Near or far: You can snowshoe many of the creeks running through Duluth (Lester River, Chester Creek, Tischer Creek) or head a little farther out of town (along the Superior Hiking Trail, French River, Sucker River, Split Rock River). For maps of the Superior Hiking Trail, go to www.shta.org .
Rentals available: If you don't have your own or have never tried it before, Continental Ski and Bike, 1305 E. First St., rents snowshoes for $10 a day ($15 for two days and $6 for each additional day thereafter). Visit www.continentalski.com . The Ski Hut, 1032 E. Fourth St. and 5607 Grand Avenue, rents snowshoes for $10 per day, $15 for two days and $8 for each additional day. Hartley Nature Center rents snowshoes on a single-day-only basis for use in Hartley Park, $5 for Hartley members, $10 for nonmembers.
Learning more: Enroll in a Winter Sampler program at Positive Energy Outdoor (Ed)ventures, combining snowshoeing with dogsledding, a sleigh ride and winter camping skills course to learn more about the types of snowshoes and the history behind them. Visit www.outdooredventures.org .
A typical hike: Anywhere from an hour or two to a full-day or overnight affair.
