Winter outdoor activities
1/5/2026 by Muse Abid, M.B.B.S, B.BiomedSc, M.P.H. and Brian Lynch, M. D.
Step Into Winter: Small Steps Outside, Big Benefits for Your Health
Winter in Minnesota can feel long and heavy, but it also brings quiet beauty - the kind that slows you down in a good way. And stepping outside, even briefly, can make a surprising difference. Fresh air clears your mind. Natural light boosts your mood. Gentle movement warms up the body and helps you shake off stress. You don’t need to ski for miles or spend hours outdoors. Start small: a five-minute walk, a moment in the sunlight, or a quick breath of cold air on your porch. These tiny outdoor moments add up. Rochester and Olmsted County have plenty of simple, welcoming ways to enjoy winter - no experience needed.
Rochester Parks & Recreation: Easy Ways to Get Moving
Gamehaven Park
Gamehaven offers groomed cross-country ski trails and a fun sledding hill. With snowmaking equipment running again this year, trails stay in good condition all season. Skiing is great for warming up your muscles, getting your heart moving, and lifting your spirits on darker days.
Outdoor Ice Rinks
Rochester has nine outdoor ice rinks, typically open from late December through early March.
If you don’t own skates, Soldiers Field Park offers free skate checkout on Saturdays and Sundays from 12–4 PM starting in January. Ice skating is a simple way to build balance, enjoy fresh air, and get a little burst of winter joy. Weather updates are posted on the Parks & Recreation Facebook page.
More Skiing & Sledding Spots
You can find additional ski trails at Eastwood Golf Course, Quarry Hill Park, and Essex Park.
Judd Park also has a great sledding hill - and yes, adults are allowed to have fun too.
Indoor Skating at the Rec Center
If the weather feels too cold some days, the Rochester Recreation Center has open indoor skating and skate rentals. It’s an easy way to stay active without stepping into the wind.
Quarry Hill Nature Center: A Calm Winter Escape
Quarry Hill is perfect for slow winter walks, peaceful ski loops, or simply taking in the beauty of the woods. You can rent snowshoes or skis right at the nature center.
Spending time in quiet natural spaces like Quarry Hill helps lower stress, supports better sleep, and gives your brain a chance to reset - something many of us need during the winter months.
Olmsted County Parks: Affordable, Family-Friendly Options
Oxbow Park and Chester Woods Park rent snowshoes, kick sleds, and cross-country skis for just $5 per set every day from 10 AM–3 PM.
Snowshoeing is easy to learn and a great way to stay active, even if you’re new to winter recreation. Kick sleds make winter walks more fun for kids and adults while helping you enjoy the cold in a lighthearted way.
Project Get Outdoors:
Winter Ideas for Kids
If you’re looking for simple, creative things to do with children, the Project GO Activity Calendar offers daily nature activities that work all year long. These ideas help kids burn energy, use their imaginations, and spend a little more time in the fresh air.
Find free resources here: https://www.mnprojectgo.org/resources-to-get-outdoors
Simple Winter Activities You Can Try Anytime
- Take a 10-minute walk and notice how the air feels on your face.
- Look for animal tracks in the snow and guess who made them.
- Build something small with snow - a tower, a shape, anything.
- Bring hot chocolate to a local park for a quick “winter picnic.
- Step outside for a few minutes at sunrise - morning light boosts mood and energy.
Try One Small Step This Week
Winter doesn’t have to keep us indoors. Pick one activity, one park, or one short outdoor moment this week. It doesn’t need to be long or perfect - just a few minutes outside can help you feel calmer, clearer, and more refreshed.
Bundle up, step outside, and let winter surprise you in a good way.
Muse Abdi, M.B.B.S., B.BiomedSc, M.P.H., has a background in medicine and leads nature-based health initiatives, including Park Rx/Exercise is Medicine, Healing Forest, and the cultural liaison program in the parks under the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) grant. He facilitates the SE MN Park Rx Coalition, a key component of the Park Initiative, and also leads health equity and community engagement efforts through SHIP. Expertise: Nature-Based Health Promotion, Healthcare Integration, Health Equity & Equity-Focused Programs, Cross-Cultural Communication & Community Engagement, Program Development& Evaluation, Organizational Health Literacy, Cultural Competency, Policy, Systems and Environmental Change.
Brian A. Lynch, M.D., is a primary care pediatrician at Mayo Family Clinic Northwest in Rochester. He co-chairs the Primary Care Work Group of the Mayo Clinic Obesity Council and chairs the Primary Care Obesity Task Force. Dr. Lynch works closely with the Southeast Minnesota Park Rx Team to promote the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in nature with his patients and colleagues.