Strap on your shoes, hit the trail and bond with your family under winter's night sky. Here are five places where you can explore snowy mountains by moonlight.
1. Yosemite National Park, Calif.
Snow blankets the hills and peaks famously captured on film by Ansel Adams. Wind through the forest to a ridge where the moonrise will amaze all who have arrived on snowshoes. A naturalist guide will share knowledge of the park as well as lunar folklore.
Contact: (801) 559-4884;
2. Bend, Ore.
Guided by the light of central Oregon's starry sky, explore the high Cascades on snowshoes. You'll learn about winter sky constellations, Stainless Steel Set be on the lookout for shooting stars and enjoy the sounds of the nighttime forest. Enjoy hot chocolate and marshmallows at tour's end.
Contact: (800) 962-2862;
Replica Raymond Weil3. Squaw Valley, Calif.
Enjoy stunning moonlit views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountain peaks during guided tours designed for explorers of all ages. Expand the experience by signing up for the dinner package. Stay to ski and take advantage of the Squaw Kids' Children's Center for guests ages 3 to 12. The center is home base for accessing the mountain lifts, the funitel and the 110-passenger aerial cable car. Ski-school programs are available.
Contact: (800) 403-0206;
4. White Mountains, Gorham, N.H.
Have a hearty dinner at the Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch before heading out on snowshoes with an Appalachian Mountain Club naturalist. This sensory-rich experience challenges families to rely on sight to navigate trails and listen for sounds of nocturnal nature. On the next day, snowshoe,
embroidered patches cross-country ski and tube for free at nearby Great Glen Trails. Founded in 1876, the nonprofit Appalachian Mountain Club is America's oldest conservation and recreation organization.
Contact: (603) 466-2727;
5. Tahoe City, Calif.
Join astronomer Tony Berendsen for a family-friendly tour of the Sierra skies by moonlight. Learn about the natural and human history of the area while you trek through the peaceful, snowladen forest to a night-sky vantage point. Hot drinks and snacks will warm the winter night.
Contact: (866) 830-6125; tahoeadventure company.com
-- Lynn O'Rourke Hayes,
McClatchy Newspapers
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