Designated (user-pay) snowshoe trails usually have no issue with competing users (snowmobiles, ATV’s, 4WD trucks, etc.) because they are usually signed and on private property.   But these trails can be over-stomped in if there is no fresh snow.

When we follow snowed-in double tracks, some of these may have been driven on, especially in early (hunting) season.   Once the snows build up, trucks and ATV’s won’t use the routes, but snowmobiles will.   Single tracks are a better choice, but even these get some use.   Ideally, we start on a double track, then find single tracks, but even better, we can make our own tracks.   Snowshoes are great for going through open forest, glades, frozen ponds, and south-facing slopes (which tend to be drier and have less undergrowth).   Some areas that are great for this are the upper grasslands of Lac du Bois and the Bush Lake area.

At Bush Lake, we followed double tracks (which had been driven on), then broke trail on single tracks, then traversed across meadows, glades, and ponds.   When the open areas petered out, we picked a winding route through open forest to get to the next open area.  This may mean stepping over some deadfall and winding through narrow openings.

We have set some tracks (which can be followed) and put out some flagging tape in the Bush Lake area for a start to the season and more will be done over the winter.

If we chose to fully clear these routes and marked them, we would be inviting in competing users, which would eventually spoil the area.   The high country forest is a barrier to motorized vehicles.   Snowshoers can wind around and step over the obstacles, leaving only snowshoe tracks.

We can visit the ponds and stop for lunch with no one around.

Many of the forested areas have old skid tracks, landings, and natural open spots, but they are rarely linked up to make an easy loop.   We have to link them up using our “all-terrain” snowshoes.