Where to Snowshoe Along the Wasatch Front This Weekend

If you want to snowshoe this weekend without buying gear, the shop you pick should depend less on where you live and more on what kind of trip you’re planning: a self-guided outing up a nearby canyon, a cheap option if you’re near the University of Utah, or a guided excursion where someone else handles the route-finding. Here’s how the options along the Wasatch Front break down.

More from Stuff To Do In Utah: Indoor Play Places in Salt Lake County When School Gets.

For a Dedicated Touring and Backcountry Specialist: Wasatch Touring

Wasatch Touring - Ski, Bicycle, Paddle Shop in Salt Lake City is built around touring and backcountry equipment rather than general downhill gear, which makes it a natural stop if snowshoeing is your main goal rather than an afterthought to a ski trip. It holds a strong 4.7 rating across 332 reviews, putting it among the more consistently well-reviewed shops on this list. For someone who wants staff who think in terms of trail conditions and touring setups rather than resort gear, this is the shop to start with.

For Convenience Near the Cottonwood Canyons: AJ Motion Sports

If your plan is to head up Little Cottonwood or Big Cottonwood Canyon, AJ Motion Sports – Little Cottonwood Center in Sandy sits right at that gateway. It’s also the most reviewed shop in this roundup by a wide margin, with a 4.9 rating across 1,885 reviews — a volume of feedback that suggests a shop used to high turnover and repeat business. For anyone staging a canyon trip from the south side of the valley, the location alone makes it worth checking before you drive further into Salt Lake City.

For a Lower-Cost, Campus-Based Option: Outdoor Adventures Rental Shop

The Outdoor Adventures Rental Shop at the University of Utah operates through the university’s Campus Recreation program rather than as a standalone retail shop. Its 3.9 rating across 99 reviews is noticeably more mixed than the other options here, which is worth factoring in if consistency matters to you. Still, it’s a different kind of resource than a commercial outfitter, and worth a look especially if you’re already affiliated with the university or live nearby on the east side of the valley.

For Utah County: Mort’s Rentals

South of Salt Lake proper, Mort’s Rentals in American Fork stands out for having a perfect 5.0 rating across 199 reviews — a smaller sample than AJ Motion Sports, but a flawless one. For residents of American Fork, Lehi, or elsewhere in Utah County, it saves the drive north and comes with review numbers that back up the trip.

For a Guided Outing Instead of a Self-Guided Rental: Wasatch Adventure Guides

Everything above assumes you want to rent gear and go on your own. If you’d rather have someone lead the trip, Wasatch Adventure Guides in Park City is a tour agency rather than a rental counter, and it carries the highest rating of any entry here: a perfect 5.0 across 114 reviews. It’s a different kind of decision than picking a rental shop — you’re paying for guidance and route knowledge, not just equipment — but for someone newer to snowshoeing or unfamiliar with the terrain, that tradeoff can be worth it.

Choosing Between Them

For most people along the Wasatch Front, the choice comes down to geography and how much guidance you want. Living in Salt Lake City with a self-guided plan points toward Wasatch Touring. Staging a trip up the Cottonwood Canyons points toward AJ Motion Sports. Utah County residents have a strong, highly rated local option in Mort’s Rentals. And if you’d rather not navigate the gear or the trail yourself, Wasatch Adventure Guides turns the whole outing into something led rather than self-planned.

More from Stuff To Do In Utah: Where Ogden Teens Actually Go After School and on Saturdays.

---

From Stuff To Do In Utah.