How Much Snow You Need To Go Snowshoeing! (Minimum Required)

Winter time hits and the snowshoes come out! And typically the first question people find themselves wondering is: “how much snow do you need in order to begin snowshoeing?” I too have found myself wondering this exact same question as it is a common question to be asked around the start or the end of the winter season.

Well, today we are going to discuss this in great detail so you can be aware of what to expect in terms of snow depth and whether or not it is going to be a good idea to head out snowshoeing at the current moment.

You see, there are two main reasons I see people asking this question. The first is those who are wondering how deep the snow needs to be before they should begin using their snowshoes so that it makes hiking easier rather then more harder. The second group, is those who are worried about damaging there snowshoes due to debris and other contents lurking underneath the surface of the snow.

You may be apart of 1 or both of the above listed parties. Either way, lets get both questions answered today!

Well, the simple answer to the question of “how much snow do you need to snowshoe” simply put is: In most cases snow at a depth of 6″ to 8″ or more is typically safe for your snowshoes, and worthwhile to be wearing them. Whereas any less snow could cause damage to your snowshoes or simply make travel more difficult. But this greatly depends on the location you intend to snowshoe. As different locations typically have different debris that can be lurking under the snow waiting to damage or catch your snowshoe/s off guard.

We will be discussing more on this below but for now, a good rule of thumb is to stay on trails that are well groomed during the off season. This way you have a good idea as to what is likely to be under the snow. If you intend to be headed off trail into rough backcountry terrain it is a good idea to wait till the snow level gets much deeper.

Ideal Minimum Snow Depth For Different Terrain Types

The way I see it is, Minimum required snow depth depends greatly on the terrain type under the snow rather then the snow depth in general.

Given that snow depth is more to provide a safe padded layer between your snowshoes and the hard ground below at least when it is on the thinner side. It is important that you have enough snow coverage so any debris that may be near to the surface doesn’t damage or snag your snowshoes. This way you can avoid damage and other mishaps that could occur to yourself and your snowshoes.

Below we will be discussing different terrain types and the depth to which the snow should be per each terrain type before you embark out on your snowshoes.  So essentially, you should know what the terrain looks like under the snow, and pair it with how deep the snow is in order to know whether or not its a good idea to head out on your snowshoes at the current moment.

This will better help you understand the proper snow depth for the proper terrain type that is beneath the snow. Because given that the amount of snow that is required in order to go snowshoeing is more based on protecting your snowshoes rather than it is the snowshoes being required. Now once you get deeper than a foot or more the snowshoes begin to do what they were made for (Help you float nearer to the surface) but any less snow than that and you run risk of damaging your snowshoes, dependent on the terrain under the snow of course.

Pavement

If you are going to be snowshoeing around your neighborhood on the sidewalks or on a well paved trail up the canyon, either way you are going to be traveling on a solid and smooth surface beneath the snow for the most part.

This makes it to where a depth of 6” or more of snow is ideal. Because, given the nature of pavement or concrete it is for the most part quite smooth and will not typically allow for hidden objects to be placed underneath the surface of the snow.

This means there is a lower risk of your snowshoes being damaged, or getting caught up on any unforeseen debris that is likely to be under the snow.

Now, this doesn’t mean nothing is going to be lurking underneath the snow when you are traveling on pavement. It rather means the likelihood of you damaging your snowshoes when snowshoeing in snow of a minimum depth of 6″ on pavement or concrete is much lower then that of traveling on a rocky, dirt trail, or off trail of the same snow depth.

Groomed Dirt / Gravel

If you are going to be snowshoeing in an area that is known to be free from any large rocks or other debris, 8“ of snow or more is a good starting point when you should begin using your snowshoes. You see, when it comes to snowshoeing on a path that is known to be made up of smooth dirt or gravel that does not house large rocks, at least that you know of during the summer months you don’t have to worry a whole lot about damage occurring to your snowshoes as there is not much that is likely to show up in terms of debris underneath the surface of the snow.

But of course in order to know that you have to have traveled the trail during the warmer months and know what you can expect for the most part.  But typically if you are going to be snowshoeing on any sort of dirt, or gravel road that is used during the warmer season when the snow ceases to exist you shouldn’t have to worry too much about debris under the snow as long as you know the road way during the warmer season.

Grass

The thing about grass is as long as it does not have any debris underneath the surface of the snow you can literally probably just walk on the grass by itself you wouldn’t need any snow due to the nature of grass and how it is plush and soft for the most part.

I would suggest 3″ to 4″ inches of snow at least just to be safe. But again when it comes to grass it’s not likely to damage your snowshoes, as long as you are on well-cared-for grass that you know does not house any debris that could damage your snowshoes.

Now, the big part to consider when it comes to snowshoeing in snow that is less than 6″ is the fact that snowshoes don’t really do much in terms of flotation when compared to simply walking in your snow boots. So at this point you would more be just playing around in your snowshoes just to do so, rather than actually getting any benefit from them.

But, I must admit I have test it out my snowshoes in snow that was of about 4″ on a surface that I knew grass was underneath. This was because I was so excited to test out my new pair of snowshoes I was unable to wait for a larger snowstorm to come rolling by. Now, if I was to try them on a harder were rougher surface that I very likely could have damaged or began to damage my snowshoes.

If you are excited to test out a new pair of snowshoes you just picked up, I would suggest you test them on the grass when the snow is under the minimum required depth of 6″ – 8″. But only do so on grass that you trust.

Wooded Areas With Logs / Fallen Trees

Now we are going to be getting into more backcountry debris that you are likely to run into. First, logs and / or tipped over trees…If you do any snowshoeing in the mountains or in areas that are typically not cleaned up in a fashion like you would see around state parks and locations alike. You are likely to come across tipped over trees and logs that are going to be in your pathway.

Now, the thing about snowshoeing is typically the snow hides these elements, making it very difficult for you to assess the pathway ahead and before each step. And if the snow isn’t very deep you run the risk of damaging your snowshoes do to a large log in the trail that you did not see coming.

If you intend to be snowshoeing in such country I would suggest that you wait until the snow is upwards of 1.5’ To 2’ feet deep. This will ensure for the most part that you have a large enough barrier between the bottom of your snowshoes and the surface beneath the snow so that damage does not occur.

But it is important to keep in mind what could potentially be underneath the snow, this will keep you alert and hopefully help you to keep from getting caught up on any debris or damaging your snowshoes or even worse.

But this greatly depends on what the terrain looks like before the snow had touched the ground. In some locations 1’ foot maybe enough to provide a protective barrier of snow.

Rocks, Boulders & Stumps Are Likely Present

Rocks, boulders and stumps lurking beneath the surface of the snow are likely to be the biggest threat to your snowshoes. As they can easily cause the most damage due to their hard nature, and ease to conceal under the snow characteristics.

Now, dependent on the size of the rocks and, or tree stumps that are under the surface snow from a depth of 1’ foot to 3’ feet could be a good starting point. But for the most part as long as you know and understand the terrain simply 1.5’ To 2’ feet deep of snow is likely adequate enough to begin snowshoeing. Obviously the more the snow the better basically in every situation. But as we all know typically 10 feet of snow doesn’t always fall at once. It usually builds on itself over a period of time, and multiple snowstorms.

Mixture Of All The Above

Now obviously any time you head out snowshoeing you are likely to cross multiple terrain types that are underneath the surface of the snow. I would suggest depending on the location you have chosen make your best guess based upon the above list of  debris to look out for underneath the surface.

Me personally, I don’t leave the backyard unless I know the snow is 1’ foot deep or more. Preferably more, as I find more enjoyment in snowshoeing when the snow is deeper. But my personal preference is 1’ foot deep or deeper.

But most suggest 6” inches is okay to start at. I’m just overly cautious I guess you could say.

What Can Happen If Snow Isn’t Deep Enough?

Many potential problems can occur if you are attempting to snowshoe in snow that is not deep enough, so far you have likely gotten some hints here and there, but now I want to dive deep into the repercussions that can come from snowshoeing in snow that isn’t deep enough…

Snowshoes Can’t Provide Added Benefit

Snowshoes are designed to use a larger amount of surface area in order to keep you from sinking like you would simply walking in regular shoes or boots in the snow. Based on this there is a point where snowshoes basically become insufficient depending on the depth of the snow.  Specifically this attains to snow that is not deep enough.

In most cases snow that is less than 6 inches deep likely will not require snowshoes. Due to the fact that there is so little snow you would essentially be sinking the same amount in your snowshoes as you would be without them.

This virtually makes snow shoes useless at this point. It is when the snow gets deeper and you begin to sink at a much greater rate when snowshoes become a desire or even a must.

I personally don’t worry about wearing snowshoes until the snow is 1’ foot deep or close to it, any less snow than that and I feel like they are useless to a point. Now they are typically equipped with crampons, otherwise known as ice cleats and these can do a great job in providing traction on packed snow or ice.. But these crampons can be damaged if the snow is not deep enough.

Potential Of Getting Hung Up On Debris

Just like when you go snowboarding or skiing if the snow isn’t deep enough you could end up getting caught up on debris that is underneath the surface of the snow, which can in turn cause you to trip and fall, or damage your snowshoes.

Debris such as logs, twigs, rocks, stumps and much more that is hiding underneath the surface of the snow can easily grab your snowshoe in a way to where it causes you to fall and get hurt, or tear apart the snowshoe in a manner that is unfixable.

Me personally I’m not too worried about tripping over debris that is hiding underneath the surface of the snow, as I am still quite young and able to take the impact. Plus typically snow provides decent amount of cushion to absorb a fall. But I know for some they can’t afford to take a fall. This is where I see snowshoeing in snow that is under the required depth to be a danger.

Potential Damage Could Occur To Snowshoes

This is probably the one I fear most. As snowshoes can be somewhat expensive. Obviously it depends on the snowshoe style, or brand that you go with. But in most cases snowshoes are upwards of $100 plus.

And if you’re snowshoeing in snow that is not deep enough the odds of damaging a snowshoe or both can become quite high. Just simply snagging the side of your snowshoe on a aggressive rock, or sliding down the side of a small rock can easily chew up and damages snowshoe.

Not to mention potential punctures that could be put in the decking of the snowshoe due to sharp objects lurking underneath the surface of the snow.

Now, for the most part as long as the snow is deep enough and you keep close eye out for any debris that is likely to be under the surface of the snow you can likely avoid any damage that could occur to your snowshoes.

But by simply going out snowshoeing and snow that isn’t deep enough you heighten the odds of damaging your snowshoes quite significantly.

Although, there are some ideas that some implement in order to protect their snowshoes when they’re snowshoeing in snow that isn’t the proper depth. Such as, covering their crampons with tape in a thick matter in order to try and protect the crampons from being dulled.

But for the most part I don’t feel as if many of these ideas work for an extensive period of time. Me personally if I had to go out snowshoeing in snow that wasn’t an adequate depth then I would opt for a cheaper snowshoe, that I don’t care for as much as my other/s…

Conclusion

Simply if you can avoid snowshoeing in snow that is less than 6” inches then do it. But if you intend to go out in the backcountry snowshoeing I would wait until the snow is at least one to two feet deep.

As you do not want to damage your snowshoes due to debris being too close to the surface layer of the snow. But I mean if you don’t care for your snowshoes as much as some then really you could go snowshoeing in any depth that you would like. It’s just you run a high risk of damaging your snowshoes. It’s all up to you.

But again keep in mind that snow depth isn’t necessarily a linear amount but rather a meander based upon what the terrain looks like underneath the snow. Now I know this is difficult to know what the terrain looks like underneath the snow as it is currently covered with snow if it is winter time when you are reading this. But if it is a trail that you frequent during the off-season then odds are it is somewhat similar underneath the surface of the snow.

However, if you have never been to the location you intend to go snowshoeing at I would suggest you wait till the snow depth is at least 1’ To 2’ feet deep before heading out.

I hope you were able to gain some value from this article. If you have any further questions regarding snowshoeing then be sure to checkout the Outdoor Luxuriez Snowshoeing Lounge for more Info!

This is colt signing off!