Minneapolis Winter Activities & Events

Avoid cabin fever with winter recreation opportunities throughout the Minneapolis Park System!

Winter Activities Map
From ice rinks to sledding hills, locate your favorite wintertime activity. Print a copy of the map to take on all of your winter adventures.

Wirth Winter Recreation Area
The Wirth Winter Recreation Area offers exceptional value, expertise, and a deep snow base of fun for cross-country skiing, sledding, snowboarding, tubing, walking, and cycling, in an urban environment.

Walking/Cycling Trails
MPRB maintains almost 50 miles of groomed trails along the Grand Rounds Byway District. For the adventurous cyclist, try out the off-road cycling course in the Wirth Winter Recreation Area.

Cross-Country Skiing
Enjoy a winter day on groomed trails at one of six Minneapolis cross-country skiing venues. 90-minute lessons are available for beginners of all ages. Bring your own boots, skis, and poles, or rent ski equipment at the Wirth Winter Recreation Area.

Snowboarding
The first inner-city snowboard program in Minneapolis offers snowboarding to the general public at a low cost in the Wirth Winter Recreation Area.

Snow Tubing and Sledding
The Minneapolis Park System has two designated sledding hills at Columbia Golf Course and Sunset Hill. Wirth Winter Recreation Area's specially-designed tubes and tow rope make getting up the tubing hill quick, comfortable and fun!

Snowshoeing
If you can walk, you can snowshoe! Explore Minneapolis parks in the winter on a snowshoe stroll during the day or under the light of the moon. Watch for wildlife and enjoy wintertime's nature as you tromp through the snow.

Ice Skating
Lace up your skates and enjoy two indoor ice rinks and 47 outdoor rinks at 22 Minneapolis parks. Separate rinks are maintained for recreational skating, and sports like hockey, pond hockey and broomball. Most locations offer free loaner skates.

Ice Fishing
The fish don't stop swimming when the water freezes! Ice fishing on Minneapolis lakes provides anglers with great fishing opportunities in the winter months.

Winter Special Events
Get out and enjoy winter in Minnesota at one of our special events including the City of Lakes Loppet, U.S. Pond Hockey Championships, and more!

Don't let the snow and cold keep you inside - come out and play!