Winter outdoor recreation abounds!
Feel like a kid again making a snow angel!
With winter upon us, many of us don’t get outside as much as the rest of the year. It’s easy to have reasons - it’s cold and days are short. Be there’s plenty to do! So layer up and grab a headlight!
Play in the snow
Make a snow fort or snowman. Or lie down and make a snow angel. Go sledding. If you don’t have a hill in your backyard, several local parks have designated sledding hills, including a couple of lighted hills.
If you don’t want to walk up the hill, enjoy the tow systems at Sylvan Hill then tube down one of the six runs. Make it a family outing and warm up in the chalet sipping hot chocolate. For daily conditions call Sylvan Tubing Hill at 715.573.2424.
Take a spin fat tire biking
Ever hear the phrase, “It’s like riding a bike,”? It’s not all that different than riding a regular bike, except make sure you don’t go off trail since you’ll likely come to a dead stop in the soft snow. But don’t worry, because the falls are a bit softer!
CWOCC grooms several fat tire trail systems in Central Wisconsin:
Nine Mile Recreation Area (6 miles - new in 2023!)
Ringle (8+ miles)
Big Eau Pleine County Park (10+ miles)
Prairie Dells Loop / Underdown Recreation Area (20+ miles including many bogs and lakes, more advance)
My husband and I got to fat tire bike for the first time together at a demo at the WinMan Trails.
If you don’t have a fat tire bike, we have rentals available at one of our local shops, who can also give some trail advice.
Fat tire bike rentals:
Rib Mountain Cycles | 4001 Rib Mountain Drive, Wausau, WI 54401 | 715.359.3925
Trek Bicycle Store of Wausau | 2601 Stewart Ave, Wausau, WI 54401 | 715.845.7433
Stomp the snow on snowshoes
The great thing about snowshoeing is that you don’t even need trails and can go virtually anywhere in the forest.
If you prefer a marked trail, we have dedicated snowshoe trails at Nine Mile Recreational Area, with several loop options ranging from 4k to 10k, or explore the 4,900 acre park off trail.
You’ll find yourself in serenity just minutes from downtown Wausau at Rib Mountain State Park. Hiking trails at Rib Mountain State Park are transverse a winter wonderland and popular with snowshoers. The Friends of Rib Mountain State Park organizes two moonlight snowshoe hikes with some snowshoes available at each.
Snowshoe rentals:
Nine Mile Recreational Area | 221700 Red Bud Road, Wausau, WI 54401 | 715.693.3001
You don’t need a trail to snowshoe and anyone who can walk can snowshoe (even when eight months pregnant or just 3 years old as shown here)!
Kids as young as 4 can learn to ski at the Wausau Nordic Ski Club's Snow Striders program.
Glide on cross country skis
Nine Mile Recreational Area is also home to Central Wisconsin’s premier cross country ski trails (30k). Not only are rentals available in the heated chalet, but 6k of trails are lit if you want to leave your headlamp at home. Typically trails are groomed daily and check the latest trail report.
You can also learn to ski at the Wausau Nordic Ski Club's free adult lessons. These lessons are open to first timers and beginners if you are looking to improve your technique. Your children can also participate in kids lessons as part of the Snow Striders program. Ski equipment is also provided for free at kid and adult lessons.
Nordic ski rentals:
Nine Mile Recreational Area | 221700 Red Bud Road, Wausau, WI 54401 | 715.693.3001
Related: