One of the great things about snowshoeing in Montana is: you'll never run out of places to do it. Just about anywhere you can hike or mountain bike in summer, you can snowshoe in winter. Nordic trails are another good bet, but be polite. Don't destroy groomed cross-country trails with your snowshoes; stay a few paces away from the groomed tracks and nordic skiers will surely smile as they skate by.

Snowshoing, one of the fastest growing winter sports, has made giant strides (if you'll pardon the pun) in recent years. It has at least three great advantages: 1) The basic technology is amazing: you're buoyant on the snow with light extensions of your feet.  You become a non-motorized all-terrain vehicle.  2) You don't need to sacrifice your life savings to buy equipment; and 3) It's easy.

If you're a snowshoeing neophyte, there's no need to bite your nails. Snowshoeing is probably one of the few sports in the world that don't have a steep learning curve. Basically, if you can put one foot in front of the other, you're well on your way to having some fun with snowshoes.

Get out and snowshoe with outdoor educators in Montana's Flathead Valley. Join local naturalists for a day out snowshoeing in different locations around the valley.

2011 Winter Trails Events

What/Where: Family Snowshoe Walk, Blacktail Mtn.

Date: January 8, 2011

Time: 10:00 am to Noon

Host: Flathead Audubon and Flathead National Forest

Phone: 406/837-7500

Limited no. of children's and adult snowshoes available for loan.

Come have fun in the snow! Learn about snowshoeing, identify wildlife tracks and sign, and look for winter birds. Meet at the upper trailhead parking area. For more information or to reserve snowshoes, call the Swan Lake Ranger District, 406/837-7500.

What/Where: Snowshoe Lone Pine State Park

Date: January 19-February 23

Time: 2:00-3:00 pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays

Host: MT. Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Lone Pine State Park

Phone: 755-2706 ext. 2

Email: mchappelow@mt.gov

Explore Lone Pine State Park on snowshoes! Take a snowshoe walk on one of the many easy to moderate trails. Adult and child size snowshoes are available for $5 on a first-come, first-served basis. Free ranger-led hikes are available on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons through February 23rd. Be prepared with warm clothing and wear sturdy hiking shoes.

What/Where: Winter Signs Snowshoe Program

Time: 10:30am & 1:30pm, Saturday & Sunday until March 20th.

Host: Glacier National Park

Phone: 888-7939

Email: laura_law@nps.gov

Web: http://www.nps.gov/glac/parknews/news10-102.htm

Ranger-led snowshoe hikes suitable for beginners and families. Come learn a little about winter ecology during a 2 hour-long hike. Snowshoes are available for participants going on the ranger-led hike. No reservations required. Visitors still need to purchase a park entrance pass. Meet at the Apgar Visitor Center.