Winter Activities to Add Holiday Fun

This winter is a perfect opportunity to try new and fun winter sports. While most people know of the typical winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding, there are other less popular sports that anyone can try when snow is abundant on Mount Hood or in other wintry regions.

One amazing way to get out and enjoy the lush forests and/or beautiful Mount Hood is by going snowshoeing. Snowshoeing involves using special large, webbed footgear strapped to the bottom of your shoes that allow you to “float” on top of soft, thick snow easily. This is a great winter activity because you can easily find snowshoes at your local sporting goods store for a reasonable price, to buy or to rent.

While snowshoeing you can enjoy being out in nature and seeing the beautiful Cascade Mountain Range landscape. As a beginner, some of the best spots for snowshoeing on Mt. Hood are taking the loop trails around Mirror Lake or Trillium Lake, near Government Camp. Both trails are flat and are perfect for someone wanting to get into snowshoeing.

Cross-country skiing is similar to downhill skiing but is more straightforward to learn and enjoy without the risks of awkward spills. This type of skiing involves traversing snowy trails without using ski lifts. Be warned, cross-country skiing does involve a lot of cardio and takes much more strength than it may seem.

While you will need special (longer, narrow) skis and ski poles to cross-country ski, once you have those there is no need to go to a popular ski resort. Just drive up to a local cross-country ski trail on or near Mount Hood and enjoy a serious workout. Teacup Lake is one of the most popular cross-country skiing trails on Mt. Hood. This privately maintained trail does require a day trail pass, but is well kept and perfect for a beginner.

Tubing on Mount Hood (sliding on rubber innertubes) is another fun activity that doesn’t require any skill. One great place to do this is at Mount Hood Skibowl, which has a dedicated tubing park with a conveyor belt to get you back up to the top of the run. It offers day tubing and what Skibowl calls “Cosmic Tubing,” which involves tubing at night with lights, lasers, and a lot of music. This activity is perfect for family or friends who want to have a good time on the mountain.

Of course, you can’t forget one of the most popular winter sports: downhill skiing. While skiing is an expensive hobby and takes lots of practice to get good at it, there are many ways beginners can find themselves on the slopes. Resorts such as Timberline or Mount Hood Meadows have beginner lessons, which include equipment rentals, that teach newcomers the ins and outs of skiing and snowboarding. So, if you’ve ever wanted to try skiing or snowboarding, this winter is the time to do it!

While the winter months might be gloomy, with days upon days of rain and gray skies in Portland/Gresham, finding a fun and enjoyable recreational activity can help boost your happiness and exercise.

I encourage everyone to try a new winter sport this season, whether snowshoeing or tubing on Mount Hood – or, if you want more adventure or a challenge, to learn to cross-country ski or take beginner skiing and snowboarding lessons.

This winter season doesn’t have to be a time to skip out on exercising and enjoying nature.