Snowshoes Available for Rent Monday - Friday 8 am to 5 pm
Saturday - 8 am to 4 pm
Cost:
$5 per person for River Bend members
$10 per person nonmembers
Cross-Country Ski Trails
Enjoy five miles of cross-country ski trails. A wonderful group of volunteers keeps our trails groomed, plus we receive assistance from the DNR Trails to maintain them. While the use of our trails is free, a ski pass is required for all skiers age 16 or above on MN cross-country ski trails built or maintained with state funds. Accordingly, a Great MN Ski Pass is required on all River Bend trails. A ski pass can be purchased at your local DNR or anywhere where a hunting or fishing license can be purchased. For details on where to purchase the Great MN Ski Pass visit: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/skipass/
Trails are usually groomed the day after a new snow. You may check the current status of our ski trails on our web site once the season begins.
Snowshoe Information
Snowshoe Styles Available at River Bend
Bearpaw
Good for heavy woods and frequent turning. High maneuverability.
Green Mountain
Best for heavily wooded, hilly areas.
Michigan
Good for open or wooded areas. Tails allow for easier, straight-line travel.
Alaskan
Good for open areas and deep snow. Fastest snowshoe in open areas.
Tips on Using Snowshoes
Walking
Stand upright keeping weight on your heels
Keep your toes up
It is not necessary to walk with your feet far apart
Travelling uphill
Walk up hill at an angle if possible
If going straight uphill, point toes out and dig inside edges into snow
Turning
Change direction slowly, taking small steps
Miscellaneous
Travel around fallen trees and rocks or step completely over them
Do not step partially on an object– snowshoes are likely to break
Stay off the ice on the river
Do not walk on groomed ski trails
Snowshoe History & Uses
Snowshoeing was believed to have begun in Central Asia about 6,000 years ago. This was an important invention that may have allowed for the migration over the Bering Strait and eventual colonization of North and South America.
In the past two centuries snowshoeing has become an important part of North American traditions and culture in both Canada and the United States. Community activities including snowshoe clubs and group snowshoe hikes have increased in popularity.
Some of the people who currently make use of snowshoes include recreational users, trappers, hunters, surveyors, soldiers, prospectors, and foresters. Snowshoes work well for any person who spends time walking in deep snow. The snowshoe is designed to spread a person’s body weight out over the snow allowing him or her to walk more on top of the snow than would be possible without snowshoes.
