Walking in a Winter Wonderland – Snowshoeing Date

Posted by: Ashley January 1st, 2012

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Living in Canada, we have to deal with more than our fair share of the cold and long winter months. In the past, our instinct has been to bundle up and hibernate but this year we decided to use our frozen playground as inspiration for some winter date ideas. Our first adventure – snowshoeing!

While snowshoeing may not come to the top of most people’s list for a winter date – after trying it, I have to say that it was a lot of fun and a really great experience.

What’s so great about snowshoeing? – It’s easy to learn, relatively inexpensive, there’s little risk of injury, and it’s a great cardiovascular workout. Even better than that, it is an incredible way to enjoy beautiful winter scenery.

Snowshoes have been around for thousands of years and while first used for hunters and trappers, they are now widely used for recreation. When I first thought of snowshoes I pictured woven leather in wooden frames that look more like tennis racquets than anything else. I was pleased to discover that nowadays snowshoes are made of lightweight materials with teeth on the bottom for better grip on snow and ice. The nice thing about them is that not only do they keep you from sinking too far into the snow, they make it considerably easier to hike further into the woods.

For our winter date we chose to hike approximately 5km (3 miles) along the Bruce Trail in Collingwood, ON. The Bruce Trail follows the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, one of the thirteen UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves in Canada, for almost 900 km (560 miles) and as such it is quite accessible to anyone living in southern Ontario. With a myriad of side trails there are plenty of choices for hikers of all skill levels.

The area we hiked was a densely wooded trail filled with caves, and lookout points. With a fresh layer of snow and no one else around, the picturesque scenery provided a perfect backdrop for a winter date. Along our way we saw a lot of wildlife tracks including deer and coyote while also enjoying fresh air and good conversation.

Our hike lasted about 90 minutes and definitely had us working up a sweat. Nonetheless, we really enjoyed meandering through the woods with some friends and their golden retriever. Another reason why this is such a great winter date idea is that dogs love it! If you’re like us and need to keep an animal exercised, a hike through the woods with plenty of things to smell might just be the ticket. Snowshoeing would also be accessible for young children, but you would probably want to aim for a 1 or 3km hike.

If you are interested in snowshoeing, snowshoes can be purchased at most sporting goods stores and the prices we’ve seen range from $50 to $150. For first timers you can borrow from friends (like we did) or rent them from ski resorts. However you manage to get a pair, we recommend you try it!

Have you ever gone snowshoeing? What did you think? Tell us about it in the comments!

Pro Tips

While snowshoeing is easy, surviving in the wilderness is not. If it’s your first time, follow the trail maps or go with someone who knows the area. You do not want to get lost out there.
Dress in layers. Despite chilly temperatures, you will work up a sweat.
Make no mistake, snowshoeing is exercise. Know your limitations and don’t bite off more than you can chew on your first trip.