The weekend is HERE and there is snow on the ground! Why not give snowshoeing a try? Enjoy the picturesque backdrop of nature in New England while engaging in a low impact cardio workout.
"Snowshoeing is the best bang-for-your-buck, fat-burning workout in winter," according to Dr. Ray Browning of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado's Health Science Center and Vail Mountain Man champion. "It's an exceptional way to achieve cardiovascular fitness, expend energy and reduce your chance of heart disease; plus it's low cost, easily mastered and fun."
According to two independent studies conducted by Ball State University and the University of Vermont, snowshoers can burn between 420-1000 calories per hour. Here are some snowshoeing trails near New Milford courtesy of AllTrails.com:
| Trail | Difficulty | Rating | Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Mountain via Red, White, and Yellow Trails Loop | MODERATE | 4 | Bear Mountain Reservation |
| Bear Mountain Reservation Short Loop | MODERATE | 3.5 | Bear Mountain Reservation |
| Cranberry Mountain Trail | EASY | 3.5 | Cranberry Mountain Multiple Use Area |
| Great Hollow Nature Preserve Main Trail Loop | MODERATE | 4.5 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, Ecological Research Center |
| Meeker Trail | MODERATE | 4.5 | Macricostas Preserve |
| Mallory Preserve Trail | EASY | 4 | Mallory Preserve |
| Upland Pastures - Towner Hill Preserves | MODERATE | 3 | New Milford, Connecticut |
| Bald Mountain and The Pinnacle Loop | MODERATE | 3 | Northern Connecticut Land Trust |
| Whitaker Woods to Soapstone Mountain via White and Yellow Blazes | MODERATE | 4 | Northern Connecticut Land Trust |
| Pootatuck State Forest Loop | MODERATE | 4.5 | Pootatuck State Forest |
| Herrick Trail Preserve via Appalachian Trail Loop | HARD | 4.5 | Sherman, Connecticut |