The new year comes with a fresh start – and what better way to celebrate than breathing in the fresh air of the outdoors? Here are 14 ways to enjoy winter activities while admiring the snowy season’s stunning beauty around our area. Be sure to check weather conditions and operating hours online before heading out!
- At 1,505 acres, Black Creek Park in Chili is one of the largest parks in Monroe County. It is home to five hiking trails with beautiful winter views, ranging from one mile in length to three miles. Other winter fun includes cross-country skiing and a designated sledding hill where you can feel like a kid again.
- In Greece, the trails at Braddock Bay Park and Wildlife Management Area offer easy, hushed hikes for spotting winter animals. As the season turns to spring, you’ll see more birds (and bird watchers) stopping for food and shelter along their migration flight path.
- For a quiet day soaking in seasonal scenes, Oatka Creek Park in Scottsville welcomes winter walks, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing along its non-groomed trails.
- Want to try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing – but don’t have the equipment? Henrietta’s Tinker Nature Park rents out skis, snowshoes and poles on Tuesdays through Saturdays for $5 a pair. The handicap accessible park has a 1.2-mile walking trail, a half-mile nature trail and a half-mile, self-guided HikYoga walk.
- On Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford is open for winter weekends, where you can step back in time as you explore some of the historic buildings around its campus. It also grants you access to the Nature Center Trails where you can choose your activity: snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or sledding.
- Although most notably known for the Lilac Festival, Highland Park’s 150 acres are beautiful all year round. During the winter months, enjoy peace and quiet as you walk among snow-topped evergreens. Don’t forget your skates to go ice skating on Lily Pond, a groomed, natural-ice surface located on South Avenue, or your saucer for sledding behind the conservatory.
- Greece residents are welcome to enjoy the icy surface of the Greece Community Ice Rink, located on the Greece Town Hall campus. Residents must present proper identification at the Welcome Shed to receive an admission tag. Free skate rentals are available, thanks to the generosity of Brian and Harvest Gionta. The rink is big enough for all skaters of all levels room to learn or twirl.
- Churchville Park is home to a groomed, natural-ice rink that is open all week long (when ice conditions allow) from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The skating rink is located by the Church Lodge with nearby warming huts when you need a break from the crisp air. Equipment rentals are unavailable so be sure to pack your own skates.
- Head indoors for ice skating at Scottsville Ice Arena. Open public skate takes place on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons, allowing you to get out on the ice in a safe and fun environment.
- Another indoor facility, Lakeshore Hockey Arena and Sports Center, runs open skate for teens (ages 13 and up) and adults on Friday evenings, or bring the whole family on Saturdays and Sundays. Skate rentals are available on-site along with blue walkers for skaters under the age of 6. If your child is just starting out, consider signing them up for learn to skate lessons, offered through Lakeshore Skating School. The final session runs from January 20 through March 2.
- Ready for some adrenaline? Pack your sled or toboggan for Northampton Park’s designated sledding hill, located across the street from the Ski Lodge on Hubble Road. The Park is also the site of a downhill skiing hill with rope tow, where Swain Ski Resort (https://swain.com/northampton-park-2/) offers ski camps, classes and private lessons for those looking to learn how to ski and snowboard. Day tickets, season passes (good for Northampton AND Powder Mills Park!) and equipment rentals are available for open ski hours during select times during the week.
- Bristol Mountain in Canandaigua features the highest vertical between the Adirondacks to the east and the Rocky Mountains to the west. All skiers and snowboarders – from beginners to experts – will find a slope their speed with over 39 to choose from. The resort’s Snowsports School teaches private or group lessons for ages four and up.
- For the ultimate sledding experience, check out Snow Tubing at Greystone. Dress warmly and enjoy an exhilarating ride down one of ten, 1,000-foot snow tubing lanes. (Plus, there’s a kiddie hill for the little ones!) Afterwards, the power lift will effortlessly glide you and your tube back to the top of the hill.
- Sign up or cheer for the outdoor hockey tournament of Westgate Winterfest, on Saturday, February 3, at Westgate Park. Individual players, ages 18 and older, can sign up to participate. Teams will be drafted the morning of the event and play a series of round robin games before a single elimination tournament to crown the winning team. Food and drinks will be available in the Westgate Shelter.
Looking for other ways to stay active this winter? Learn a new skill or join an indoor league through the area’s recreation departments. View the Town of Chili’s winter newsletter, Ogden Parks and Recreation 2024 Winter/Spring Program Guide and Gates Recreation 2024 Winter Program Guide for a variety of programs.
