Extreme Winter

Embark on the ultimate adventure in the beautiful northwest hills of Connecticut. Blaze the hundreds of acres of privately owned snow-covered tails on your own UTV with Backyard Adventures UTV Tours.

Glide downhill on a snow bike this winter! Never tried it before? It's as easy as riding a bike — literally! Plus, Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort offers lessons if you'd like a little practice before hitting the slopes.

Once winter sets in and the pond ice hardens, ice fishing becomes a good way to enjoy the cold. The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection offers ice fishing classes. You might find anything from a trout to a perch to a salmon on your line. And a place like Cabela’s in East Hartford or Bass Pro Shops in Bridgeport will be happy to outfit you properly.

Once it snows, Connecticut becomes a platform for cross-country skiers, with every pasture and field, golf course and trail a possible place to play. Those wishing to test their endurance might look into the trails at various state parks such as Macedonia Brook State Park in Kent, where the elevation changes and long views can be very rewarding. In any case, there’s no better way to keep yourself warm on a cold winter day (assuming you want to stay outdoors).

And find more great trails at Winding Trails in Farmington, Weir Farm National Historical Site in Wilton, White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield, Gay City State Park in Hebron, or the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic.

Connecticut has any number of traprock formations and granite cliffs that invite the hardy, daring climber come winter. Of course, ice climbing is not something you should try all by yourself. Better to turn to an outfit like Ascent Climbing or Ragged Mountain Guides, which are ready to assist with lessons, first ascents and guided climbs.

Anyone can go up the ski mountain via a lift, but how about going back to the way the real early skiers did it? Go to Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall with your snowshoes and skis, strap your skis to your back and climb the slope in your snowshoes, then strap the shoes to your back and ski down. It could be that once will be enough.