5 Exciting Outdoor Winter Activities to Try in Minnesota
Don’t let the cold win this winter!
Winter in Minnesota is the perfect time to embrace the great outdoors and stay active. Discover five outdoor activities that will keep you entertained this winter, from thrilling downhill skiing to cozy holiday markets. Step outside and enjoy all Minnesota has to offer!
As winter’s chill settles in, there’s a natural urge to cozy up indoors, where we can watch the snowflakes drift by and savor the warmth of our homes, surrounded by friends and family. Yet, as we revel in the coziness of our indoor retreats, we at the 10,000 Families Study (10KFS) encourage Minnesotans to spend more time outdoors in winter to keep moving and stay well. To help you stay active, we've compiled a list of five exciting outdoor activities you can try this winter!
Ice Skating
Lace up those skates and visit some of Minnesota’s best ice rinks this winter! Experience North America’s largest outdoor refrigerated rink at The Oval in Roseville. Or explore a free option at Centennial Lakes Park in Edina and glide across a 10-acre lake, groomed daily for winter ice skating and tucked away from the city's hustle and bustle. Although you can't skate directly on Lake Superior, you can get close at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth. Warroad lives up to its reputation as “Hockey town USA” through Riverbend Skate Path, one of the longest ice skating trails in the United States, providing 5 miles of open skating for all to enjoy!
Holiday Markets
Treat yourself this holiday season with a visit to one of Minnesota’s many free holiday markets! The European Christmas Market in St. Paul features European-style food, kids crafts, activity vendors, live entertainment and a Holiday Train and Carousel. Up North, check out Holiday Harbor Village in Grand Marais, a holiday village in one of the most quaint towns in Minnesota. The Duluth Winter Village is a free, two-day festival where local small businesses sell their goods out of wooden cabins. In addition to shopping, visitors can enjoy food and beverages, campfires by the lake, live animals, carolers, and more.
Explore Park Trails
If you enjoy snowshoeing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, or simply lacing up your boots for a walk, Minnesota’s thousands of miles of trails offer plenty of space to explore for free! If you’re near the Twin Cities, check out Theodore Wirth Regional Park, Battle Creek Regional Park, or Lebanon Hills Regional Park. The North Shore State Trail is 146 miles along Lake Superior, with many access points. Have you ever witnessed a frozen waterfall? Visit Gooseberry Falls State Park to see the North Shore’s most famous waterfall encased in ice!
Sledding & Tubing
If you live next to a small hill, sledding is a great way to have some free, active fun this winter. If you want to step it up a notch, visit one of Minnesota’s premier snow tubing parks! Many locations enhance the fun with lights and music. For those near the Twin Cities, Wild Mountain, Buck Hill, and Elm Creek Park Reserve offer fantastic options for both sledding and tubing, each featuring well-groomed hills and exciting runs. If you're venturing outside the metro area, Mount Kato, Green Acres, and Powder Ridge provide equally thrilling experiences.
Downhill Skiing
If you’ve never experienced the thrill of downhill skiing, Minnesota is a great place to begin, with a range of ski areas catering to all skill levels. In the Twin Cities area, consider Afton Alps in Hastings or Buck Hill in Burnsville for a great start. Heading north this winter? Stop by Spirit Mountain in Duluth, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Superior as you ski down the slopes. Further along the North Shore of Lake Superior, Lutsen Mountains offers a winter wonderland with four mountains to ski on. For those in southern Minnesota, Welch Village stands out as one of the state’s largest ski areas, boasting 60 diverse runs for all levels of skiers.
No matter the outdoor activity you choose, please remember to dress appropriately and be mindful of weather conditions.
This article is brought to you by the 10,000 Families Study. If you haven’t joined our study, we invite you to complete our eligibility survey (z.umn.edu/10KFS-newsletter). We need your help to ensure the health of future generations in Minnesota.
