Snowshoeing

Countries & Best Snowshoeing Places 

Switzerland

Where: Zermatt, Engadin Valley, Grindelwald
Why It’s Ideal:

• World-class, meticulously maintained snowshoe trails winding through the Alps.
• Highly safe, with excellent signage and rescue services.
• Strong culture of luxury wellness resorts, many offering women-only spa days, yoga, and meditation after a day outside.
• Women’s groups often organize guided snowshoe tours, perfect for solo or group travelers seeking connection.

Unique Experience: Enjoy fondue dinners in mountain huts after snowshoe treks surrounded by iconic peaks like the Matterhorn.

Canada

Where: Banff, Jasper, Mont Tremblant
Why It’s Ideal:

• Vast protected wilderness and national parks with gentle to challenging trails.
• Friendly, bilingual communities welcoming solo women travelers.
• Indigenous-led tours introduce cultural storytelling combined with snowshoe walks.
• Many resorts offer women-only winter retreats combining snowshoeing, mindfulness, and wellness.

Unique Experience: Guided nighttime snowshoe tours ending by a campfire with traditional stories and hot drinks.

Norway

Where: Tromsø, Geilo, Hemsedal
Why It’s Ideal:

• Arctic winter landscapes and the chance to see the Northern Lights while snowshoeing.
• Strong gender equality culture means women travelers feel safe and welcomed.
• Local Sami guides (many women) offer immersive cultural experiences alongside snowshoe trekking.
• Well-maintained trails with few crowds allow peaceful nature immersion.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe through reindeer herding lands and learn about Sami traditions.

Finland

Where: Rovaniemi, Saariselkä, Kemi
Why It’s Ideal:

• Endless snowy pine forests and gently rolling terrain, ideal for beginners and intermediates.
• Wellness focus: traditional Finnish sauna culture complements snowshoe adventures perfectly.
• Many women-run lodges and guide services focus on personalized, intimate experiences.

Unique Experience: Try snowshoeing combined with an evening sauna and ice swimming ritual.

France

Where: Chamonix, Mercantour, Vercors Massif
Why It’s Ideal:

• Alpine charm combined with sophisticated outdoor culture.
• Women-only snowshoe hiking groups and retreats are common.
• Après-snowshoe includes gourmet mountain cuisine and wine tasting.
• Variety of trails for all levels, plus beginner-friendly options.

Unique Experience: Participate in a winter yoga and snowshoe retreat in the French Alps.

Italy

Where: Dolomites (Alta Badia, Cortina d’Ampezzo), Aosta Valley
Why It’s Ideal:

• Stunning UNESCO World Heritage landscapes.
• Women-led snowshoe tours that emphasize slow travel, mindfulness, and culinary delights.
• Safety and comfort with well-marked trails and friendly mountain communities.
• Post-snowshoe indulgence in thermal baths and local wine.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe followed by a visit to local mountain cheese producers or wine cellars.

USA

Where: Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Wyoming), Vermont, Sierra Nevada (California/Nevada)
Why It’s Ideal:

• Wide range of trails from gentle walks to mountain passes.
• Vibrant women’s outdoor communities and female-led adventure companies.
• Options for luxury lodges, wellness centers, and rustic cabins.
• Many snowshoe tours include mindfulness practices, journaling, and nature therapy.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe retreats paired with mindfulness coaching or creative writing workshops.

Japan

Where: Hokkaido (Niseko, Furano), Nagano
Why It’s Ideal:

• Soft powder snow and culturally immersive experiences.
• Women-friendly, with many female guides and homestays.
• Combine snowshoeing with onsen (hot spring) relaxation and traditional meals.
• Safe, quiet rural areas great for solo travelers.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe to hidden waterfalls or remote shrines followed by a soak in a hot spring.

Austria

Where: Tyrol, Salzburg Alps, Styria
Why It’s Ideal:

• Well-developed winter tourism infrastructure catering to women’s groups.
• Charming villages and alpine huts where women travelers can enjoy cultural evenings.
• Snowshoe trails accessible for all fitness levels.
• Many wellness hotels offer spa days, massages, and fitness classes post-trek.

Unique Experience: Evening snowshoe with a local storyteller followed by Austrian pastries and hot cocoa.

Slovenia

Where: Triglav National Park, Vogel Ski Resort
Why It’s Ideal:

• Safe, intimate mountain settings perfect for women seeking quieter alternatives to crowded resorts.
• Emerging network of women guides and eco-tourism operators.
• Stunning nature and welcoming local communities.
• Affordable prices make it accessible for many travelers.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe tours paired with farm-to-table alpine dinners and eco-lodges.

Sweden

Where: Abisko National Park, Åre, Fulufjället
Why It’s Ideal:

• Accessible wilderness with easy-to-navigate trails.
• Strong community support for women outdoors, including special events and workshops.
• Cozy mountain cabins perfect for solo women travelers.
• Husky sledding or snowshoe combo adventures are popular.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe under the Northern Lights followed by hot chocolate by a fireplace.

New Zealand

Where: Mt. Cook, Queenstown, Wanaka
Why It’s Ideal:

• Snowshoeing during the northern summer months — perfect for off-season skiing or snow lovers.
• Women-friendly adventure outfitters offering personalized tours.
• Spectacular Southern Alps scenery with fewer crowds.
• Combine with wine tasting, glacier hiking, and wellness retreats.

Unique Experience: Multi-day snowshoe tours with overnight stays in mountain lodges.

Spain

Where: Pyrenees (Ordesa y Monte Perdido, Catalonia), Sierra Nevada
Why It’s Ideal:

• Sunny skies combined with high-altitude snowy trails.
• Small but active women’s outdoor groups organizing seasonal snowshoe walks.
• Combine with regional cuisine and thermal baths for post-trek recovery.
• Friendly, intimate mountain villages.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe with a local guide and finish with tapas and local wine tastings.

Germany

Where: Bavarian Alps (Garmisch-Partenkirchen), Black Forest
Why It’s Ideal:

• Reliable trail marking and gentle terrain ideal for beginners and intermediates.
• Mountain guesthouses run by women offering personalized hospitality.
• Access to wellness spas and thermal baths.
• Active women’s hiking and snowshoeing clubs.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe to alpine huts followed by traditional Bavarian meals and folk music.

Andorra

Where: Grandvalira, Vallnord
Why It’s Ideal:

• Compact, safe, and affordable with a welcoming local culture.
• Great beginner and intermediate snowshoe trails.
• Wellness resorts offer women-only spa days and fitness classes.
• Quiet mountain villages with traditional charm.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe and herbal tea tasting in mountain lodges.

Iceland

Where: Þórsmörk Valley, Landmannalaugar
Why It’s Ideal:

• Dramatic volcanic and glacier landscapes perfect for adventurous women travelers.
• Remote and quiet trails allow a strong connection with nature.
• Women-led photography and nature tours are popular.
• Soak in geothermal pools after snowshoe days.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe hike to a remote hot spring for a natural spa experience.

Scotland 

Where: Cairngorms, Glencoe
Why It’s Ideal:

• Rugged but accessible terrain with well-maintained paths.
• Strong community of women hikers and outdoor leaders.
• Unique blend of history, culture, and nature.
• Traditional pubs and cozy inns perfect for après-snowshoe.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe accompanied by storytelling about local legends around a peat fire.

Czech 

Where: Krkonoše Mountains, Jeseníky
Why It’s Ideal:

• Affordable, lesser-known mountain destinations with quiet trails.
• Small, friendly towns with family-run guesthouses.
• Good for women travelers looking for off-the-beaten-path snowshoeing.
• Wellness options include mineral spas and massage therapies.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe tour followed by visits to thermal spas.

Chile

Where: Patagonia (Torres del Paine), Araucanía
Why It’s Ideal:

• Jaw-dropping mountain and glacier scenery.
• Growing number of female guides and women-focused outdoor groups.
• Cultural experiences with Mapuche communities enhance the adventure.
• Hot springs available for post-trek relaxation.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe with Mapuche women guides sharing indigenous knowledge.

Nepal

Where: Annapurna foothills, Nagarkot, Dhulikhel
Why It’s Ideal:

• Himalayan foothills offer accessible winter snowshoeing with cultural depth.
• Increasing women-led trekking companies focused on safety and empowerment.
• Combine with meditation and yoga retreats for holistic well-being.
• Peaceful trails with stunning mountain views.

Unique Experience: Snowshoe trekking followed by tea ceremonies and guided mindfulness.