Snowshoeing: the winter activity anyone can do (almost)!

The first time you strap on a pair of snowshoes, you might wonder whether it's going to be too physically demanding, too technical, or only for serious athletes.

The truth is, snowshoeing isn't a sliding sport. It's winter hiking. Snowshoes are an accessory (sometimes an essential one!), an extension of your hiking boot that lets you keep exploring summer trails even when they're buried under half a meter of powder.

A few minutes is all it takes to get comfortable.

We are the Nature and Mountain guides at Altimood and every winter we take out dozens of first-timers. This article brings together all the advice we wish we'd had before our own first outings (because none of us were born with snowshoes on our feet!).

From choosing the right gear to descending a slope, plus what to wear and the best destinations to get started, here's everything you need to know to hit the snow with confidence.

What is snowshoeing?

A snowshoe is a piece of equipment that attaches under a hiking boot to distribute your body weight and float on top of the snow (or at least keep you from sinking knee-deep with every step).

The concept is ancient. In North America and the Alps alike, traces of wooden and leather snowshoes dating back several millennia have been found, used for hunting and traveling in winter.

The modern version keeps the same principle but swaps wood for aluminum, technical plastic, or carbon. Modern bindings clip on in seconds, and integrated crampons bite into hard snow without any extra effort on your part.

In practice, snowshoes let you hike through forests, across high alpine meadows, and into the backcountry, places where trails disappear under 50 cm of fresh powder. The activity is accessible from age 4 or 5, and works great for families on a day outing or multi-day trekking adventures.

How do you walk in snowshoes?

The good news: walking in snowshoes feels almost exactly like walking on foot. The basic technique doesn't take long to learn, but a few adjustments make a real difference in comfort. The golden rule? Never step backward in snowshoes (an almost guaranteed fall!).

Walking on flat terrain

On flat or gently sloping ground, your gait stays natural. The only adjustment is to keep your feet slightly wider apart so the frames don't overlap. There's no need to lift your knees high: a smooth gliding motion is enough on packed snow.

Trekking poles are hugely helpful from your very first outing. They help with balance, keep your rhythm, and make it easy to get back up if you tip over into the powder.

Going uphill: using the heel lift

Most modern snowshoes have a heel lift, a small metal bar that slots under the heel. You flip it up with the tip of your pole basket. It raises your heel and reduces calf strain on steep slopes, shortening your stride and making the climb much more comfortable.

On steep sections or hard snow, you can also use the kick step technique: kick the toe of the snowshoe into the snow to anchor the front crampons. If the slope gets too steep, switch to switchbacks instead of going straight up.

Going downhill: heel first

On descents, most people's instinct is to lean back. While this can help stabilize you in powder over the short term, it's hard on your knees. Staying upright, or even leaning slightly forward into the slope, keeps your knees tracking in their natural axis. On hard snow, trust the crampons under the frame: they'll grip and keep you secure.

Traversing a slope

When crossing a hillside horizontally, your ankles take a lot of stress. Use the uphill edge of the snowshoe to stamp a small flat platform in the snow. Use your poles for balance and avoid crossing your feet. On hard snow, trust the crampons and accept the ankle angle.

A word of caution: snowshoes are fantastic for rolling terrain, but they have limits. On very steep or heavily angled slopes, the flat frame doesn't grip the way ski edges do, and the leverage it creates puts serious strain on your ankle. Progress can become tiring, unstable, and potentially dangerous.

If the route steepens significantly or becomes very exposed, it's better to stop, turn around, or switch to crampons for safety.

From theory to practice: just go for it!

You can read every article on the web and watch dozens of tutorials, but nothing replaces getting out on actual snow.

Snowshoeing is intuitive: your body learns by doing. Clipping in, testing your grip on a small slope, feeling the frame under your foot, managing your breathing on the way up, this hands-on trial-and-error will get you further than any tutorial. Don't wait until you've memorized the theory. Start on marked trails or go out with a guide, at your own pace, and let your instincts guide your adjustments.

Which snowshoes should you choose?

This is often the question that trips people up before their first outing. There are a lot of options and a wide range of prices. Here are the criteria that actually matter.

Size based on weight

Snowshoe size is determined by your total weight including your pack. The heavier you are, the larger the surface area you need for flotation.

Note: In very cold, dry powder (with no base layer), you'll sink further. If you're between sizes, go larger.

Small frame or large frame?

• Small frame: Ideal for marked trails, packed snow, and moderate slopes. Light and less bulky, these are the perfect choice for beginners. If you're hiking in a group and want to keep things light, go small.

• Large frame: Designed for off-trail and deep snow. Heavier, and require a wider stance.

Rent or buy?

If you're going out once or twice a season, renting snowshoes is the smarter move: recent gear, no storage headache, lower cost. If you're hitting the snow five or more times a winter, buying starts to make sense.

For brands, TSL (made in France), Inook, MSR, Tubbs, and Atlas are all solid choices.

Reminder: For guided outings with Altimood, snowshoes and poles are included. You don't need to rent or buy anything.

Women's snowshoes: what's the difference?

Don't get too hung up on the Men's or Women's labels. It's really about body type. Models marketed as Women's (narrower and lighter) are a great fit for any hiker, male or female, who has a smaller build, a narrower foot, or wants a more agile snowshoe on tight trails. What matters most is that your foot is firmly held in the binding with no lateral play.

What to wear and bring for snowshoeing?

The most common mistake? Showing up in a ski suit. Snowshoeing is hiking, an active sport where you warm up fast!

Clothing: the 3-layer system

For your upper body, layer up:

1. A moisture-wicking base layer (long-sleeve thermal shirt, merino wool, or synthetic). Zero cotton, it holds sweat and will freeze you at every rest stop.
2. An insulating mid layer (fleece or a lightweight puffer) to retain heat.
3. A protective outer layer (waterproof, windproof jacket, Gore-Tex style) packed in your bag, ready to pull on in wind or on the descent.

For your lower body: winter hiking pants or regular hiking pants with a thermal base layer underneath. Ski pants work fine if they have ventilation zips.

Footwear: comfort above all

1. Technical socks: Merino wool or synthetic blend (ski socks work great).
2. Ankle-high boots: Waterproof hiking boots (Gore-Tex) are plenty for day hikes. Avoid Moon Boots or après-ski boots that are too wide and soft: they offer zero ankle support and pop out of bindings constantly on slopes.
3. Gaiters: A useful add-on to keep snow from sneaking in at the top of your boot. Sometimes built into pants.

Essentials on you or in your pack (20 to 30 liters)

• Poles: Adjustable, with wide snow baskets.
• Sunglasses (Cat. 3 or 4) and sunscreen: Snow glare can cause photokeratitis (corneal burn) even on overcast days.
• Gloves and a beanie: Ideally bring lightweight gloves for the climb and a warmer pair for the descent.
• Water (1.5 L minimum) and snacks: Cold, dry air dehydrates you just as much as summer heat.

Snowshoeing safety

Snowshoeing is still a mountain activity. The most common incidents aren't slope-related, they're caused by hypothermia, fog (loss of orientation), or avalanches.

Avalanche risk

The question of safety equipment (beacon, shovel, probe) comes up often:

• On marked trails or managed Nordic areas: Risk is managed by patrol staff and the equipment isn't required.
• In the backcountry (off-trail): The beacon-shovel-probe kit is essential. More importantly: you need to know how to use it. Having the gear without training gives you nothing but a false sense of security. And remember, it's not safety equipment, it's rescue equipment.

Before every outing, make it a habit to check the local weather and the avalanche forecast issued by Météo-France (risk rated 1 to 4 for hikers).

💡 Want to get a better handle on avalanche risk? We offer a snow and avalanche safety course specifically designed for snowshoers.

Where to go snowshoeing in the Alps?

The Alps offer generous snowfall, and several of their massifs have less abrupt terrain that's perfect for getting started.

• Champsaur-Valgaudemar: Our home turf! Snowshoeing in the Champsaur takes you through preserved valley floors, magical larch forests, and stunning viewpoints over the Écrins from high-altitude hamlets (1,200–1,800 m). It has a real "Far North" vibe.
  • Ancelle & Chaillol: Family-friendly ski areas above Gap, great for their marked and well-maintained snowshoe routes.
  • Orcières-Merlette: A higher-altitude resort (1,850 m) with very reliable snow and long routes across the Rocherousse plateau.
• Dévoluy: Less crowded than the big ski resorts, it delivers a genuinely wild mountain atmosphere. Great for a snowshoe outing in the Dévoluy well away from the crowds.
• Villard-de-Lans / Corrençon: Located a bit further north in the Vercors, this Nordic area is a benchmark destination. Its vast plateau is perfect for snowshoeing in the Vercors with no technical difficulty.

When to go? The season generally runs from mid-December to late March. January and February tend to offer the best snow quality, while March brings long sunny days with spring snow (firm in the morning, heavier in the afternoon).

Going out with a guide?

For your first outings, going out with a mountain guide completely transforms the experience. Not because snowshoeing is extreme, but because a local guide brings something no blog article can:

• Perfect route-matching: They choose the day's itinerary based on actual snow conditions, the weather, and the group's fitness level.
• Nature immersion: Reading wolf or chamois tracks in the snow, spotting wildlife, hearing the stories behind the massif.
• Delegated safety: The guide handles navigation, avalanche risk, and pacing. All you have to do is enjoy the silence and the scenery.

At Altimood, we offer introductory snowshoeing outings as half-day or full-day experiences. Equipment (quality snowshoes, poles, and safety gear when needed) is always included. For those who want more, we also organize multi-day snowshoeing trips with nights in mountain refuges. The only prerequisite for multi-day trips: be in good physical shape.

Frequently asked questions about snowshoeing

Is snowshoeing difficult?

No, it's the most accessible winter activity in any ski area. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. A few minutes is all it takes to find your footing. The only three things to keep in mind compared to summer hiking are managing the cold (layering, avoiding heavy sweating), navigation (trails disappear under snow), and avalanche awareness. On marked snowshoe trails, none of these usually pose a problem.

What age can kids start snowshoeing?

From age 4 or 5 on flat terrain, with small snowshoes sized for them. The key is finding a motivating goal: reaching a cabin, following fox tracks, having a snack in the sunshine. From age 8 to 10, kids can easily handle 2 to 3 hours on varied terrain. For very young children carried in a child carrier, be aware: they get cold much faster than the adult who's moving.

How fast do you walk in snowshoes?

On packed snow, expect 3 to 4 km/h (close to a normal walking pace). In deep powder, progress slows to 1.5 to 2.5 km/h and gets very demanding if you're breaking trail. For elevation, an average hiker gains around 200 m/h going up and 300 m/h coming down. Basic rule: always add 30% to your time estimates compared to a summer outing.

Do you need a beacon (DVA) for snowshoeing?

Not always. On marked trails or managed Nordic areas, avalanche risk is controlled and safety equipment isn't required. However, as soon as you leave secured zones and venture under slopes of 30° or more, the beacon-shovel-probe kit becomes essential, and you need to know how to use it. Before any backcountry outing, check the avalanche forecast from Météo-France.

Further reading