Wintertime Trail Fun
When the temperature and snowflakes both begin to fall, winter brings a whole new way to explore trails. Don’t miss the chance to cross-country ski, snowshoe, fat-tire bike or take a walk through the sparkly snow—plus enjoy some seasonal activities just off the trail! Outlined here is a handful of our favorite trailside winter sites.
Colorado
Animas River Trail: Cascade Canyon Winter Train
Like its namesake river, the Animas River Trail runs through the heart of Durango, never more than a stone’s throw from the river’s edge. Just over 9 miles long, this rail-with-trail is the centerpiece of the city’s trail system. Occasionally sharing a right-of-way with the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, the trail, train and river wend through the majestic San Juan Mountains range in southwest Colorado. Easily accessible from the trail is the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad depot, where explorers can board a Cascade Canyon Winter Train—a 5-hours-plus round trip alongside the Animas River through snowcapped peaks—as well as a seasonal Polar Express-themed train ride that offers an immersive, 2-hour theatrical re-creation of the eponymous holiday story. Also nearby is the city’s indoor skating rink, which sits at the foot of a small city-run downhill ski park. While skis are not available to rent, skates are.
Minnesota
Brown’s Creek State Trail: Lowell Park
If you automatically think “Minnesota” when someone says winter, this one’s for you. The tree-lined 5.9-mile Brown’s Creek State Trail follows the route of the former Minnesota Zephyr. At trail’s end in Stillwater, you’ll come to Lowell Park, where teams from across the globe compete to create the finest frosty figures at the annual World Snow Sculpting Championship. The contest is held each year in January, and the artwork stays up for a few weeks—weather depending, of course. Other wintertime Stillwater events include a fat-bike rally, ice-curling competitions and candlelit trail walks.
Michigan
Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, located on the pinky of Michigan’s “mitten,” is a popular destination year-round, but perhaps most beautiful in winter with a sparkling ice-encrusted shoreline, snow-dusted dunes and pillowy white fields. Park activities in the colder months include snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding and ice fishing—with the 21-mile Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, groomed for skiing in winter, providing access to the fun. Ranger-led hikes, beginning from the park’s visitor center in Empire, include the free use of snowshoes and snowshoeing instructions if snow conditions are right. And don’t miss the breathtaking view of Glen Lake from the top of the “Dune Climb,” 260 feet above the surrounding countryside. Best of all, your hard work climbing up can be rewarded with an unforgettable trip sledding back down!
Alaska
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail: Kincaid Park
A key part of a 32-mile Moose Loop network, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail treats its visitors to beautiful scenery and, if you’re reasonably lucky, a moose sighting or two. The 11-mile paved trail starts at the water’s edge in downtown Anchorage and follows Cook Inlet southward past and directly adjacent to (busy) Anchorage International Airport. You might even catch sight of the aurora borealis if conditions allow; pair accurate weather and aurora forecasts with the right phase of the moon (clear, moonless skies are best, of course) and head to Point Woronzof, just steps from the trail, for a celestial light show. At the trail’s southern terminus is Kincaid Park, a well-known winter sports venue that has hosted dozens of major events, including multiple national ski competitions. The park offers 1,400 acres of rolling, forested hills with 37 miles of interwoven trails—nearly a third of which are lighted—for fat-tire biking, hiking and cross-country skiing.
This article was originally developed for the Winter 2024 issue of Rails to Trails magazine. It has been reposted here in an edited format. Subscribe to read more articles about remarkable rail-trails and trail networks while also supporting our work. Have comments on this article? Email the magazine.
Winter Trail Tips
- Wintertime Trail Fun
- Winter “Share the Trail” Etiquette and Safety Tips
- Seven Hot Tips for Cold-Weather Biking / Siete buenos consejos para andar en bicicleta en climas fríos
- Rail-Trail Tips for Cross-Country Skiing (A 101 Guide) / Consejos para senderos ferroviarios para esquí de fondo (una guía 101)
- The Magical World of Snowshoeing: A How-To Guide for Trails) / El mágico mundo de las raquetas de nieve: una guía práctica para senderos
- How to Adapt Trail Activities and Gear for Cold and Winter Conditions
- 10 Rail-Trail Winter Wonderlands
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