If you’re new to living in Switzerland, or maybe just visiting, then you may be curious to know more about snowshoeing and how you can get involved. Snowshoeing can be a great alternative to enjoy nature away from the hustle and bustle of the ski slopes in winter.
Snowshoeing is essentially walking, or hiking, in the snow with the help of snowshoes (a large surfaced ‘shoe’ which is worn underneath snow or hiking boots to make it easier and safer to walk on snow). You can also follow specific snowshoe trails which are marked by pink poles (as opposed to the yellow Wanderweg hiking signs).
What do you need to take snowshoeing?
For snowshoeing, we recommend you take the following equipment:
- Snowshoes (Schneeschuhe)
- Trekking or ski poles, those with a basket are most suitable
- Waterproof trekking or hiking boots
- Ski or functional trousers (waterproof)
- Backpack with drink and energy bar
- Gloves, hat
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Change of clothes and a warm jacket to layer on top
Snowshoes can be purchased in a number of sports shops in Switzerland (Ochsner Sport, Decathlon, SportX), as well as second hand shops. Depending on the shop you can expect to pay between 50 – 200 CHF. They also vary depending on the type of terrain you will be walking on (e.g. uphill) and some brands offer women’s models with a narrower frame for a smaller gait.
How do you find snowshoeing trails?
Snowshoe trails are marked with pink signs. Sometimes these trails are also normal hiking routes and walking them with snowshoes can be rather boring, as it is much more fun to move in deep snow.
You may want to consider a guided snowshoeing tour to get a feel for it to begin with, and most Ski resorts generally offer them.
Alternatively you can find plenty of different routes on these websites: www.globaltrail.ch, www.bergfex.ch, and myswitzerland.com. This blog also lists 10 snowshoe trails for beginners.
