About 14 million people go downhill skiing each winter, and 8 million more hurtle down mountains on a snowboard. That’s out of a total U.S. population of more than 330 million. If you’re among the great majority of non-skiers, you don’t have to wait for the snow to melt and warm weather to return in order to enjoy outdoor activities.
An inviting choice of pursuits throughout the country can bring you into close contact with Mother Nature. Some require a bit of strenuous effort, while others are much more relaxing. They include both those you might expect, along with a few surprises. You might be able to participate near where you live or where you travel farther away.
People who opt to ride a motorized vehicle can find plenty of places to snowmobile. Neophytes usually stick to groomed trails and often make their first runs with a guide. Maine has more than 14,000 miles of spectacular trails, some of which connect with routes in New Hampshire and Canada. Popular snowmobiling destinations farther west include Eagle River, Wisconsin, and Priest Lake in Idaho.
A much quieter venture through the woods awaits snowshoers, who, because of their noiseless movement, are more likely to see animals. Snowshoes have been in use for some 6,000 years, starting with early Native Americans. A familiar saying is that if you can walk, you can snowshoe.
Many ski resorts rent snowshoes and offer lessons and sometimes guided tours. Among the leading snowshoe destinations is the Black Hills National Forest, which straddles the South Dakota-Wyoming border and has nearly 60 miles of marked trails.
Another self-propelled alternative is colorfully named fat-tire biking. This involves bicycles built with sturdy frames and wide tires that provide good traction on snow and ice. The Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming was one of the first to embrace this outdoor activity and welcome riders to its groomed trails. Cuyuna Lakes State Recreation Area in Minnesota is developing into one of the most active fat-tire bike destinations in the country.
Mushing, rather than pedaling, is the transportation mode for outdoor enthusiasts who go dog-sledding. Like snowshoeing, dog-sledding was invented thousands of years ago, most likely by the Inuit people in present-day Canada. As recently as the 1960s, this form of transportation was used by the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail in some areas of Alaska.
Among places where dog-sled tours are available are the Boundary Waters in Ely, Minnesota, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Base Camp at Bigfork, Montana, offers a hands-on approach, allowing participants to harness and care for their team of sled dogs before driving them on a run.
Horses provide the power for people seeking to dash through the snow in a sleigh. Passengers snuggled under a warm blanket can relax and take in the scenery as a steed does the hard work.
Journeys through the National Elk Refuge offer unbeatable views of the Wyoming landscape and the animals for which it is named. Sightings of eagles, wolves, and swans also are possible. The family-owned 2 Below Zero outfitter in Colorado combines a ride beneath snow-capped mountains with a three-course dinner in a cozy cabin and a country music jam. It’s centrally located to serve several resort communities.
Not surprisingly, the winter also provides opportunities to enjoy activities related to the presence of ice. Skaters head for frozen ponds, lakes, and artificial rinks to cut their figure eights. New York City is home to what may be the most famous ice-skating rink in the world at Rockefeller Center. The urban backdrop of Manhattan’s sparkling lights adds to the magic of the setting.
Skyscrapers also set the scene for the 100,000-plus skaters who glide over the ice at Millennium Park in the heart of downtown Chicago. A “skating ribbon” curves through whimsical play spaces at neighboring Maggie Daley Park. Some who seek to get out of the cold head for the indoor alpine ice rink at Navy Pier, which offers skating thrills without the chill.
Scaling replaces skating for hardy folks who are fans of ice climbing. They ascend frozen waterfalls, cliffs covered by ice, and other frigid vertical surfaces. Smuggler’s Notch State Park in Vermont is known as an ice climber’s paradise. Favorite upward routes include those named Grand Illusion, Blue Ice Bulge, and Workout Wall.
Much less strenuous is sitting with a fishing pole in your hand. Drill a hole in lake ice with a power auger, bait a hook, and wait hopefully for a seafood dinner to show up. Brainerd, Minnesota, has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best winter fishing destinations in the country. More than 460 lakes within 25 miles attract angling enthusiasts from near and far.
