Plenty of reasons to love snow, ice, cold

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Members of the Junior Naturalist Club take a break during a snowshoeing venture through the woods and trails surrounding Red Oak Nature Center, which rents snowshoes for $5 per pair.

Updated: February 20, 2012 9:04AM

While TV news anchors revel in the mild winter we’ve endured, many folks lament the lack of snow. For those who rank winter recreation among their favorite outdoor activities, the warm weeks were more painful than frostbite.

To us, winter is a time to rejoice — and that time has finally arrived. Snow, ice and cold are recreational gifts to be enjoyed with skis, sleds, snowshoes and skates.

With 159 parks, 24 lakes and 44 miles of interconnected trails, the Fox Valley Park District is a 2,400-acre playground for winter activities and cold-weather fun. Here are the best places to find it:

Sledding

It’s one of the joys of childhood, but please remind the young ones to sled down the middle of the hill and walk up the sides to avoid the dreaded “bowling alley” scenario and potential injury. Here are the go-to hills:

Lincoln Park — At Russell Avenue and Lakewood Place in Aurora, this is a gentle hill suitable for young children and beginners.

McCullough Park — Launch from the Prisco Community Center parking lot at 150 W. Illinois Ave. and enjoy Fox River views on the way down.

Waubonsie Lake Park — A bit steeper, this sled area at Montgomery and Kautz roads is rated as intermediate.

Oakhurst Forest Preserve — The big hill on Fifth Avenue, just west of Kautz Road, offers the fastest and steepest sledding in the area and is maintained by the Kane County Forest Preserve District.

Ice Skating

The Park District maintains two outdoor skating areas — one on each side of Aurora — and keeps the surfaces clear of snow.

East Side: Wheatlands Park pond at Barrington and Spinnaker drives.

West Side: Splash Country Water Park pond at 195 S. Barnes Road, next to the water park.

All skaters must heed the flags at each site. A green flag signals safe conditions (ice thickness of 6 inches or greater), but if a red flag is flying, skating is prohibited.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is permitted in any of the district’s 159 parks and throughout the 44-mile network of trails. Enjoy the peace, beauty and serenity of winter in the parks.

Whenever the snow cover is 3 inches or more, snowshoes are available for rent seven days a week at the Red Oak Nature Center. For $5, you can rent a pair of Atlas 925 snowshoes — poles included — to navigate across the white stuff.

Cross Country Skiing

Where there’s snow, there’s skiing. Unlike downhill, Nordic skiing requires no expensive lift ticket. Free fun is literally right out the door. Here are some personally tested favorites with minimal road crossings:

Fox River Trail — Start in North Aurora on either side of the State Street Bridge and stride northward. Both sides are wooded, peaceful and beautiful. The more ambitious can travel a loop to Batavia, crossing the river at the Clark Island bridges. Whenever the snow cover is 6 inches or more, Paddle and Trail of Aurora will groom classic tracks along both sides of the trail on the east side of the river, starting at the State Street bridge in North Aurora and running northward to Lippold Park.

Virgil Gilman Trail — Either trailhead at Prairie Street or Galena Boulevard is a good starting point. Heading westward, skiers will enjoy a rustic glide, all the way to Waubonsee College. Blackberry Creek parallels much of the route, further enriching the scenery.

Waubonsie Lake Trail — This popular network of trails can be accessed at Waubonsie Lake Park (off Kautz Road) and from the parking lot at the Eola Community Center. One tour around Waubonsie Lake on skis is all it takes for this destination to be added to the favorites list.

Stuart Sports Complex/Jericho Lake — A sprawling expanse of snow — 190 acres worth – provides plenty of room for skiers to roam to their heart’s content.

The above trails are not groomed, relying instead on skiers to carve tracks — so the more skiers who use the trails, the better the tracks.

Fortunately, it’s only January right now — meaning there’s plenty more of winter fun awaiting!

Jeff Long is the public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District. Contact him at jlong@fvpd.net.