If it has snow, you can ski on it, you can snowshoe on it. But some trails are better for skiing and some trails are better for snowshoeing. At the bottom of this page is a link back to the main page listing all of the Salmon Ridge SnoPark trails, but before that, a few comments with the snowshoers in mind.
Note: Several of these trails are listed as ‘Beginner’. That just means that I think they are appropriate for beginners to go on with their new snowshoes. I put on my first pair of snowshoes (army-surplus bearpaws) in 1959 and I think all of these trails are really neat places to go explore!
[For all that, I’m more a skier than a snowshoer. Comments, editorial suggestions? e-mail Pete Tryon at ski@tryonhayes.com ]
Beginner / Low Key: Silver Fir Campground. Don’t want any surprises? Want a solid trail with no logs, puddles, dips, etc? Very carefully cross the highway to the other side and explore the beautiful forest that surrounds the campground. Feel free to wander down the little stub trails that lead out onto the river bank.
Beginner: Razor Hone. There are 3 trails leading out of the Salmon Ridge parking lot. The middle one is the Razor Hone trail, which is a Forest Service road during the summer and groomed for skiing during the winter. It’s pretty wide and flat (and not very interesting for a snowshoer in my opinion…) May I suggest either the River Trail or Mom’s instead.
Beginner / Adventure: River Trail – Mom’s Loop. It’s your first trip to the snopark. You’re up for a couple of hours of adventure. You’d like to see some of the PNW woods in the wintertime! Try out this 1.4 mile loop. Go out the River Trail (it starts just to the left of the sign next to the gate across the main ski trail. It winds in and out among the trees and finds its way over to the bank of the North Fork of the Nooksack. It comes out on the main Razor Hone trail; turn left and go 100 feet to the start of Mom’s which will take you much more directly/quickly back to the parking lot. If you are daunted by the twists and turns out the River Trail, try going out and back on Mom’s. You will feel much more ‘in the woods’ than on the main Razor Hone trail.
Beginner / Off the beaten track: Jerry Bourn. If you have done the River Trail and Mom’s and are looking for something else that is relatively short (1.2 miles out and back) and easily accessible, this should be a great outing. It doesn’t get as much traffic as the other trails – you might even be breaking trail!
Beginner / As far as you want to go! : Anderson. A Forest Service road on the other side of Mt. Baker Highway.
Beginner / Higher elevation: White Salmon, Ridge Road. A popular snowshoe location. White Salmon is a Forest Service road during the summer. Great views of the mountains on a clear day.
Intermediate: Huckleberry. This is one of my favorite trips. the only problem is that it ‘starts’ 1.3 miles out Razor Hone – a long, flat snowshoe hike. So think about trying out a ski/snowshoe combo! Or enjoy the hike…
Intermediate / Higher elevation : White Salmon, to the Knob. A popular trip – many people take the ‘shortcut’ from the first hairpin directly to the Knob. (I haven’t taken that trail for years – I should check it out…)
Advanced: Salamander Connector Trail (Intermediate, if you go out partway and come back). If you have done Huckleberry and want something more, think about this. See the description. It’s a great trip, but a significant investment in time and energy.
Beginner -> Expert: Heather Meadows and beyond. (this isn’t part of the snopark, but it’s at the end of the road…) Starting at the end of the highway, 100 yards from the parking lot makes for a fantastic beginning snowshoe trip. Ask my niece! Or with appropriate knowledge, equipment, and skills, go much further! Check out the video introduction posted by the Forest Service: Snowshoe to Artist Point on Vimeo