Get Fit Great Falls, with the U.S. Forest Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the City of Great Falls is hosting Winter Trails Day on Feb. 1 at Silver Crest Winter Recreation Area.
The free event, sponsored by Scheels, North 40 Outfitters, Benefis Health System and Bighorn Outdoor Specialists, offers guided snowshoe hikes and cross-country skiing sessions. All snowshoes are provided free thanks to the U.S. Forest Service, the Montana Discovery Foundation and Wild Montana.
No matter your age or experience, there is a hike for you.
Pre-registration will enter participants into a drawing for gift cards to Scheels and North 40 Outfitters. Gift cards will be distributed the day of the event. Must be present to win.
Space for the snowshoe hikes is limited and all participants must register in advance online here.
Registration closes at noon on Jan. 31.
There will be 11 separate hikes offered beginning at 10 a.m. and wrapping up at 2:30 pm.
Hikes are separated into categories: families with young kids, easy and moderate. Depending on the hike, distances
vary from a third of a mile to 2.75 miles and last between one hour and three hours.
Bighorn Outdoor Specialists will be offering two guided cross-country ski tours from 10 to noon and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. for a limited number of registrants. Both sessions will be focused on beginners, however more advanced skiers are welcome to attend. Reservations for this tour must be made separately at Bighorn Outdoor Specialists, which will lend ski equipment free of charge.
Participants who need to borrow equipment from Bighorn must come to the store in person to try boots on before they can register. Nophone reservations, no exceptions.
Bighorn will have ski equipment available the rest of the day for those who want to try cross country skiing after their snowshoe hike.
All participants must be dressed warmly with layers and bring their own food and drink for the day. Carrying a
small day pack on the trail is highly recommended.
Silver Crest is located off the northwest corner of the Kings Hill Winter Recreation Parking Area, near Showdown Ski area.
