Snowshoe in the Mt. Washington Valley, NH!

Surrounded by 660,000 acres of White Mountain National Forest replete with backcountry trails, and with six cross country centers offering snowshoeing trails, Mt. Washington Valley is the perfect place to get out and explore on snowshoes.

Snowshoeing is a versatile winter activity. You can go easy or go hard. With snowshoes on, you can go many places XC skis or snowmobiles can’t due to trees and snow conditions. Best of all, it is something that everyone in your group can enjoy and do at their own pace.

While many people simply strap on their snowshoes and head out to snowshoe their favorite hiking trail on their own, the Mt. Washington Valley also offers multiple guided snowshoe options. Jackson Ski Touring offers two-hour snowshoe nature tours throughout the winter, offering participants a tour of places on and off the trail system with technique tips along the way. Upcoming tours are at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 18. A weekly guided snowshoe tour along the East Branch and Saco Rivers is offered by Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring on Sundays at 1:00 pm. The tour covers gentle terrain and lasts approximately one and a half to two hours. Bretton Woods offers daily snowshoe expeditions as part of their Guided Winter Adventure program too.

Better yet, take a moonlit snowshoe tour! Both Bretton Woods Nordic and Great Glen Trails are offering moonlit snowshoe tours this coming weekend. Join the Bretton Woods Nordic staff for a one-hour tour along the moonlit XC ski trails of the resort followed by hot chocolate around a roaring fire on Saturday, January 18 at 7:00 pm. Great Glen Trails has partnered with the Appalachian Mountain Club for a one and a half hour moonlit snowshoe tour on January 18 starting at 7:00 pm. An AMC Naturalist Guide will lead the group on a walk along the trails in an exploration of the winter landscape by moonlight.

For those with young children, take a trip to the Trails in the Woods at Believe in Books in Intervale. The 10k trail system is groomed for XC skiing and snowshoeing, and families will love the Storybook Trail. Ski or snowshoe, and read and experience great children’s stories along the way! The story changes regularly, so you can come again and again.

Looking for a little speed? Watch the snow fly as you race through the woods on your snowshoes! Sign up for the 4th Annual Whitaker Woods Snowshoe Scramble on Saturday, January 18. The four-mile race starts at 10:00 am, with a course consisting of groomed trails and twisty singletrack in Whitaker Woods in North Conway. Later in the winter, tackle the Ski & Shoe to the Clouds race up the Mt. Washington Auto Road or one of the Winter Wild races at Bretton Woods or Black Mountain.

There are multiple retailers throughout the Valley selling and renting snowshoes and snowshoe apparel, as well as numerous lodging properties offering  midweek lodging packages which include free XC and snowshoe trail passes. For those staying at the AMC Highland Lodge, snowshoes are available for use from the L.L. Bean Gear Room.