Snowshoeing in Minnesota

Snowshoeing is an expanding recreational activity and even though there hasn’t been a ton of snow yet this winter, it’s on the way! This list has awesome places to snowshoe and even options for rentals.

Living in the snowy haven of Minnesota, we have lots of opportunities for snowshoeing! Throughout the state there are numerous locations where you can snowshoe and or rent the equipment to do so.

We’ve shared this list for the last several years and continue to add to it. There are endless places to rent snowshoes, so there’s really no excuse for giving it a try!

With so many different options, think of all the different scenery you can explore this winter. Snowshoeing is a great inexpensive way to get out and see some wildlife and get some exercise.

Before we owned snowshoes, we rented snowshoes from our city and then drove to Banning State Park. We all had so much fun that we made snowshoes are family Christmas gift one year. One of our daughters even brought hers along to college in Wisconsin!

Whatever your reason to give it a try, check out some of these places to rent or try them out. We continue to add to our list and are excited to see that rental options are reasonable and continue to grow.

If anyone knows of a place we did not mention, please let us know and we will add them to the list.

Where to Rent or Snowshoe in Minnesota:

Alexandria Public Schools
$3/day for adults and kids. This was a unique find – the school offers outdoor equipment for rent. Snowshoes and a lot more are available! (Anyone want to rent a bird watching kit, yard games, or a bike?)

Anoka County Parks
$5/2 hours. Rentals are available at Bunker Hills, Coon Rapids Dam, and Wargo Nature Center. **It is recommended that you call prior to arrival to ensure rental equipment is available.

Carver County Parks
$5/2 hours. Available Saturdays and Sundays at Lake Minnewashta and Baylor Regional Parks. Also available on Fridays from Baylor Regional Park.

Dakota County Parks
$10/hour for adults (18+), $7/hour for children (17 and younger).  **Online reservations required.

Hartley Nature Center (Duluth)
$10/day for non-members, $5/day for HNC members. Rentals will only happen when there is at least 4 inches of snowpack on the ground.

Hastings Parks & Recreation
FREE when you fill out the rental form and reserve your pair in advance. They have a good list of area places to snowshoe on their website.

Little Canada City Hall
$2/day for residents, $4/day for non-residents, $6/weekend. Rentals must be reserved at least a day in advance.

Maplewood Nature Center
$5/2 hours. They recommend you call ahead for reservation questions or to check on snow conditions. Keep tabs on their social media pages for “Pop Up Snowshoe Events” where you can get free rentals.

Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Theodore Wirth Park
$12/3 hours. Pole rental an additional $6.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (Chaska)
$7/hour and $5 for each additional hour. The Landscape Arboretum has 11 miles of trails that meander along 1,200-plus acres of woodland, prairie, wetland, and open fields.

Minnesota State Parks
$6/day. With many of the Minnesota State Parks offering rentals, you have a wide range of scenery options.

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (Bloomington & Carver)
FREE rental for the day. Stop by one of the visitor centers to borrow a pair of adult- or child-sized snowshoes. Checkouts are offered with a minimum of 6″ of snow on the ground.

North Sport Rentals (Hopkins/Minnetonka)
$10/day for adults, $5/day for kids, $5/additional day(s). Book online – dates are at least 3 days out to account for late returns, but you can call them to check inventory if you need it sooner.

Oakdale Discovery Center
$6/2 hours. Sizes are available for both children and adults.

Quarry Hill Nature Center (Rochester)
$4-$25, depending on age and length of rental. 4 hours, full day or weekend rentals available.

REI Bloomington
$30/day for adult snowshoes, $10/day for kids’ snowshoes. REI stores also have occasional classes about snowshoeing basics as well as guided day trips. Check their website for more information on day trips and rental options. 

River Bend Nature Center (Faribault)
$5/person for members, $10/person for nonmembers.

Roseville City Hall
$8-$35, depending on child/adult and rental length (two-day, weekend, Monday-Friday, or week-long). Call at least two days in advance.

Saint Peter Recreation Department
$5/day or $10/weekend. Adult and youth sizes are available. Note that a deposit of $50 per pair is required upon pickup and will be refunded when returned.

Springbrook Nature Center (Fridley)
$5/day. Adult and child sizes available on a first come, first served basis. Available for use between 9 am – 2 pm. They only rent when there is enough snow on the ground (3+ inches of snow pack).

Tamarack Nature Center (White Bear Township)
$12/2 hours, including poles. They recommend reserving in advance as walk-ins cannot be guaranteed equipment.

Three Rivers Park District
$6/2 hours. Available at eight of their locations (Baker, Cleary Lake, Eastman, French, Gale Woods, Lowry, Mississippi Gateway, and Richardson). Reservations are required to guarantee availability.

University of Minnesota Recreation and Wellness Center (Minneapolis)
$8/day, $16/2-3 days, $4/additional day(s). Kids’ snowshoes available at a lower price. Online reservations preferred.

Vadnais Heights
$5/Vadnais Heights resident, $10/non-residents. Check website or call for more information.

Voyageurs National Park
$10/day for adults, $5/day for children 16 and under. Traditional wooden snowshoes are available. You can reserve your rentals online and then pick them up at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. Hours are 10 am – 4 pm.

Westwood Hills Nature Center (St. Louis Park)
$5/hour (resident), $6/hour (non-resident). There is a minimum of a 6-inch snow base for snowshoe rentals.

Wood Lake Nature Center (Richfield)
$10/day for adults, $5/day for youth up to 16, $5/day for seniors 55+.

Where do you plan to snowshoe next? Let us know your experience and your favorite locations.  We would also love to hear of any additional places you’ve rented  from that we may have missed.