snowshoeing at silver lake

Guess what? It's snowy in Utah (and will be for the next few months) but that doesn't mean we have to stay inside. We have a whole new outdoor playground to explore with this wintry weather! I'm really excited to take advantage of our amazing winters. Yesterday was a gray day, but what I love about Utah is it's bright, beautiful, blue sky days! They are so invigorating!

So we decided to take the boys snowshoeing, and it turns out they weren't the only first timers on the trip- Adam has never been either! Instead of letting the snow stop your hikes, just strap these shoes to your boots and you're set to enjoy the mountains! The poles are optional, and actually weren't needed on such an easy hike, but Elliott LOVED having them. And we got a little extra workout moving our arms back and forth.
And get this- we were the only snowshoers on the lake. Yep- peaceful, clean, snowy and just for our little family. They had a trail set for snowshoeing and another made for cross country skiers, which was nice. And guess what- if you have your own snowshoes, it only cost $5 for adults and it was free for 7 and under. (You can also rent your gear there like we did.)

We were a little nervous about this guy- but he did so well. Not a word of complaint. He thought snowshoeing was awesome.

The views were amazing. Wow- I feel spoiled living here!

Through the woods. (Ollie's feet make me laugh.)

Can you spot the sun?

We all wore layers so we could shed them as we warmed up, but Linc had the most since he was only riding. I'm pretty sure he couldn't move. A Christmas Story comes to mind...

Our friend the squirrel.

The frozen lake was covered with snow. We saw a few skiers go right across it on the ski path.

Need I say the boys were in heaven?

We watched the ducks swim from this lookout in the summer.
Rosy cheeks! He was actually so warm, we had unzip his coat...
Sleepy little Linc. He did so good in the backpack and we only lost his blankey once. The hike took us about an hour after the boys inspected every little thing. (Time well spent.)

(photo from the drive down the canyon)

(Photo from the beautiful drive up.)

My tips for snowshoeing:

1. Have your snow clothes ready the night before. Then you don't waste precious time searching for that lost glove, or the hat you haven't used in 4 years...

2. Dress in layers! It was freezing in the mountains, but we were perfectly warm with our layers. You warm up fast when you are walking at a good pace, so it's nice to shed a layer if needed. Always start with unzipping first...

3. Check the weather conditions. You should be fine on the Silver Lake trail even if it's snowing a lot, but you want the roads to be clear if possible so you can drive safely up and down.

4. With kids, start easy and work your way up. Silver Lake is a good first time snowshoe experience. It's groomed and there are no steep sections and it gets them used to walking a little differently and using the spikes on the snowshoes.

5. Also with kids- always remember water and a snack!

6. Have fun!

To get there: Drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon for 14 miles to the Nordic Center. You'll see the signs and it's right between Solitude and Brighton, just as you enter the Brighton Loop. It's on the right. You can rent snowshoes and poles from the Nordic Center (or skis and poles) and the trail starts just out the back door.

We got all of our gear for $38. Poles were $4 a pair, so going without can save you some money. For more information go here: Solitude Nordic Center and make sure to scroll to the bottom to see all the details.