Snowshoeing in New Hampshire

Snowshoeing is a family-friendly winter sport that offers outdoor exercise and fun for all ages and abilities. And the best part? You can usually snowshoe for free or at a nominal cost (to cover trail or rental usage), so snowshoeing is very budget friendly (if you already have the equipment, that is).

New to snowshoeing and not sure what to expect? Snowshoeing is basically walking or hiking on snow and really only requires snowshoes and poles for equipment. If you want to buy your own snowshoes, they range from about $40 – $150 and poles are usually included in the price. If you plan to go more than a couple times each winter, you should definitely invest in buying your own snowshoes and hitting up the local, free trails. You can find snowshoes at EMS, L.L. Bean, Dick’s Sporting Goods, etc. or even stores like Ocean State Job Lot and Walmart. If you want to try out snowshoeing before making the investment of buying your own equipment, then you can usually rent snowshoes (see a list of places below).

Here are some of our favorite spots in New Hampshire to go snowshoeing. (Psst — these trails are also great cross-country ski trails, too!)

If you have your own snowshoes, here’s where to go:

• Old Bridle Path in Holderness
• Mount Monadnock Loop and Monadnock State Park in Jaffrey
• Franconia Notch State Park in Franconia
• Battery Point via the Massabesic Audubon Center in Auburn
  • Lake Massabesic, in general, has some great trails to check out. We recommend the entrances via By-Pass 28 (parking areas near the Auburn traffic circle or the parking lot at the Audubon Center).
• Heald Pond Trail in Wilton
• Hamlin Recreation and Conservation Area Trail in Meredith
• Odiorne State Park in Rye

If you’re looking to rent snowshoes or groomed trails, here’s where to go:

• Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Foundation in Intervale
  • Trail rates range from $8-$20
• Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford
  • Trail rates range from $12-$24
• Waterville Valley Resort in Waterville Valley
  • Trail pass and rentals is $18-$27
• Pats Peak Ski Resort in Henniker
  • Rentals are $19
• Jackson Ski Touring Foundation in Jackson
  • A snowshoe trail pass is $12-$25 per person and rentals are $10-$15
• Great Glen Trails in Pinkham Notch
  • Trail rate is $14-$26; rentals are $12-$25
• Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center in Laconia
  • Rentals are $5 for non-members (free for members)
• Eastman Cross Country Center in Grantham
  • Rentals range from $13-$17
• Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods
  • Trail rates are $25
  • Guided tours and expeditions are also available
• Loon Mountain Adventure Center in Lincoln
  • Purchase the self-guided trail ticket at the resort ticket window, please bring your own equipment
• Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center in Hanover
  • Daily rentals are $10-$20
• Dexter’s Inn in Sunapee
  • Trails are open to inn guests and the public
  • Trail rates range from $6-$12; rentals are $10-$15
• Bear Notch Ski Touring in Bartlett
  • Trail rates: free for kids with a paying adult; $22 for adults; seniors are $20
  • Rentals are $23

Credit: NHMagazine.com