"Flake-y" Winter Fun for the Whole Family

Itching for some wintertime outdoor fun? Hitch on your skis or snowshoes, grab your binoculars and head out to one of our parks.

Although the days are shorter and the air is colder, the Hudson Valley can still be incredibly beautiful in wintertime -- you just have to get out and enjoy it. In addition to our upcoming winter events, our staff has come up with five fun suggestions for a great winter day outdoors:

Sledding at Burger Hill (Hyde Park, Dutchess) Whatever breath you have left after several speedy rides down the 550-foot knob will be taken away by the magnificent panoramic view from the summit.

Tracking at Esopus Meadows Preserve (Esopus, Ulster) Hone your animal instincts by searching for the footprints of squirrels, deer, fox, porcupine and other creatures that inhabit this 100-acre sanctuary. Download this printable guide to identifying tracksfor handy reference.

Snowshoeing at Fishkill Ridge (Fishkill, Dutchess) If you’re healthy and up for a real workout, a wintertime tramp into this 1,900-acre unspoiled wilderness is sublime. Don’t be surprised if a bald eagle keeps you company.

Cross-country skiing at Poets’ Walk (Rhinebeck, Dutchess) It’s a real treat to schuss over the same terrain that Washington Irving and his literary pals once trod. There are no challenging hills and the Catskill views are spectacular.

Bird-watching in RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary (Catskill, Greene) From the observation platform in this 480-acre preserve you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of the migratory waterfowl that make a layover here during their southward flight.