multi-use trails, never in it.
- Step to the side when you stop so others can pass.
- Keep dogs leashed where required, and check whether dogs are allowed at all.
- Give wildlife plenty of space; never feed or follow animals.
- Pack out all your garbage and leave no trace.
Avalanche terrain: know where it starts
Snowshoers often assume avalanches only affect skiers on steep slopes. Avalanche Canada warns that many snowshoe routes follow popular summer hiking trails, and in winter those trails can easily be in avalanche terrain. Valley-bottom routes can sit under slopes that release naturally, and openings in the forest can hide terrain traps where even a small slide can be serious.
Avalanche Canada's Start Here page notes that avalanches can happen anywhere the terrain is steep enough, and that warning signs include heavy recent snowfall, wind loading, rapid warming, shooting cracks and "whumpfing" sounds. Its advice for beginners is to complete the free online tutorial and an Avalanche Canada Training course before travelling in the backcountry.
Our recommendation is simple: until you have avalanche training, plus a transceiver, probe and shovel and partners who know how to use them, stay out of avalanche terrain. Choose maintained, signed trails that the land manager recommends for winter, and check the avalanche forecast for mountain areas before you go.
Where to go snowshoeing in Canada
Most of Canada has good beginner options within reach of town:
- National parks: many Parks Canada sites publish winter trail lists with routes for snowshoeing and winter walking. Check current trail and avalanche conditions on each park's site, and note that a park pass may be required.
- Provincial and territorial parks: many keep winter trails open, and some rent snowshoes. Facilities, fees and grooming vary by province and park, so check before you leave.
- Municipal parks, conservation areas and Nordic centres: packed, short loops are ideal for a first outing.
Respect posted closures, private land and Indigenous lands, and ask permission before crossing property. Be careful on frozen lakes and rivers; read our ice thickness and safety guide before crossing any ice.
Your first outing: a simple plan
- Pick a short, marked trail of a few kilometres with little elevation gain.
- Check the weather, wind chill, daylight hours and trail report.
- Leave a trip plan with your route and expected return time.
- Walk with a slightly wider stance than usual and lift your feet; kick steps into steep snow.
- Turn back early: in winter, being cold, tired or late adds up quickly.
Beginner snowshoeing checklist
- Snowshoes sized for your total loaded weight and expected snow
- Insulated, waterproof boots and wool or synthetic socks
- Poles with snow baskets
- Layered clothing, toque, mitts, gaiters, sunglasses
- Essentials kit, water, snacks and a charged phone
- Trip plan left with someone at home
- Marked trail, off the ski tracks and out of avalanche terrain
You will find snowshoes, poles and winter accessories in our Ski, Snowboard & Snowshoe department, and headlamps, whistles and navigation tools in Navigation, Optics & Safety. Our catalogue is still growing, so check back as new items are added.
Frequently asked questions
What size snowshoes do I need?
Use the maker's load chart for your model and add your body weight, clothing, boots and pack. Size up for deep, dry powder or if you are near the top of a size's range.
Can I snowshoe on cross-country ski trails?
Only where snowshoeing is permitted, and never in the set ski tracks. Parks Canada asks visitors not to walk or snowshoe on ski tracks because footprints endanger skiers.
Do snowshoers need to worry about avalanches?
Yes. Avalanche Canada notes that many snowshoe routes follow summer hiking trails that can be in avalanche terrain in winter. Without training and rescue gear, stay on trails recommended for winter use.
Do I need poles for snowshoeing?
Poles are not mandatory, but adjustable poles with snow baskets improve balance, help on hills and make it easier to get up after a fall.
Where can beginners go snowshoeing in Canada?
Marked winter trails in national, provincial and municipal parks, conservation areas and Nordic centres are good starting points. Check each site for trail conditions, fees and rules before you go.