Find the Perfect Winter Adventure with Snow NW
View over Lake Keechelus. Photo Credit Jon Ferrian
Snow is in the forecast and the Pacific Northwest offers amazing opportunities for winter adventures: snowmobiling, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, Alpine skiing, even dogsledding and fat tire biking. Find something new or get help navigating a favorite area with Snow NW by Northwest Portal. This free mobile app for Apple and Android, and web map that you can access through your browser, has winter recreation opportunities in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. If snowmobiling is your sport, you will find over 12,600 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and 815 miles of ungroomed routes selected by local clubs as favorite rides. For those who prefer to hit the trails under their own power, the apps and maps have 736 miles of groomed non-motorized trails in Washington and Idaho, 815 miles of ungroomed ski routes, and 92 miles of snowshoe trails. The maps include snowmobile trails groomed through the Washington and Idaho State Parks program and by 25 Oregon snowmobile grooming clubs and non-motorized trails groomed by Idaho and Washington State Parks, four Nordic centers, and three non-profit winter recreation organizations. These trails cross 24 National Forests, 7 state forests, conservancy lands, parks, and other types of public recreation land.
There are many things to consider when you are trying to pick a place to go in the winter: whether you are using the mobile app or the web map on your browser, Snow NW has the tools to help you find the perfect destination and navigate while on the trail.
Filters
Know what sport you want to do, what recreation passes you have or don’t have, or what amenities you need (bathroom, overnight parking, etc.), but do not know what places offer everything you need? Use the filters on the web map or app to navigate offline. Select filters from one or more group to highlight every place that meets those conditions. For example, places with both snowmobiling and Nordic skiing, trail access with a bathroom that allows overnight parking, or a place that you can ski from without a pass.
Warming huts above Lake Chelan.
Filter page on the app, and the app with filters for snowmobiling and warming hut applied, showing the hut above Lake Chelan.
See the Current Snow Conditions
Information About Trails, Trailheads, and Other Places on the Map
Want more information about the places you are visiting? Click on any trail, access point, or recreation land to get more information.
Grooming schedules: Each trail and trailhead links to the best site for current grooming information.
Avalanche forecasts: Every trail and trailhead on the map links to the correct avalanche forecast. The three-state region is covered by seven avalanche centers with more than 20 separate forecast zones.
Recreation pass required.
Amenities, facilities, and features.
Elevation.
Club, article, or blog post.
Descriptions and photos.
Directions.
Share Your Destination on the Web Map
Use the filter to highlight any point or trail on the map, and then copy the URL to share a link to the map with that destination highlighted.
Navigate Online or Download Regions for Offline Navigation
Use the phone GPS to plot your location on the app or web map. If you are going to be out of cellphone reach, you can download regions on the app free for offline navigation.
Understand the Rules
Want to know where you can ride off trail? Public lands that are crossed by winter trails are color coded to show the snowmobile rules: cross-country riding allowed, snowmobiles only allowed on roads or trails, snowmobiles restricted to groomed trails, and snowmobiles not allowed.
Help Support the Project
The Snow NW maps and apps are a public service of Northwest Portal. We need your support to keep them free. Join one of our supporting clubs and let them know you saw it on Northwest Portal or encourage your club to becoming a supporting member (just $150/year). Stop by one of the businesses that are on the map and let them know you saw them on Northwest Portal, add your business (as low as $200/year) or let your favorite businesses know about the project. Tell your friends about the web maps and apps—the more users we have, the easier it is to get business support. Consider making a $10 donation to help keep the apps free for users.