The place to Snowshoe with Your Canine in Washington State

I assume you landed on this text since you already like to snowshoe along with your canine in winter otherwise you wish to begin doing it.

I’ve been snowshoeing with my canines for over 10 years and have traveled throughout Washington State to do it.

If you happen to’ve by no means performed it earlier than, there are a number of causes to begin snowshoeing along with your canine.

I counsel taking a newbie snowshoe class from the Mountaineers or happening a guided snowshoe tour with REI.

Whereas canines should not allowed to attend these courses and excursions, you possibly can go be taught the abilities after which take your canine with you once you really feel assured sufficient to go by yourself. 

Whether or not you’re on the lookout for a canine pleasant snowshoe path close to Seattle, or you might be coming from one other space of the state, these are the locations value touring to snowshoe along with your canine.

The place Am I Allowed to Snowshoe with My Canine?

Opposite to common perception, you possibly can’t simply discover some snow, strap on snowshoes, and take off along with your canine.

For instance, many snow parks, formally referred to as Sno-Parks, in Washington don’t permit canines. 

Groomed cross nation ski trails usually don’t permit snowshoes or canines as a result of they’ll mess up the groomed floor.

You even have to think about avalanche hazard. Many summer time trails can grow to be demise traps in winter.

Typically although, you and your canine are welcome:

• On any Forest Service logging roads*
• Ungroomed (for snowboarding) sno parks
• Summer season canine pleasant climbing trails which might be accessible and secure within the winter**

* A variety of Forest Service roads grow to be groomed and ungroomed snowmobile trails in winter. You and your canine can snowshoe right here however beware that some obtain a lot motorized site visitors that it may be harmful, particularly on weekends. On the minimal, canines ought to at all times be saved on a leash the place snowmobiles are allowed.

** All the time test avalanche situations earlier than you go. Taking, at a minimal, an avalanche consciousness coaching is extremely recommended too.

Which Washington State Sno-Parks Enable Canines?

Some Washington State Sno-parks permit canines and a few don’t.

Canines ARE NOT allowed at these Sno-Parks:

• Hyak (Palouse to Cascades State Park Path)
• Erling Stordahl (Crystal Springs Sno-Park)
• Lake Easton State Park
• Cabin Creek north aspect of I-90!​

Canines ARE allowed at these Washington Sno-Parks (from west to east):

• Asahel Curtis (Denny Creek)
• Gold Creek
• Easton Reload
• Blewett Cross
• Pipe Creek
• Swauk Campground
• Elk Heights
• Salmon La Sac

Please bear in mind these vital guidelines for those who take your canine to a Sno-Park.

• No canines or snowshoes on groomed tracks
• Don’t stroll on the groomed path
• Downhill skiers have the suitable of method
• For security, your canine must be on leash
• Choose up and pack out your canine poop

For extra data, see Central Cascades Winter Recreation Council​’s web page about canines at Sno-Parks.

Which Mountaineering Trails Can I Snowshoe With My Canine?

Most climbing trails within the mountains flip right into a winter wonderland after late November or December.

Until the realm is changed into a groomed Sno-Park, usually, canines are allowed on any of those trails.

Nonetheless, not all of them are appropriate for snowshoeing along with your canine.

Watch out for Security Dangers

In winter, the path situations can differ broadly.

If you hike in the summertime, for the publish half, the path floor and dangers don’t change. However they do within the winter.

Most notably, the potential for avalanche poses a excessive threat on some trails when snow is current.

For instance, the Snow Lake on Snoqualmie Cross, and Granite Mountain Lookout close to North Bend, cross a high-risk avalanche chute in winter and are greatest averted by all however essentially the most skillful mountaineers.

Lesser dangers are encountering bushes and branches that fell throughout the path from the burden of snow and ice and collapsing snow bridges.

All the time familiarize your self with path situations earlier than you head out to snowshoe your favourite summer time climbing path in winter.

The perfect locations to do that are to learn WTA journey experiences by wanting up your chosen path and test the overall avalanche threat forecast (map) for the realm.

What Are The Finest Canine Pleasant Snowshoe Trails in Washington?

What makes the very best path might be particular person to you and your canine primarily based on, for instance:

• Bodily health (bear in mind, snowshoeing is tougher than strolling, particularly when breaking path)
• The place you reside
• Your information about avalanches and your tolerance for threat
• What sort of snowshoes you’ve (ex. all-terrain or meant for groomed trails)
• What sort of surroundings you take pleasure in

Some simple, canine pleasant snowshoe trails in Washington are:

• Gold Creek Pond
• Franklin Falls
• Huge 4 Ice Caves
• Lake Wenatchee State Park Snowshoe Loops (solely these trails)
• Salmon La Sac Campground
• Tumwater Pipeline Path
• Wenatchee Crest Snowshoe
• Swauk Forest Discovery Path Snowshoe
• Riverside State Park (Spokane) – Bowl and Pitcher Snowshoe
• Riser Lake Loop (Winthrop)

Some average and troublesome canine pleasant snowshoe trails are:

• Artist Level Snowshoe
• Skyline Lake Snowshoe
• Kendall Lakes Peak Snowshoe
• Teanaway Butte
• Hex Mountain
• Cooper River
• Bumping Lake Ski and Snowshoe Trails
• Mount Tahoma Trails Excessive Hut (canines should not allowed contained in the hut)
• Tieton Pond Snowshoe (Yakima)

The outline for all of those might be discovered on the Washington Trails Affiliation (WTA) web site.

Defending Your Canine Whereas Snowshoeing

Snwoshoeing or climbing along with your canine within the snow shouldn’t be the identical expertise as hitting the paths within the spring or summer time.

Within the winter, temperatures can drop beneath freezing.

Frosbite and hypothermia are actual dangers that may have bodily damaging or lethal outcomes.

Additionally, defending your canine’s paws is vital as a result of snow might be abrasive like sandpaper and sharp ice can lower paws.

To hemp revent damage or sickness when your canine is winter climbing with you:

Ultimate Ideas

The out of doors enjoyable doesn’t must cease when the snow begins falling.

Snowshoeing is a good winter exercise for you and your canine and there are quite a lot of locations in Washington the place you are able to do it along with your canine.

Sometimes, with the suitable preparation, canines of any measurement can do it. Take a look at my suggestions for snowshoeing with a small canine.

There are many canine pleasant snowshoe trails near Seattle but in addition loads of alternatives additional exterior of town if you’d like some solitude.

Simply decide one and go have enjoyable!