Ranger-led Snowshoe Walks

A park ranger leads a Snowshoe Hike near Bear Lake

NPS

Ranger-led Winter Programs are offered to the public in January - March!

Join a ranger-led snowshoe walk or other winter activity, to explore Rocky Mountain National Park during winter. Snowshoe walks travel through hilly, uneven, snow-covered meadows or mixed conifer forests within Rocky Mountain National Park, and are offered on both the east and west sides of the park.

If you are a teacher and are looking to book a snowshoe program as part of a school group, please go to our Education Page to make a reservation for a school program.

 

General Information about Ranger-Led Snowshoe Walks

Snowshoe Walks:

• take place on both the east and west sides of the park.
• are free, but reservations are required.
• are conducted by National Park Service rangers, interns, and/or volunteers.
• are "moderately strenuous" and open to all skill levels, including beginners.
• are open to participants 8 years of age and older. (Children in carriers are not allowed due to safety concerns.)
• last approximately 1 - 2 hours.
• take place at 8,700 - 9,700 feet of elevation.
• meet at a trailhead but don’t follow a trail. (The exact route can vary with snow and weather conditions.)
• require at least 8 - 10 inches of base snow to safely and effectively use snowshoes.
• may be cancelled at the last minute due to poor weather or snow conditions. (If cancelled, participants will be notified.)

Safety Information:

• Appropriate clothing is essential; this includes sturdy footwear, layered clothing, winter jacket, hat, and gloves. Sunscreen and sunglasses are recommended. Water resistant hiking boots or snow boots are required. Due to safety concerns (hypothermia and frost bite), participants wearing tennis/gym shoes will not be allowed to participate in the snowshoe walk.
• Participants must have a baseline fitness level that allows them to snowshoe approximately one mile over hilly terrain at high elevation. One mile of snowshoeing is more strenuous than a typical hike. You may consider this activity level equal to hiking at least two miles on a summer trail, jogging one mile, or biking three miles. Programs take place at higher elevations, and may not be suitable for people sensistive to altitude.

Reservations are REQUIRED for Ranger-Led Snowshoe Walks

• Free reservations are required for all ranger-led snowshoe programs inside Rocky Mountain National Park.
• Space is limited to a total of 20 people per program - for both sides of the park.
• Due to limited space, a maximum of 6 members of the same group may sign up for a reservation on the same walk.
• Snowshoe walks often fill, especially if the day is forecast to be warm and sunny. We recommend reserving a spot early.
• Once reservations are full, a waiting list will be started. Please call if you need to cancel. Once a cancellation is received, we will contact the next person on the waiting list.
• It is the responsibility of the group leader (person making the reservation) to disseminate safety information to their entire group, so that the the group arrives prepared for the snowshoe walk. This includes telling their family and friends about the walk being moderately strenuous and wearing appropriate winter clothing and waterproof footwear.

EAST SIDE (Estes Park) Snowshoe Program Information:

Call 970-586-1223 to reserve a spot for an East Side (Estes Park) snowshoe walk. Reservations are taken 7 days in advance of the scheduled program, in the order they are received.

East Side programs are offered January - March 2025 (exact dates TBD). Program location will be provided once reservations are made. East Side (Estes Park) snowshoe programs take place at 9,400 - 9,700 feet of elevation.

Snowshoes are NOT provided for East Side programs. Participants must bring their own snowshoes or rent snowshoes prior to arriving. There are no snowshoe or winter equipment rentals available within park boundaries. Snowshoes can be rented in the town of Estes Park.

WEST SIDE (Grand Lake ) Snowshoe Program Information:

Call 970-586-1513 to reserve a spot for a West Side (Grand Lake) snowshoe walk. Reservations are taken 7 days in advance of the scheduled program, in the order they are received.

West Side public snowshoe programs are offered January 4 - March 30, 2025, and occur every Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 pm. Program location will be provided once reservations are made. West Side (Grand Lake) snowshoe programs take place at 8,700 -9,300 feet of elevation.

Kid-Friendly Family Snowshoe Walks: New this year! The West Side is offering kid-friendly snowshoe walks every Friday in February at 1:00 pm. These programs are geared towards families and children, ages 5 and older. Programs will take place on February 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2025.

Snowshoes ARE provided for West Side programs but must be turned in after the program. Snowshoes can be rented in the town of Grand Lake for visitors wanting to snowshoe on their own.

Ranger-Led Cross Country (Nordic) Ski Tours are also offered on the West Side of Rocky Mountain!

Call 970-586-1513 to reserve a spot for a West Side (Grand Lake) cross-country ski tour. Reservations are taken 7 days in advance of the scheduled program, in the order they are received.

West Side public XC ski tours are offered January 18 - March 15, 2025, and occur every Saturday at 10:00 am. Program location will be provided once reservations are made. The minimum age requirement is 16 years old and space is limited to a total of 12 people per program. A maximum of 4 members of the same group may sign up for a reservation on the same ski tour. Some experience with XC skiing is necessary to participate. Participants should have basic familiarity with cross-county skiing - this tour is not designed to be a lesson for brand-new beginner skiers. Equipment for XC Ski Tours is NOT provided. Participants must rent or bring their own gear. Rentals are available in downtown Grand Lake, CO.

Organized groups larger than 10 may request a ranger-led winter program outside of public programs. Requests are accommodated based on staff availability. To request a program, please call 970-586-1223 (East Side/Estes Park) or 970-586-1513 (West Side/Grand Lake).

 

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