Snowshoeing is a fantastic way to experience many of our parks during the winter months. The sport is easy to learn, poses little risk of injury and is a great way to exert energy during the cold winter months.

We have various length trails in our parks listed below that can be used as snowshoeing trails in the winter.  In addition to the parks listed, snowshoeing is also permitted on designated trails at Yahara Hills Golf Course (not on groomed ski trails), the Tom George Greenway, which is located between Heritage Prairie and Elvehjem Sanctuary and anywhere in our parks where there is good snow coverage.
 
Free Candlelit Snowshoe Events


TIPS FOR SNOWSHOEING

• Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in a park that is snow-covered and ungroomed and on ungroomed trails only in conservation parks. Snowshoes are not allowed on groomed cross-country ski trails at anytime.
• Our trail systems are designed to facilitate controlled public access while protecting environmentally sensitive areas, and providing quiet refuges for wildlife away from people. Disruption of wildlife by human activity during the winter puts additional stress on them during a challenging time for their survival.
• Sufficient snow (typically 4" or more) is needed to create a base for snowshoeing. The woods generally need more snow to fall due to the trees protecting the trails.
• Snowshoeing, hiking, and skiing off trail destroys snow tunnels used by native small rodents (deer mice, shrews) by the trampling effect. These small mammals are an important part of the wetland and grassland ecology in our conservation parks. Destruction of these tunnel networks make the small mammals more vulnerable to predation.
• Interested in learning the proper way to put on snowshoes?