10 Easy Winter Adventures for Everyone to Try
Winter can be a difficult time to enjoy the Great Outdoors—especially if you don’t ski, snowboard or enjoy other traditional snowsports. The colder, darker months can be slippery, wet and icy, and you might feel like hibernating inside by the fireplace with a mug of tea and a good book. But if you’ve vowed to get outside for more adventures this year, there are some entry-level ways to slowly start enjoying Mother Nature’s stunning, sleepy, silent season.
Here are 10 winter activities for beginners, listed in order from most relaxing and accessible to most strenuous and complicated.
Sunset Watching
Let’s start off easy: just get outside and see the sunset. With the sun setting significantly earlier in winter than in summertime, make it a goal to get outside to a local park, beach, lake, riverside or forest and watch the sun set. The sky will ignite in shades of orange peel, pink cotton candy and lilac purple, if you’re lucky. A few clouds often make a better sunset than completely clear skies, but you’ll likely have to get outside a few times to spot a truly mesmerizing glow as the world fades to twilight. Remember your headlamp for the trek back to the car!
Winter Picnicking
Bundle up with boots, gloves, scarves, toques and jackets for a wonderful walk in the woods followed by a peaceful winter picnic. Bring a cooler bag, backpack or basket stuffed with your favourite delights. We suggest cheese, crackers, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate and hot beverages like tea, coffee, hot chocolate and apple cidre. Don’t forget a lined, water-repellent picnic blanket to fend off cold bottoms and a puffy blanket to cozy up with your friends and family.
Have a Campfire
Wintertime can be the perfect time for a log-burning campfire. With fire bans becoming more frequent in the summer months, take advantage of the wet and snowy conditions to have a roaring, wood-burning fire at a park with a day-use area and dedicated fire pit. Bring ingredients for s’mores, an insulated or heated camping chair to snuggle up in and wear cozy boots, warm gloves and base layers—don’t depend solely on the flames for heat.
Stay in a Cozy Cabin
Who would say no to a weekend getaway in a snow-dusted cottage? Escape from city life and daily notifications on a rejuvenating stay in a winter wonderland—ideally without cell service. You can go near or far—just make sure you have the right tires for a Canadian winter road trip. Some cabins have hot tubs, outdoor saunas and cold plunge pools. Our top choice for an idyllic winter stay would be a lakeview suite at the iconic Canadian destination of Emerald Lake Lodge, but there are plenty of cute A-frames and cozy chalets available across the country.
Go Sledding/Tobogganing/Snow Tubing
Let gravity do the work! Gliding down a small, medium or large hill on a sled, toboggan or snow tube is a cherished Canadian winter pastime. Be adventurous and hit a little jump or stick to the smaller slopes with your friends and family. Some ski hills have dedicated chutes for inflatable tubes with tows to pull you back up the hill if you don’t want to do the footwork. Embrace your inner child! When you’re worn out, it’s time to build a snowman, make a snow angel, have a snowball fight or create a snow fort.
Winter Hiking
Hiking is an incredible adventure that is slightly more complicated in the snow than in the summer. You’ll need to wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots—put away those breathable sneakers for now—and dress in layers made of wool or polyester. Buy or rent microspikes or crampons to stop yourself from slipping on icy sections. Trekking poles can help with stability and traction. As always, your daypack should include the 10 essentials. Don’t forget to “be bold, start cold” and add or remove layers as necessary. Research weather conditions, including avalanches, and leave behind a detailed trip plan. Start your hike early, with plenty of time to complete the trail in daylight, and don’t be ashamed to turn around if needed.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoes are a great tool for getting into snow-dappled areas in the winter and adventuring after a fresh snowfall. The wide decking on snowshoes provides flotation on new, light snowfall, so you don’t sink in when tracks haven’t been made for you to follow. When snowshoeing for the first time, try to “walk like a cowboy.” This will help you avoid stepping on your snowshoes and scraping the claw/teeth against your legs. The same safety rules you’d follow for winter hiking apply for snowshoeing.
Ice Skating
Significantly more skill is required for ice skating, but many Canadians have been enjoying this winter experience since they were children. Rinks open across the country throughout the winter, and there are some iconic places to lace up your skates and dance on the ice. Can’t skate? Try an ice bike instead.
Fat Biking
If you can ride a bike, you can fat bike! However, you’ll want to be prepared for this adventure to be a bit more difficult than cruising on a bicycle in summer. Fat bikes have larger tires to tackle snow, and it takes a bit more effort to pedal through the fluffy white stuff. Rent a fat bike and cycle on an easy trail with a friend. You might discover a new favourite way to explore!
Cross Country Skiing
Arguably the most rigorous outdoor activity on this list, cross country skiing takes a decent amount of effort and requires specific gear. You can rent skis, boots and poles at many ski hills. There are two main types of cross country skiing: classic and skate. Beginners should try classic skiing and invest in a lesson. Bundle up in layers, stick to green runs and enjoy this workout. It’s tougher than it looks, but with time and practice, you’ll get used to the motions. Indulge in an aprés-ski treat to reward your sweaty effort!
