Tree Utah to host fourth annual snowshoe hike

Tree Utah, a nonprofit dedicated to planting trees at schools, parks and open lands throughout the state, will lead a snowshoe tree tour on Feb. 29.

“It’s a fun way to see a state park in your own backyard in a new way,” Amy May, Tree Utah executive director, said.

The nonprofit plants trees year-round but because the winter time is a slow time of year it is focusing on fundraising events and preparation for the spring. “This is just a way to engage people in the wintertime in a fun healthy activity,” May said.

Hikers will snowshoe a three-mile loop in Wasatch Mountain State Park while identifying trees along the way. Participants will be divided into groups and each group will have either a park or Tree Utah staff member to identify trees that have been transformed by winter and may have lost their leaves.

May said the goal of the event is “community engagement and education.” Participants will learn to identify trees by looking at branching patterns, tree coloration, smelling the buds and branches and looking for unique features of the trees. May described the process as being “basically like a scavenger hunt.”

You can bring your own snowshoes or rent them from the Visitor Center for $3.

May said the event is about appreciating trees.

“Trees are something that everyone can agree are important in our communities and this is an interesting opportunity to get to know them at a time of year when they might be taken for granted or overlooked.”

Tree Utah is asking participants to donate $10 for the tour, which includes the $2 fee to get into the park. Tree Utah will use the extra money from the event to plant more trees in the spring, May said.

The nonprofit invites people of all ability levels in snowshoeing to participate. Participants are required to register for the event which is limited to 40 people. Sign up is available on Tree Utah’s website or on Facebook.