5 awesome places to snowshoe before spring comes and ruins it
Tom Giffey, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
For all you avid – and wannabe – snowshoers out there. Best get to it …
1. Beaver Creek Reserve
S1 County Highway K, Fall Creek • You can spend an entire afternoon in the quiet beauty of the hundreds of acres of woods here. Beaver Creek Reserve has a number of wooded, groomed trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Rental equipment is available, as are periodic guided snowshoe hikes and snowshoe-making classes.
2. Hoffman Hill State Recreation Area
740th Avenue, Menomonie • With 707 acres of preserved and restored wooded hills, wetlands, and prairie, Hoffman HIlls is a great place to hike. During the snowy season there are nine miles of groomed ski trails (which snowshoers should avoid) and several miles of snowshoe trails (which snowshoers should tackle). Stride through the snow while feasting your eyes on spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
3. Lowes Creek County Park
5238 S. Lowes Creek Rd., Eau Claire • Just minutes south of Eau Claire, experience 250 acres of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and pet-walking bliss. Trails for snowshoers and skiers are adjacent but separate, and they have many loops and shortcuts, offering a wide variety of routes. Trails twist up and down hills, through creek bottoms and white pine forests, and range from easy to difficult, so a trail map is a good idea. Vehicle passes required.
4. Tower Ridge Rec Area
955 S. 82nd Ave., Eau Claire • Tower Ridge is a great place to enjoy the snow and work out, offering snowshoe trails next to (but separated from) the lighted cross-country ski trails – creating the tantalizing possibility of a romantic night outing amid the glowing snow. There are hilly and flat trails for all ability levels, as well as a chalet. Winter vehicle entry passes are required.
5. Guettiner Woods & Wildlife Area
Sandberg Road off Hwy. 37, Eau Claire • This little-known Eau Claire County park has been called a “hidden gem.” You’ll find it about seven miles southwest of Eau Claire in the town of Brunswick. The 123 acres are open for snowshoeing, hiking, and wildlife watching, although there are no groomed trails.
