12 Outdoor Winter Activities for Your Adventure Bucket List

Looking for fun outdoor winter activities that will allow you to explore the snowy season in an adventurous way? Though the most well-known activity, winter isn’t only for skiing! You can also sled, snowshoe, ice climb, and more during the wintry season.

Whether you’re looking for relaxing experiences or thrilling adventures, here are 12 amazing outdoor winter activities that you should add to your adventure bucket list.

Snowshoeing

You can think of snowshoeing as hiking in the snow. But in order to keep your feet from sinking down into the cold powder, you’ll need to strap on some special snowshoes. These tennis racket-looking shoes distribute your weight so you won’t sink as far down into the snow.

A few of the most popular places to go snowshoeing in the U.S. include Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin, Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

If you’d like to try snowshoeing, all you’ll need are the snowshoes (although poles are also recommended). If you plan on snowshoeing near a ski resort, you can likely rent snowshoes for about $10. In other words, snowshoeing is definitely one of the most affordable things to do in winter.

Glacial Trekking

Glacial trekking is one of the few outdoor winter activities that must be done in a specific location. As the name implies, you’ll need to make your way to a glacier.

The best places in the world to go glacial trekking include Eyjafjallajokull Glacier in Iceland, the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in Argentina and Chile, and Brewster Glacier in New Zealand. In the United States, there are a few noteworthy places to go glacier trekking, including the Matanuska Glacier and the Mendenhall Glacier, which are both in Alaska.

Since glacier trekking is one of the most advanced winter experiences, you’ll need quite a bit of gear. Helmets, harnesses, crampons, ice axes, ice screws, ropes, and carabiners are just the start. Depending on the difficulty of your trek, you may also need to add slings, pulleys, and belay plates to your list.

You likely won’t be able to rent all of this equipment, so your best option is to take a glacial trekking tour that provides the necessary equipment. These tours range from three to eight hours and cost between $80 and $400.

Ice Skating

Ice skating is nice because it’s one of the most convenient winter activities. While most winter adventures require you to venture out into the mountains, there are many ice skating spots set up in cities as well.

Some of the most popular ice skating spots include Rockefeller Center in New York, Curry Village in Yosemite National Park, and the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink in Washington, D.C. Outdoor rinks are also often part of Holiday Markets, which is really fun (like this ice skating rink in Philly).

That said, while most people have tried ice skating in a rink with walls and a Zamboni to smooth out the ice, not many have tried ice skating on a more natural surface, like a frozen lake, pond, or river. After determining that the conditions are safe, you should definitely try this exciting version of ice skating.

Mirror Lake in New York, Keystone Lake in Colorado, and Canyon Ferry Lake in Montana are just a few fantastic places to try this version of ice skating.

You’ll only need a pair of ice skates to try this fun winter activity. If you’re headed to an ice skating rink, they’ll definitely have skates you can rent, which can range from $5 to $15 (in addition to the admission fee). If you’re hoping to ice skate on a natural body of water, you’ll likely need to bring your own skates.

Ice Climbing

Most people haven’t tried ice climbing, which is when you use ice picks to climb ice formations, like a frozen waterfall! This winter activity is both challenging and thrilling – and in a way, is the winter equivalent of rock climbing.

This outdoor winter activity is not for the faint of heart; you have to have a bold soul and some serious skills to take on ice climbing. If you feel like you’re ready to take on this adventure, check out Hyalite Canyon in Montana or the town of Ouray, Colorado.

The list of things that you need to go ice climbing is quite lengthy: carabiners, quickdraws, belay devices, crampons, a helmet, a harness, boots, ice axes, and a climbing pack (on top of guided training). And since this sport is relatively uncommon, it is probably best to book an ice climbing tour that gives you gear to borrow.

Sleigh Rides

If you’re looking for something that’s not quite as intense as glacial trekking and ice climbing, a sleigh ride might be exactly the type of outdoor winter experience that you’re looking for.

Just picture it: you and your partner sit hand in hand in a lacquered black sleigh loaded with warm blankets. The two majestic chestnut-colored horses pull you through the three-inch-deep snow and past powdered evergreen trees. Sounds magical, doesn’t it?

To experience this amazing dream in real life, head to one of the most scenic sleigh ride spots in the United States. The National Elk Refuge in Wyoming, Aspen in Colorado, and Leavenworth in Washington are all fantastic options (among other charming towns to visit during winter).

There’s a very good chance that you don’t own your own sleigh, so you’ll likely have to pay for your sleigh ride. Most sleigh rides last from 30 minutes to an hour. The cost varies widely depending on the location. While in more remote locations, you can find sleigh rides for $15 per hour, others can cost upwards of $200!

Visiting Hot Springs

With all of these cold adventures, the option to visit a lovely hot spring is a welcome reprieve. Instead of bundling up to prepare for the below-freezing temperatures, you can simply pull on a swimsuit and sink into the warm mineral waters.

While there are hundreds of stunning hot springs around the world, the United States is home to a few noteworthy spots as well. Chena Hot Springs in Alaska, Strawberry Parks Hot Springs in Colorado, and Umpqua Hot Springs in Oregon are just a few of the best. Here is a list of amazing hot springs you should visit in the USA.

Sledding

Sledding is undoubtedly one of the best winter activities. You can simply hop on your wooden or plastic sled, launch yourself off the incline, and experience an amazing thrill! This seemingly simple experience can give you hours of fun.

While you can sled just about anywhere that has an obstacle-free incline and a layer of snow, there are designated sledding spots.

Some of the most popular places to sled in the U.S. include Adventure Mountain Lake in California, Firecracker Hill in Colorado, and Theodore Wirth Park in Minnesota (but honestly, most mountain resorts will have some variation of a sledding course).

At these designated locations, you can either bring your own sled or rent one. Luckily, sled rentals are quite budget-friendly, as you can rent one for $5 to $20 per day.

Snowmobiling

Snowmobiling is definitely one of the more unique outdoor winter activities. After all, not many winter adventures require a vehicle of some sort. And since these snowmobiles cover so much ground, you’ll be able to see tons of breathtaking, snow-covered landscapes.

A few of the best places to snowmobile and see a bit of beautiful scenery include Priest Lake in Idaho, West Yellowstone in Montana, and Steamboat Springs in Colorado.

The first thing you’ll need to go snowmobiling is, well, a snowmobile. If you happen to be in a ski resort area, you may be able to rent a snowmobile for anywhere from $200 to $300 per day. In addition, you’ll also need snowmobile boots, snowmobile goggles, a snowmobile helmet, and safety equipment.

Ice Fishing

When compared to sledding and snowmobiling, Ice fishing is definitely one of the more slow-paced outdoor winter activities.

Essentially, ice fishing is like normal fishing but much, much colder. In order to even reach the fish, you’ll need to carve a hole into the ice into which you can drop your line. Then, you just wait around until you feel something bite!

Lake Champlain in Vermont, Lake of the Woods in Minnesota, and Lake Erie are all among some of the best places to go ice fishing in the United States.

Although the process is essentially the same as normal fishing, you need slightly different gear for ice fishing. You’ll need an ice fishing rod, a reel, a line, lures, bait, and an ice auger for this particular adventure — plus a lot of patience!

Dog Sledding

With adorable dogs, a magical environment, and an adrenaline-pumping ride, dog sledding is arguably one of the best outdoor winter activities. 

Essentially, dog sledding is what the name implies. You’ll sit on a cozy sled that’s usually outfitted with warm blankets while a team of trained Siberian Huskies or Alaskan Malamutes pulls you through a natural winter landscape.

You can try dog sledding in the Adirondacks of New York, in the mountains of Colorado, or somewhere in chilly Alaska!

Since there’s a very good chance you don’t have sled and trained sled dogs of your own, you’ll have to pay for your dog sledding experience. Typically, rides last anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours and cost between $70 and $500 per person.

Skiing

With nearly 500 ski resorts in the United States alone, skiing is arguably one of the most popular outdoor winter activities. There are several variations of skiing, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and backcountry skiing. Each of these variations offers something a little different.

Downhill alpine skiing is the most well-known, cross-country skiing takes place on flat terrain, and backcountry skiing occurs off-the-beaten-path and is only for the most advanced skiers.

The most popular skiing destinations in the U.S. include Vail and Breckenridge in Colorado, as well as Park City in Utah. For the best locations for backcountry skiing, Sawtooth Range in Idaho and Hatcher Pass in Alaska both consistently top the lists.

Depending on the type of skiing you’ll be doing, you’ll need slightly different gear. But the basics include skis, boots, and poles. If you are skiing at a resort, you’ll likely be able to rent the needed equipment there, if you don’t have your own.

The gear rental can cost between $25 per day and over $100 per day. And then you’ll also have to remember the price of the ski pass, which can range from completely free (which is rare, but not unheard of) to over $200 per day. Cross-country skiers can often find free trails in parks outside of resorts.

Snowboarding

After skiing, snowboarding may be one of the popular winter activities. It’s sort of like skateboarding on snow, and these two sports attract the same sort of fun crowd.

When you first try snowboarding, you’ll start by making your way down a slightly inclined slope. But as you improve, you can learn tricks, twists, and jumps! And when you reach this level, be sure to check out the best snowboarding spots in the country, including Breckenridge in Colorado, Park City in Utah, and Lake Tahoe in California.

To snowboard, you’ll need a snowboard, a helmet, and goggles at minimum. You can typically rent the gear for $40 to $80 per day, if you don’t have your own. And since many snowboarding locations overlap with ski resorts, you’ll likely need to purchase an aforementioned resort pass as well.

What Are Your Favorite Outdoor Winter Activities?

In addition to all of these thrilling outdoor winter activities, there are all of the classics, of course. You can make snow angels, build a snowman, construct a snow fort, and roast marshmallows over a fire pit.

Before you head out on any of your winter adventures, be sure to check the weather conditions first, wear appropriate winter clothing, and always prioritize safety.

Enjoy!

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