Top 8 winter activities

Embrace the winter ! More than 45 percent of Wisconsinites 16 and older participate in snow- and ice-based winter activities. See where your favorite falls.

• Sledding: 28.2% or 1,269,000 people
• Snowmobiling: 18.3 % or 824,000 people
• Ice skating outdoors: 13.5 % or 608,000 people
• Ice fishing: 13.1% or 590,000 people
• Cross-country skiing: 8.8 % or 396,000 people
• Downhill skiing: 7.0 % or 315,000 people
• Snowshoeing: 6.1% or 275,000 people
• Snowboarding: 3.7 % or 167,000 people

--Source: 2005–2009 National Survey on Recreation and the Environment

Winter fun, safety videos

Enjoy winter camping

More videos

• DNR fishing playlist
• DNR recreation safety playlist
• General recreation

Especially for kids

EEK!, DNR's website for kids, is a great place to start to get your kids interested in winter activities, sights and sounds. Search for the topic you want or try these favorites:

• Winter wildlife sights and sounds
• Winter scavenger hunt
• Tracks Quiz for Beginners

Enjoy your winter favorites and try new ones

This page can put you on to some new places to try your favorite activites, find event listings to help get the kids out, and links to get started on new winter experiences.

Organized winter events

Structured events like candlelight skis, owl prowls and winter festivals provide an easy way to get kids outside -- and adults who need convincing they like winter.

• DNR Nature and Events program calendar lists events at DNR state parks, forests, trails and other properties
• Wisconsin Department of Tourism Calendar of Events provides listings to a broader range of activities and to activities on private as well as public lands.

Where to go on your own

Wisconsin's 15,081 lakes can provide fantastic skating and hockey, especially if you're willing to clear a little snow off. Always exercise caution, however, and follow these safety tips.

DNR and other state and federal agencies own more than 4 million acres of land open to winter activities; county-owned forests add another 2 million acres and 1.5 million acres of privately owned land are open to some winter activities. Explore the options!

Public lands

• Explore outdoors
  Search DNR-owned and managed lands by county, by proximity to a city, or by type of property.
• Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands [Exit DNR]
  View maps for counties containing the more than 78,000 acres of school trust lands open to the public.
• Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest lands
  Check out winter opportunities in the 1.5 million acres in this national forest.
• County-owned lands
  See which counties have forest properties open to the public on the Wisconsin County Forest Association [exit DNR] website.

Private lands

• Managed Forest Law
Use our new mapping tool to find private lands open to cross country skiing, hiking and other activities under a tax-incentive program. Please contact the owner as a courtesy and to make sure you know exactly which acreage is open so you avoid trespassing.
• Stewardship-funded lands
Use the DNR-Managed Land mapping tool to explore 500,000 acres of land purchased by nonprofit conservation organizations using Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funds and open to the public. Once the tool is launched, click on the "more" button and check the Stewardship Grant box.

Snowshoe, ski or hike by candlelight

Quick links to activities

• Camping
• Cross-country skiing
• Ice Fishing
• Skijoring
• Snowmobiling
• Snowshoeing
• Sledding, skating and other winter sports [exit DNR]

Get snow condition reports

Know before you go! Check local snow and ice conditions before you head out to maximize your fun and safety.

• Wisconsin Tourism Department's snow conditions report provides separate reports for snowmobiling, downhill skiing and cross country skiing.
• Current conditions report for State Parks and Trails provides updated information on skiing and trail conditions on many state properties.

Rent equipment

No skis, snowshoes or other equipment? No problem. Rent what you need at some of the public sites where these activities are available, or give local businesses your business!

• Find rental locations at Wisconsin Tourism Department's travelwisconsin.com by searching for the kind of rental equipment you need.

Look for these features

1. Winter Wonderland
   Jan 10, 2013
2. Free fun for everyone June 1-2, 2013
   May 1, 2013
3. Summer Swing
   May 15, 2013
4. Fall Fun
   Due: 8/15/2013