Syracuse.com - Places you can rent snowshoes in Central New York

[HuntingNY-News]

"It's a great way to explore the winter wonderland,"said Chris Lajewski, education manager at the Montezuma Audubon Center in Savannah.

Snowshoeing is a great way to explore the winter wonderland of Central New York. Mike Greenlar/The Post-Standard Syracuse, N.Y. -- So, you’d like to try snowshoeing?

“It’s a great way to explore the winter wonderland,” said Chris Lajewski, education manager at the Montezuma Audubon Center in Savannah. “It’s also a great way to get out and get some exercise with your family and friends, particularly after the holidays.”

Here’s five local places where you can rent them:

- Highland Forest: This Adirondack-like, county park in Fabius rents snowshoes for $3 the first hour, and $2 for each hour afterward. The park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. It offers snowshoe enthusiasts five separate trails, with loops of 1 mile, 2 miles, 3.6 miles, 7.75 miles and 9 miles. The park also has a $1 admission fee for person 21 years and older. Call 683-5550 or check out onondagacountyparks.com/highland-forest.

- Beaver Lake Nature Center: This county-owned facility in Baldwinsville offers five miles of trails, and same rental fees as Highland Forest. There’s also a $3 per car admission fee. It’s open from 7:30 to 5 p.m. seven days a week. There’s also extended hours for snowshoeing during periods of a full moon. Snowshoers can stay out on the trails until 9 p.m. on Jan. 25-27 and Feb. 22-24, according to Heidi Kortright, the nature center’s director. Call 638-2519 or check out onondagacountyparks.com/beaver-lake-nature-center.

- Montezuma Audubon Center: The Audubon Center, located Route 89 in Savannah, has 30 pairs of snowshoes to rent. It charges $5 for adults and $3 for children per day. There’s two miles of designated trails and visitors can also explore the center’s 200 acres. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Call 365-3580 or see ny.audubon.org/montezuma.

The Beaver Lake Nature Center features moonlight walks. Snowshoers can stay out on the trails until 9 p.m. on Jan. 25-27 and Feb. 22-24, during two periods of full moons. Mike Greenlar/The Post-Standard

- Baltimore Woods Nature Center: Located off Bishop Hill Road in Marcellus, this nature center offers visitors six miles of picturesque trails. Cost to rent snowshoes is $5 per day, and free if you’re a member of the nature center. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Call 673-1350 or check out baltimorewoods.org.

- Four Seasons Golf and Ski Center: This golf and ski center in Fayetteville off Route 5, doesn’t offer groomed snowshoe trails but does rent them and allows persons to take them off premises. Rental fees are $17 for pair for one day; $30 for the weekend and $70 for the week. Hours are 10 to 5 p.m. daily, and until 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday nights. Many renters take them over to nearby Green Lakes State Park. Call 637-9023 or see fourseasonsgolfandski.com.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog