Winter Sports

When the snow is falling and the temperature is cool, the greater Madison area still has a variety of outdoor activities for visitors. The many lakes, parks, and trails make for numerous skating, sledding and skiing opportunities ... just remember to bundle up!

Ice Skating
Bring your ice skates and head over to Tenny, Vilas, or Elver Park and skate the day away. These parks offer warming houses, lighted rinks and ice skate rentals. Call 266-4711 or visit the City of Madison Parks website for skating hours, rental prices and ice conditions.

Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding
Tyrol Basin and Devil's Head offer loads of downhill snow filled fun. Whether you ski or snowboard these hills are great for day trip outings.

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
Enjoy one of the many groomed trails that the Greater Madison Area has to offer! The Madison Nordic Ski Club has an extremely informative website that offers area trail maps and trail conditions.   For more information you can also visit the City of Madison Parks cross-country skiing page and call the Ski Trail Hotline for trail conditions at 608.242.4576. Some other great trail options are Devil's Lake,  The Wisconsin State Park Snowshoe Trails, The Glacial Drumline State Trail, and The Ice Age Trail. 

Sledding
The City of Madison Parks offer many great sledding hills and to help you pick the perfect hill for your trip you can check out the article "Seeking a Perfect Hill" by Mark Sadowski.

Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is a great winter pastime and to ensure that the activity is safe and fun please make sure to view the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources regulations and safety tips before you head out on the trails. 
Dane County Council of Snowmobile Clubs provides many useful resources for snowmobilers including an excellent map of the Dane County snowmobile trails and up to date information about trail conditions.