Back to Winter Hot List 2012 Homepage

Snow Shoe

Try this shoe on for size, and you'll find out why the sport is taking off.

Ask anyone who sells winter gear or works the parks: Snowshoes are stacking up. Try a pair on (yep, right over your boots!), and you’ll understand why. Snowshoeing doesn’t demand the coordination of cross-country skiing. And with the stable base and steady grip of a snowshoe, it’s much easier to walk through deep snow or on ice. Once you get the hang of it, go exploring places you wouldn’t otherwise be able to get to—deep into the woods, up icy peaks, or out on the middle of a frozen lake. “It’s incredibly easy to get into,” says Sam Usem, camping expert for Midwest Mountaineering. “People are much happier in the winter when they get out and enjoy a little bit of sunlight.”

Fort Snelling State Park

•These extensive trails in the heart of the cities where the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers converge offer access to wildlife, great views, and a peek back in time at the nearby historic Fort Snelling military base. 101 Snelling Lake Rd., St. Paul, 612-725-2724, dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks

Lebanon Hills Regional Park

•More than 2,000 acres of land with lakes spanning Apple Valley and Eagan. 860 Cliff Rd., Eagan, 651-554-6530,

Superior Hiking Trail

•This is a more challenging trek. With the leaves off the trees, enjoy unobstructed views of Lake Superior on this 286-mile footpath along the rocky ridgeline from Duluth to the Canadian border. 218-834-2700, shta.org

Get the Look:

Crescent Moon snowshoes ($274.95) and Black Diamond trekking poles ($99.95) from Midwest Mountaineering, midwestmtn.com; Mad Bomber hat ($38) from Gear West Adrenaline, gearwest.com

Back to Winter Hot List 2012 Homepage