Looking for winter fun? Try skating, sledding, snowshoeing at Wheaton Park District
With cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, snowshoeing and more, the Wheaton Park District offers a winter wonderland of outdoor recreation.
Newly opened are two outdoor, lighted ice rinks at the Central Athletic Complex, 500 S. Naperville Road. Located on the east side of the complex's athletic fields, the rinks can accommodate up to 288 skaters and are open 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily through the end of March, weather permitting. Skate rental and concessions are not provided.
One rink is dedicated to ice hockey; the other is reserved for open skate.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your health and well-being with your family or friends," said Mary Beth Cleary, director of recreation. "These rinks will be open for all ages and skill levels as a free activity."
Usable in temperatures up to 40 degrees, the rinks are monitored and resurfaced as needed by the district's Parks Services Department. Green flags indicate the rinks are ready and red flags indicate they're unsafe. Guests can check the status from home and subscribe to the district's Rainout Line for more frequent updates at wheatonparkdistrict.com/status-updates.
Ice skating is available at several parks, too, including Bestler's Pond, 26W108 Tomahawk Drive; Herrick Park, Armbrust Avenue and Herrick Drive; Northside Park, 1300 N. West St.; Rathje Park, 616 Delles Road; and Seven Gables Park, 1750 S. Naperville Road, weather permitting. They also follow the flag system to indicate ice safety.
Along with ice skating, Northside Park offers a sledding hill open dawn through dusk. Sleds are not provided, and snowboards and skis are prohibited.
Tackle boxes don't have to be put away for the winter with ice fishing at Elliot Lake, at West Prairie Avenue and North Gary Avenue, also open dawn through dusk. Fishers are advised to observe the flag system before setting up on the ice.
At Arrowhead Golf Club, 26W151 Butterfield Road, cross-country skiers can travel groomed trails across the 27-hole course's slopes from 9 a.m. to dusk weekdays and 8 a.m. to dusk weekends. No trail fee is required; rental equipment does require a fee. Snowshoes are prohibited.
Snowshoes are welcome at Lincoln Marsh Natural Area, 1001 W. Lincoln Ave., where they can be rented at the office from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Snowshoe rentals are $5 per hour.
"Lincoln Marsh becomes a wonderland for those seeking that type of experience," said Lincoln Marsh Program Manager Terra Johnson. "There are many discoveries to be made, from watching the birds search for food to following tracks in the snow and observing how it blankets the vegetation and trees."
At least three inches of snow must be on the ground to go snowshoeing. When the snow is freshly fallen, Environmental Education Supervisor Deb Ditchman likes searching for animal tracks.
"It's like a little mystery, trying to see where they came from and where they went," Ditchman said. "And some tracks are so light and delicate - birds, mice - that they barely break the top layer of snow."
Ditchman will lead night snowshoeing "for families who want to hike the marsh in the dark" from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. If the night is cloudless, guests can view the stars as they trek through prairie, forest and marshland, finishing around a campfire with marshmallows and hot chocolate. Register at wheatonparkdistrict.com.
"Getting out for some new or different exercise doesn't cost a lot," Johnson said.
To learn more about the Wheaton Park District's outdoor recreation this winter, visit wheatonparkdistrict.com/outdoorfun.