It’s snowy and cold, but you want to get out. Downhill skiing is too expensive and backcountry skiing is too difficult. What’s a happy medium? Snowshoeing.
Think of snowshoeing as hiking in the snow, but you can traipse across deep snow and go where there are no trails. You only need basic equipment to get started and it you have ever skied then you probably have most of it already. Here’s a primer on where to go and what to bring. Oh, and when it comes to gear, save money buy buyingused gear in Durango from Durango Outdoor Exchange.
Where to snowshoe in Durango
La Plata Canyon Just 30 minutes from Durango, La Plata Canyon is a scenic and often less-traveled area to explore. The area offers numerous snowshoeing routes, with the main option being the summer road, which you may share with snowmobilers at times. This is an easy, beautiful, quiet spot to go.
Junction Creek When the snow is deep in town, Junction Creek is a great place to head. Follow the gated summer road into the canyon toward the campground and beyond. You can have a great wilderness experience basically right in town. Keep in mind that the beginning of this trail has southern exposure, so it melts out quickly.
Coal Bank Pass Coal Bank Pass offers some of the most stunning views in the area, with trails that go up into the high alpine terrain of the San Juan Mountains. Located along Highway 550, this area offers routes for experienced snowshoers looking for a more challenging outing. The terrain can be steeper and more rugged, so be prepared for more technical conditions. The scenery, however, is unmatched, with wide-open spaces and incredible mountain vistas. One word of warning: The beginning of the trail has avalanche exposure and has a short section of narrow, steep trail to negotiate. Further up there is additional avalanche exposure.
Molas Pass Another stunning destination for snowshoeing, Molas Pass is located north of Coal Bank Pass. The area offers easy access to some beautiful high-altitude trails that provide views of the rugged mountains. Snowshoeing here is perfect for those who want to explore remote areas of the San Juan Mountains while enjoying panoramic views of snow-capped peaks. From the trailhead past the Molas Pass overlook, follow the summer road into a summer campground and beyond. Upper elevation areas in this zone have avalanche exposure.
Gear for snowshoeing in Durango
Snowshoeing is an exciting way to explore Durango’s winter landscape, but having the right gear is essential for comfort and safety. Luckily,Durango Outdoor Exchange has everything you need to make the most of your winter adventure. Here’s a list of essential snowshoeing gear:
Snowshoes Durango Outdoor Exchange offers a range of snowshoes for all types of conditions and terrain. Whether you're hiking along a mellow trail like Junction Creek or tackling more challenging terrain like Coal Bank Pass, the right snowshoes will help you stay efficient and comfortable. Snowshoes come in various sizes, designed for different weights and snow conditions. Let our pros guide you on what to get.
Poles Poles are a great way to improve stability and make snowshoeing easier, especially on uneven, icy, or steep terrain. At Durango Outdoor Exchange, you can find adjustable poles with snow baskets, which are ideal for preventing the poles from sinking too deep into the snow.
Boots Insulated, waterproof boots are essential for snowshoeing. Your feet need to stay warm and dry during your adventure, and durable winter boots will help you do that. You can save a ton of money here buy getting used boots.
Clothing Dressing in layers is essential. You will need moisture-wicking base layers, insulated mid-layers, and weatherproof outer jackets. Choose breathable fabrics to keep sweat away from your body, and bring an extra layer in case temperatures drop.
Gloves, hats, and neck gaiters Keeping your extremities warm is key to staying comfortable while snowshoeing. Durango Outdoor Exchange has a variety of winter accessories such as insulated gloves, cozy hats, and neck gaiters to keep your head, hands, and neck warm.
Backpack and hydration A comfortable backpack is essential for carrying extra layers, snacks, and water. Hydration is just as important in winter, so be sure to bring a bottle or hydration system that won’t freeze during your outing.
It’s winter–make sure you get out there and enjoy it. Stop by Durango’sused gear store for everything you need for a day in the mountains.
When spending one night (or many) in the backcountry, a warm dinner at night and hot beverage in the morning can make the difference. That invariably involves using a stove of some sort–but which one?
Stove technology has been around for decades, but new tech is making them lighter, more efficient, and more dependable than ever before. Here’s a rundown of the different kinds of backpacking stoves:
If you are camping in bear country, or in any place where food storage is a concern, you should strongly consider using a bear canister–a storage system that is built to keep bears out of your food. And in some places, particularly parks in California, Montana, Colorado, and Washington,backcountry campers are required to have and use bear canisters.
While you may get lucky by hanging your food in a sack from a tree, this is not permitted in many areas and virtually impractical in many alpine anddesert backpacking zones. Bear canisters are the preferred method for storing food and other smelly items, but there are many kinds to be aware of. Let’s look at them in more detail.
For many hikers, summiting one of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks is a lifetime achievement. Others make it their entire personality, working for years and even decades to climb all of them. Some make a goal of climbing them all in a single season while others try to ski them all.
The problem with climbing 14ers for many people is that they are difficult–and we’re not just talking about the thin air. Of the 58 in Colorado, about one-third entrail considerable exposure and require skilled route-finding and ascent/descent skills. About half have either moderate or considerable challenges. Just eight are considered “easy.”
Hikers looking to summit a 14er near Durango will find four that rank generally as easy or the easy end of moderate. They are all in the same two canyons and can be climbed by someone with decent fitness, good shoes, and a penchant for waking up early. The roads to access all these peaks are part of the Alpine Loop and can be driven from Silverton in a four-wheel drive such as a Tacoma, but are generally not in all-wheel drives like Subarus.
