Colorado is synonymous with winter sports. A natural fit, it’s certainly not difficult to understand why visitors and locals alike flock to our Rocky Mountains each winter to play in the powder. While the state’s colossal ski and snowboard industry is by far the main attraction, even diehards may want to branch out now and then to try something different.

Considered the world’s fastest growing winter sport, according to Snowshoe Magazine, snowshoeing is easier to pick up than most snow sports, far less expensive and offers a view of Colorado’s winter playground from another, less crowded vantage.
   

    As the saying goes, if you can walk, you can snowshoe—although it may not be quite that easy. Julie Nirvelli, head honcho and lead guide for Get Out Colorado, a company specializing in guided hiking and snowshoe adventures, compares snowshoeing to walking in sand. It has some resistance so it will definitely raise your heart rate, but Nirvelli explains that it’s different from other winter sports because it is such a peaceful experience. The versatile sport is “a great way to rejuvenate, relax or bond with someone. It’s a great date idea if you want to get to know somebody or ideal just for girlfriends who want to catch up,” Nirvelli says. And because you control the pace, it is fairly easy to maintain conversation and take in the sights while you make your way down a trail.
   
Although a far cry from the long lines and downhill rush of skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing is an invigorating outdoor winter sport that requires some preparation and planning ahead. Most Nordic centers rent gear, and Nirvelli recommends Trailridge Outfitters in Estes Park for gear rentals and sleds to pull the kids. “I definitely recommend renting for people who are just starting out,” Nirvelli expresses, “I would suggest renting a nice pair of snowshoes because you could rent for $10-$12 a day whereas if you were to buy a nice pair it would cost around $200.