How to Build an Easy Snow Fort

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If you're tired of the usual winter snow activities like sledding and snowball fights, consider making your own snow fort! Constructing a snow fort is a great family activity that gives you a winter-wonderland hang-out until the weather warms. Remember to always build with a buddy (or several) and to have a "guard" outside the fort in case of collapse.

1. 1

   Think about what kind of structure you want to make. Snow forts can be anything from a simple one-wall design to more complex fortresses with four walls and a roof.

   • Part of this decision depends on how much snow you have.
   • Take into account length, depth and height as you estimate the amount of snow you'll need. Four feet is usually an adequate height.^[1]

2. 2

   Measure the size of the fort. Use a shovel or branch to mark out the fort's perimeter. If you're low on snow, opt for a single wall with two wings on either side.^[2]

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3. 3

   Find a good snowdrift. If you don't have one, make it! Use shoveled snow from the driveway or anywhere else.

4. 4

   Make sure the snow is dense and not loose. Test the snow by making a ball in your hands. If it sticks, the snow is prime for building. If not, see the next step for making your own denser snow.^{[3] [4]}

5. 5

   Use snow bricks if you can't get strong snow. Pack Tupperware containers, coolers, or plastic buckets full of as much snow as will fit, invert, and lift off the container. ^[5]

   • Alternatively, pour cold water over the snow to make a layer of ice. If you're planning to dig a tunnel, leave a space with no water poured over it so you can dig more easily.

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1. 1

   Make your walls. Use the packed snow or bricks to form walls, making sure that they are perpendicular on the inside of the fort.

   • If you're using bricks, work like a bricklayer: put down one layer, leaving a few inches (or centimeters) between each brick, and stacking the next level so that each brick straddles two underneath it. Have another person follow you by packing snow in between the bricks.
   • If you're digging a fort into a snowdrift, use a shovel or your hands and burrow your way into the pile. Once you've made your entrance, clear out a room from the inside with your hands or a small shovel.

2. 2

   Pack the outside of your walls with a shovel. Smooth out the exterior of the walls, adding in extra snow for support if necessary. If you've used bricks, fill in the cracks in between the snow bricks, then smooth out with a shovel. Be careful not to break the blocks in doing so. The outside walls should slant just slightly for durability. ^[6]

3. 3

   Pour water over the fort for a protective layer of ice. The water freezes into ice, solidifying the structure and protecting it from melting.

   • Work from the bottom up to avoid ice overbearing the top and collapsing.^[7]
   • Make sure it's below freezing outside when you do this so the water turns quickly into ice.^[8]

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1. 1

   Sprinkle cold water and food coloring on the fort to customize the color. Dye the blocks as you make them by adding colored water to the snow, spritz colored water from a spray bottle, or mix food coloring in with the cold water you pour over as a finish.

2. 2

   To illuminate your fort, string low-power LED lights around it. Low-powered lights generate minimal heat to reduce melting.^[9]

3. 3

   Add flags, snowmen, or other decorations. If there's an abundance of snow, make guardian snowmen or turrets for your fort. Add some furniture if you have room. Carve designs into the exterior of the walls to customize your construction.

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Add New Question

• Question

  How can I make a roof out of snow? (Not using anything man-made like wood, etc.)

  

  Wood in and of itself is not man-made, you could lay sticks across the top and reinforce them with snow. If you're going for snow only, maybe a self-supporting igloo type construction is called for, with bricks of packed snow forming an arch.

• Question

  How long does it usually take to build a good-sized fort?

  

  About one to three hours, depending on the size of the fort and how many people are building it.

• Question

  Can I bring tacos inside the fort?

  

  Yes. You can bring whatever you want inside your fort.

• Question

  Can you sleep in the snow fort?

  

  You can take a short nap if you have warm enough clothes, but you should not sleep out in the cold for an extended period.

• Question

  Is there a way to make a roof without it collapsing?

  

  Lay a piece of plywood over the top and shovel a couple inches of snow on it.

• Question

  How many inches of snow should there be to build the fort?

  

  It depends on how big you want the fort to be. For a small fort, you would need about 6 to 10 inches of snow. For a big fort, you would need anywhere from 14 inches to 20 inches.

• Question

  Will a non-LED, four-battery night lamp work inside the snow fort?

  

  It should work. LED does still work better, but non-LED works fine as well.

• Question

  How can I make a snow fort if there is not a lot of snow?

  

  Use other elements for support, like fallen branches.

• Question

  What should I do to make it very strong from the outside so other kids can't destroy it?

  

  Pack the snow very tightly so it cannot be destroyed.

• Question

  How can I build a snow fort if I don't get a lot of snow?

  

  You may just have to build a smaller fort or just a wall of snow (or a half-circle) instead of a whole fort.

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• Invest in some waterproof gloves. They are available in sporting goods stores and will keep your hands warm and dry during construction. If you can't find any, have a few pairs of woolly gloves: when your hands get wet you can switch to a new pair while the soggy ones dry on a heater.

• Find friends and family to help you build your fort.

• It doesn't have to be perfect! Hillside snow forts are always just as fun, but they may take a bit longer. This is because you have to dig more. Smaller, but strong shovels are easy to use.

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• Don't make the top of the fort too heavy. You don't want it to cave in.

• Try to select a position out of direct sunlight. This will help the fort last longer and reduce the risk of cave-ins.

• Do not stand on your fort, as it may break.

• Do not let animals into your fort that can destroy it.

• ALWAYS have somebody outside a snow fort, both when you're building and when you're spending time in the fort. NEVER enter it alone. Collapses happen, and you can suffocate if no one is around to help you out.^[10]

• Avoid building your fort near a parking lot. Carbon monoxide fumes might accumulate in the fort, which could lead to poisoning and death.^[11]

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Things You'll Need

• Snow
• Snow gear
• A shovel (optional)
• A smaller shovel (such as a gardening trowel to clean out the inside of your fort)
• Tupperware container, cooler, or plastic bucket if using the snow brick method
• Spray bottle (optional)
• Water
• Food coloring (optional)

About This Article

Article Summary X

To build a snow fort, start by using a shovel or branch to mark the fort's perimeter in the snow. Next, pack tight snowballs to stack into walls. If the snowball wall isn't strong enough, try filling plastic containers with snow and turning them upside down to make snow bricks! After the walls are in place, smooth them out and add extra snow for support where needed. Then, pour water over the fort for a protective layer of ice. To learn how to decorate your snow fort, keep reading!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Snow-Fort

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