Sumpter Snowshoeing Adventures
Snow in Sumpter isn't just for Snowmobilers anymore!
 3-6 Mile Snowhoe Hike
The Sumpter Valley Railroad Steam Train is a magnificent way to see the Sumpter Valley in all it's summer glory! But what about winter?
There are no steam train rides in the winter except the Christmas Train So, how can you see the beautiful Sumpter Valley once the snow covers the ground? Well, you can always ride Snowmobiles, or use Nordic Skiis or........there is another option! Snowshoes-of course! Just strap on your snowshoes and head down to the SVRY
Tracks and away you go! The SVRY Snowshoe Trail can actually be broken into several hikes......... depending on how far you wish to go in one hike.....If you hike from the Sumpter Train Depot down through the scenic Sumpter Valley to the McEwen Train Depot, you will be logging at least 6 miles in one hike! However, if you are not quite ready for a long distance hike, this trail can be broken into three awesome hikes..... First, and most popular of the three, is to begin at the Sumpter Train Depot on Austin Street in Sumpter. You can park your vehicle at the Sumpter Train Depot or at the Sumpter Post Office............ (no overnight parking allowed!) then you can begin your hike down at the train depot. We generally follow the SVRY rails South through the State Park and across Sawmill Gultch Road where the trail will take you past the Historic Gold Dredge and on through the tailings towards the Iron Horse Subdivision and then straight on down the center of the valley. You will come to where the trail crosses Rhody Road..... If you turn around at this point, it would be an approx. 2 miles round trip. If you wish to hike farther, you can simply continue along the rails on through the dredge tailings heading Southeast towards Huckleberry Loop Road.... The third leg of the Trail will take hikers on into the McEwen Train Depot and is the longest part of the trail. If you are truly searching for adventure or looking to explore the historic Sumpter Valley, then this last part of the trail is for you.....! You can head off the trail at almost any point to explore in and around tailings that vary in height and nestled amongst the tailings are dredge ponds just begging to be explored! Hikers can expect most of these dredge ponds to be frozen over from Jan through early March. Most of these smaller dredge ponds are safe to hike across but...caution should always be applied to hiking across dredge ponds no matter the size! This also applies to exploring near the Powder River as deep snow drifts along the banks of the river can be very deceiving so don't approach too near the edge of either ponds or rivers.......! And always be respectful of private property please! 
We usually like to depart from the trail just past Rhody Rd. heading West across the higher tailings where, on a clear day, you can see some great views of the Valley towards Huckleberry Mountain, Mt. Ireland, and back towards Sumpter! For a heartier snowshoers........ Follow the dredge tailings all the way down to Huckleberry Loop Rd. Be advised this departure from the relatively level SVRY rails requires much more stamina than you would think! This involves lots of up and down climbing and some tailings can reach 20 feet in height with the snow! If you believe this hike is for you..GREAT! You will find the extra surprises along the trail that will make it all worth while.......such as discovering game trails and some wildlife in their natural habitat, not to mention all the great vistas to see and all the photos! Do you have snowshoe photos you would like to share? Send an email....info@sumpter.org This is a favorite trail because you can do so much exploring in the Sumpter Valley.... without much concern for getting lost. In fact, if you are staying at the Sumpter Pines RV Park, you will be hiking right past it! Which means, you could start your hike right from the RV Park! Most of the trail from depot to depot parallels the Sumpter Highway and Highway 7 further down..... These serve as escape routes that remain well hidden if you choose to ignore them, but are there if you need them (so you can't get too lost!) Enjoy the adventure!    *Please be advised of possible obstacles and dangers that accompany hiking in the snow and......
be aware of land use regulations, signage, and respect private property at all times! If you have a question about these or other Sumpter Snowshoe Trails,
please send us an email: info@sumpter.org
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