9 Must-Try Winter Activities in Connecticut

Not just for kids anymore, riding a big rubber tube down a mountainside is a thrill not to be missed. You might even catch a little air! Here in Connecticut, Powder Ridge Mountain Park and Resort is one of the most popular places to get your tube on. You can even ski, snowboard and go tubing all year long on their synthetic snow.

Climbing centers are all the rage these days. They're a great way to get the adrenaline pumping, while you build strength and skill. If you think you’re ready to attempt to climb a wall of ice, experts like Ascent Climbing and Ragged Mountain Guides can connect you with some of the best places to climb in Connecticut.

Move over, skiers and snowboarders! Combining the thrill of skiing and the fun of mountain biking, snow biking (or “ski biking”) is catching on fast with many winter mountain sport fans. Try it yourself at Powder Ridge Mountain Park Resort in Middlefield!

There’s something extra thrilling about skiing at night, whether it be by firelight, luminaries, or even spotlights that make the snow come to life in the dark. In Connecticut, you’ll find night skiing opportunities at Mohawk Mountain, Ski Sundown, Powder Ridge and Mount Southington.

Watch expert jumpers of all levels catch air during the Salisbury Winter Association’s annual Jumpfest !

If you’re looking to try something different than traditional downhill, the Terrain Park at Mount Southington offers freestyle skiers and snowboarders a chance to learn and hone their tricks on a collection of jumps, rails, banks and pipes.

In winter months, many of Connecticut’s most scenic hiking and biking trails transform into a great place to enjoy a day of snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.  After a fresh snowfall, try the 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.

Outdoor fun continues all year round.  Winter activities in state parks and forest include cross country skiing, downhill skiing, ice skating, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice boating, winter camping, and ice fishing.  Quite a few of Connecticut’s lakes and ponds draw ice fishing enthusiasts every winter and the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection offers ice fishing classes.

Take the ultimate UTV adventure tour in the beautiful northwest hills of Connecticut through hundreds of acres of privately owned trails — perfect for an outdoor winter expedition (or any season).