A typical Erie winter means snow is in the air and on the ground, transforming the region into a beautiful winter wonderland. It’s the ideal time to embrace the chilly temperatures and head outside to enjoy invigorating outdoor recreations. From skiing pristine slopes to hiking frosty landscapes, here are five places where you can make the most of an Erie winter.

Presque Isle State Park

Exploring Presque Isle’s natural beauty in winter reveals a tranquil landscape of snow-covered sand and frozen lagoons. The paved Karl Boyes Multi-Purpose Trail is cleared of snow and kept open from the main entrance to the Public Safety Building, allowing visitors to navigate the path with ease. The park also features several natural trails for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and hiking, including the one-mile Long Pond Trail near the East Pier and Fox Trail, a half-mile trail across from the Presque Isle Lighthouse. Ice fishing thrives in Presque Isle Bay, Misery Bay, and Horseshoe Pond, yielding panfish, perch, and the occasional steelhead. For those looking to try this immersive activity or enhance their skills, Fish USA has you covered with an abundance of equipment and resources.

Asbury Woods

Throughout winter, as long as there are at least six inches of snow on the ground, Asbury Woods allows visitors to snowshoe or cross-country ski across five trails that wind through its scenic 216-acre property of native species, old-growth forests, and sprawling terrain. Visitors can bring their own gear or rent equipment inside the Nature Center. For those new to either sport or looking to refine their technique, Asbury Woods offers basic skills clinics on weekends during the winter months, weather permitting. Information on rentals and clinics is available here. When there isn’t enough snow, visitors can still enjoy outdoor fun with various nature hikes.

Peek 'n Peak

In addition to its 26 trails and slopes, Peek’n Peak features three progressive terrain parks and a Lunar Lights tubing experience. The terrain parks are transitional, allowing visitors to try simpler obstacles before moving on to more complex turns, berms, bumps, and jumps. When the sun goes down, Peek’n Peak’s seven-lane snow tubing arena transforms into Lunar Lights, a dazzling display of thousands of LED lights. Peek’n Peak also offers an equipment rental and repair shop, lessons with professional instructors, and snacks, including hot cocoa, to warm up between runs.

Mount Pleasant of Edinboro

Nestled among the rolling hills of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, Mount Pleasant of Edinboro is a small ski resort with a big family atmosphere. The resort’s mix of groomed and natural trails ranges from challenging to straightforward, making it an ideal learning center for skiers and riders of all ages. For those new to tubing, this is a great place to try it out. Mount Pleasant’s eight-lane, 600-foot tubing hill features a gradual slope rather than a steep descent, and the resort provides the tubes so all you have to do is pick a lane and launch yourself downhill. The resort also offers a covered conveyor lift, tubing tow, clubhouse, equipment rentals, and a tuning shop.

Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park (LEAF)

With a picturesque backdrop of dormant trees and frost-kissed foliage, the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park (LEAF) provides an ideal setting for a contemplative stroll or a moment of quiet reflection. The park’s paved, natural, and gravel paths are maintained during the winter and are suitable for hiking, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing. In the northwest corner of the park, the Benjamin Winter Garden offers a peaceful space. Only the third of its kind in the country, the garden features plants that thrive when most others are dormant, such as winterberry, a holly plant with vibrant red berries.