Snowshoeing Tours: 8 Reasons to Hire a Guide
Snowshoeing is a wonderful way to spend a day in the Canadian Rockies. The air is fresh, the scenery is stunning and the rosy cheeked company can set the tone for your outing. Guided snowshoeing tours can lead you through snow covered forests, along frozen lakes and waterfalls, or even to mountain peaks with remarkable views.
Snowshoeing is an ideal way to get outside and connect with nature—however, it comes with many risks, especially in the winter. The safest way to enjoy a snowshoe in the Canadian Rockies is to hire a guide.
Safety is the Number One Priority
Safety first—we cannot emphasize this enough! Guides are trained to help you have a safe, fun day out in the snow, starting with the right equipment, finding the trailhead and ensuring that the trail is suitable for your skill level.
Their knowledge of the trail and its conditions guarantees you won’t get lost—not the best way to spend the day. They also carry satellite devices so you can call for help if you need it. And, accredited guides are all qualified in Wilderness First Aid, an advanced first aid qualification specifically designed for outdoor recreation.
Never Worry about Winter Driving
Winter weather in Canada can change quickly—a clear day can turn into a snowstorm with little to no visibility. The best snowshoe trails are often off the beaten path, which can require more advanced winter driving skills and winter tires to get there. Most rental vehicles from Calgary come with all-season tires, not winter tires, and the difference is substantial.
Private snowshoeing tours collect you from your accommodations, so you never have to wonder or worry about driving conditions. Eliminate the stress and leave it to the professionals. We maintain our vehicles to the highest standards, regularly upgrade our winter tires, and require employees to pass a commercial driving test to ensure they have the skills to take you where you want to go safely.Guides Understand Mountain Weather
Dramatic weather changes can render a trail unsafe and unusable—and in the mountains, it’s not uncommon for the day to start at a pleasant temperature of 0°C ( 32°F) and end at -20°C ( -4°F). Changes in weather happen quickly and it’s important to be prepared, which is why professional guides know how to pivot appropriately.
Guides check multiple forecasts before heading out, and know when to change plans and exit the trail if bad weather is on the horizon—often a difficult decision to make on your own, especially if you’re not familiar with the area.
Learn How to Snowshoe From a Pro
If you fall in love with snowshoeing, you may want to hit the trails more often. There is no better way to learn than to hire an expert so you can gain a foundation of knowledge before trying it on your own.
Discover what you need to know about snowshoeing gear, how to find trails, hazards, and more by asking your guide your burning questions. They’re happy to teach you snowshoeing basics and point you in the right direction before you invest in expensive snowshoeing equipment.
5. Try out Top-Tier Equipment
Try out the Cadillac of snowshoes! Most snowshoeing tours provide all the equipment you need—snowshoes, poles, backpacks and even boots. You’ll never be left to guess what to wear or bring, your guide will make sure you have the right layers and will help keep you toasty with hand and feet warmers.
Snowshoeing equipment is expensive, so renting as part of a snowshoeing tour is the ideal way to test out different brands without the commitment. Your guide is an expert on the various styles and the environments they perform best in, so ask for their input.
6. Gain A Local Perspective from a Trained Professional
Guides know it all—and they’re eager to share with you about the area’s flora and fauna, geology, history and more. On a snowshoeing tour, you might encounter wildlife or plants that you’re unfamiliar with, like an unusual bird only found in the Rockies or lichen that you never knew existed, and a guide can tell you more about them.
Your guide can’t wait to share their huge amount of knowledge, passion and enthusiasm for the mountains and their surroundings with you—sometimes all you have to do is show interest and ask questions.
7. Fuel Up With Great Food
Snack while you explore! When you take a guided snowshoeing tour, you’ll never have to worry about warming up with a hot beverage or satiating your grumbling stomach after a long day on the trails.
Whether it’s a delicious packed lunch, or a mouthwatering meal served up at a cozy mountain lodge, you’re guaranteed to love the sustenance your guide delivers. Fresh mountain air definitely makes food taste better.
8. Your Experience is Your Guide’s Priority
Guides in general are a fun, sociable bunch of people and their number one goal is to make sure you have a good time on your snowshoeing tours.
A good guide will make it their personal responsibility to ensure you enjoy a seamless experience, and they’ll make changes and adapt to keep you and your group comfortable and safe. Take a guided tour—do less planning and more experiencing the inspiring Canadian Rockies.
Photo Credit: Travel Alberta - Mike Seehagel
Snowshoeing tours to remember for a lifetime
Take a deep breath of fresh mountain air as you gaze out at the glittering, snow-covered peaks on your own private snowshoe tour. Canadian Rockies Experience is a Canmore based company offering individualized sightseeing and guided tours in the summer and winter. Bespoke, private tours allow you to see the Canadian Rockies your way, without the fuss. Book now to take a guided tour today.
Canadian Rockies Experience is a Canmore based private tour guiding company in the Heart of the Canadian Rockies. Snowshoe tours are delivered in the best areas of the Canadian Rockies and are suitable for various ages and abilities. Remember, anyone can snowshoe and it is a quintessential Canadian experience not to be missed.
Author
Laura Dowling is an I.G.A. Professional Guide and owner of Canadian Rockies Experience. Laura is passionate about guiding visitors around the Rockies and making sure they experience all it has to offer.