The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge aims to take the next few weeks of Winter to allow residents of the Kenai to learn the basics of snowshoeing while also getting an opportunity to take in fresh air, burn calories, and explore nature.
Refuge snowshoes will be lent out for use by small, self-led, family groups for their trails located in the Headquarters’ area in Soldotna. The walks will take place every Saturday from February 6 through March 13.
Snowshoes can be reserved for one Saturday in that period, and a wait list will be established for other Saturdays, in the event that they do not fill up with new groups or individuals, but bringing your own snowshoes is fine.
Ranger Leah Eskelin spoke to KSRM about the walks: “The Refuge is always really thrilled to be offering the ski trails in our winters. The conditions were just so wonderful! I love going out myself and bumping into friends and just having that opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors here on the Kenai Refuge. We normally do guided snowshoe walks, and I love leading those – it gets everyone out to enjoy that great winter weather that we’ve been enjoying, however, as we know, things are a little modified this year.”
She continued: “We’re offering self-led snowshoe walks starting [January 6]. What is a self-led snowshoe walk? We’re ultimately loaning out some shoes, providing some training and planning ahead of time for family groups, so that they can go hit the trails even if they don’t ski. It’s a great way of getting out on some snowshoes!”
Walks will take place between noon and 3:00 p.m. The Visitor Center notes that facilitates will be limited, but ensured that they will provide a porta-potty in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Eskelin also noted that maps of the trails are available, but that they make it a point to keep the trail well-labeled as often as possible, making it very unlikely that someone would get lost out in the Refuge.
Pre-registration is required by calling Ranger Michelle at (907) 251-5642.