Activities » Winter Activities
Winter Activities
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Click here for Winter Activities at Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville
Highland Forest Park, Fabius
Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
Highland Forest features 20 miles of trails, 11 of which are groomed and track set daily, offering a variety of challenges for many different levels of skiing ability. There are cut-offs at each trail if you want to decrease the distance.
Cross-Country Trail Descriptions:
- Beginners (.25 mile) & Pines Junction (.5 mile) • groomed
Level sections designed for warm-ups and for beginners to get acquainted with the sport. Pines Junction is the connector trail from Skyline Lodge to the trails listed below - Northview Loop .5 miles • groomed
A gradual incline on a narrow, wooded route with a short downhill at midpoint gives a taste of the rewards of cross country skiing. - Westwind Loop 3 miles • groomed
This trail mixes elevation changes with double track width to provide a wonderful social and physical experience. - Southside Loop 5.2 miles • groomed
This signature run for advanced skiers has lots of hills and an invigorating half mile downhill stretch. - Southside Extension 7.9 miles • ungroomed
A continuation of the Southside Loop takes advanced skiers into the back country. - East Rim Loop 3.3 miles • ungroomed
This trail is for conditioned, experienced skiers. It offers scenic views through most of its length as well as a steep 0.8 mile downhill run.
Park maps are available at Skyline Lodge. During ski season the Adirondack-Style Skyline Lodge serves food and drink on weekends and a volunteer Nordic Ski Patrol monitors the beautiful snow covered trails. Please note: Dogs are not permitted on the ski trails during ski season.
Learn how to cross-country ski this winter... Ski lessons available every Saturday & Sunday, December 17 - March 11 (except Sunday, December 25) and daily Monday, December 26-Friday, December 30 and Monday, February 20-Friday, February 24, weather permitting. Lessons are available at 9am, by appointment only, and from 12noon-3:30pm on a first come, first served basis. The $20 price includes a 90 minute rental; lesson is $10 if you have your own equipment. Call (315) 683-5550 or stop by the Information Desk to register for the 10am lesson or for more information.
Snowshoe Trails
Highland Forest trails offers all levels of snowshoers a chance to enjoy the forest on 5 trails; a 1 mile loop, 2 mile loop, 3.6 mile loop, 7.75 and a 9 mile loop.
| 2011-12 Highland Forest Trail Use and Rental Info | |
|---|---|
| The Rental Shop is open daily, snow conditions permitting. | |
| Trail Use |
Daily: $5; $2 child (15 & under) |
| Skis, Boots & Poles | Adult: $15/full day • $10 / 90 minutes Age 15 and under: $10/full day • $6 / 90 minutes |
| Boots | $6 / full day |
| Poles | $3 / full day |
| Skis | $8 / full day |
| Snowshoes | $3 for the first hour, $2 each additional hour |
Visitors enjoy a sleigh ride at Highland Forest.
Sleigh/Hay Rides
Visitors enjoy a sleigh ride at Highland Forest.
Enjoy a 20 minute horse-drawn sleigh ride weekends, December 17, 2011 - March 18, 2012 from 11am-4pm. Rides will also be offered on the following weekdays: December 23, 26-30; January 2, 16: February 20, 24.
Available on a walk-in basis, cost is $6; $3 5 years & under. Keepsake photographs are available with the sleigh team, inquire at Park Information Desk.
For year round group and evening party packages, sleighrides or hayrides, call the park office at (315) 683-5550.
For more information about Cooperstown Carriage Company, our sleigh/hay ride vendor, click here to visit their website.
Sledding
Go sledding or tobaggoning on the 500 ft. long slope of Skyline Hill. Click here for condition report. Please note, hill is unsupervised.
Volunteers Wanted:
The Highland Forest Nordic Ski Patrol is looking for some volunteers to help patrol the trails...improve your skiing and make new friends! For more information click here, send an email highland@ongov.net or call (315) 683-5550.
Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville
Girls cross-country skiing at Beaver Lake.
Cross-Country Skiing
Girls cross-country skiing at Beaver Lake.
Beaver Lake offers 7 miles of ski trails. All ski trails are rated easy with the exception of the Three Meadows Trail which is rated moderate. Trails are one way on weekends. Please note: Beaver Lake does not rent skis, you need to bring your own.
- Lake Loop Trail 3.0 miles (4.8 kms)
- Deep Woods Trail 1.4 miles (2.3kms)
- Woodland Trail 1.1 miles (1.7 kms)
- Three Meadows Trail 1.5 miles (2.4 kms)
- Pine Meadow Trail 0.5 miles (multiple use)
Calling all beginners... Cross-Country Ski Basics is offered Saturdays, January 14 & 28 from 9-11am and Wednesdays, January 4, 11, 18, 25 & February 1 from 1:30-3:30pm. Pre-registration is required, call 638-2519 and you must bring your own skis.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoe rentals are available for $3 for the first hour; $2 for each additional hour.
Snowshoers can enjoy 3 separate trails, the Northern Exposure (1.4 miles) & the Southern Exposure (2.2 miles.) While the Southern has more hilly spots, the Northern offers a flatter trail and both go through open fields and wooded areas. The Pine Meadow Trail (0.5 miles) is also available to snowshoers.
Take the Try Snowshoeing clinic offered on Saturdays & Sundays in January & February at 12:30pm for $3 per person. Folks with little or no snowshoe experience will especially enjoy this one-hour introduction. Registration is required beginning at 8am on the day of the clinic, call 638-2519.
Weekend Guided Walks are offered year round every Saturday & Sunday. In January and February the topic is Tracking Wildlife on Snowshoes. The program is free with park admission. Registration is required beginning at 8am on the day of the walk, call 638-2519.
Night time is the right time!
Let a full moon illuminate the way one those special evenings during Moonlight Skiing & Snowshoeing when Beaver Lake's trails are available for use until 9 p.m. (Provided there is adequate snowcover).
- January 5-8 (Guided snowshoeing on January 6 at 7pm, call for reservations)
- February 2-6 (Guided snowshoeing on February 3 at 7pm, call for reservations)
Walkers may use:
- Bog Trail .6 miles (Island pathway adds .25 mile)
- Lakeview Trail .3 miles
- Hemlock Hollow Trail .4 miles
The Nature Center's trails are open from 7:30 am - 5 pm, except during night skiing & snowshoeing when the Nature Center is open until 9 pm.
Admission is $3 per vehicle ($15 per bus)
Oneida Shores Park, Brewerton
Enjoy Cross Country Skiing on the McKinley Ridge Trail or Lake Access. The trail is approximately 3/4 mile long, marked with yellow diamond trail markers,and travels around the ridge between the Cicero Swamp and the McKinley Reserved Area. It is a beginner level trail, with only two small inclines to navigate. It runs through a climax hardwood forest and open fields at the McKinley Shelters. Trail access is from the parking lot at the West McKinley Shelter parking lot. Click here for conditions.
Onondaga Lake Park, Liverpool
Enjoy Cross Country Skiing on the Shoreline Trails or at the Long Branch Loop. In addition, the Long Branch Park sledding hill is open daily 10am-5pm. Click here for conditions.
Snowmobiling
Onondaga County Parks, in cooperation with the New York State Snowmobile Association and Onondaga County Snowmobile Association, administers the local NYS Snowmobile Grant-in-Aid Program. Click here for more information.
During your visit to Onondaga County Parks, you may be photographed, videotaped, or filmed by Onondaga County Parks or authorized parties. Your attendance/admission serves as permission for use of these images by Onondaga County Parks. Commercial photography or filming is prohibited without permission of Onondaga County Parks.