Grab your mittens, put on your boots this winter, and experience Indiana's outdoor playland! Follow our guide and discover the best ways to cure your cabin fever. We’ve divided our list of winter outdoor activities into five categories so you can find your favorite or try something new: ice skating; skiing, snowboarding, and tubing; sledding; hiking and horseback riding; and snowmobiling. You’ll need to wait for snow for some of the sledding hills, but many of the locations provide snow and ice for your winter fun.
Ice Skating
Central Park Plaza Ice Rink – Ice skating in the heart of downtown Valparaiso under colorful lights that set the stage for a memorable experience. When you're done skating, you can warm up with a hot drink and concessions with a full view of the action on the ice.
Riverside Skating Center – Located in West Lafayette, this ice rink has brought joy to its community for over 20 years. Skate into the night at this intimate lighted skating rink.
Lawrenceburg’s Winter Wonderland Ice Rink – Kick off your shoes and grab your skates at Lawrenceburg's covered outdoor ice skating rink. The pavilion at Todd Creech Park provides a roof overhead and a fire pit where you can cozy up while you enjoy the winter weather.
Photo by @alyssaworsham on Instagram
Howard Park Ice Trail and Pond, South Bend – Howard Park’s 16,000-square-foot ice trail and pond is a premier winter destination for the South Bend region. The ice trail features rolling hills and soft curves that provide skaters with a diverse terrain when making their way around the loop. The ice pond is attached to the ice trail but provides a more traditional skating experience with an isolated skating area that can be used for learning to skate or skating activities like broomball.
Skate the Plaza at Deep River Water Park – At Deep River Water Park, the thrills continue after the summer is over. Aquatic summer fun turns into a 14,500-square-foot ice plaza in the winter at Deep River Water Park.
NIBCO Water & Ice Park – Lace up your skates this winter and take a spin around an ice path and rink with gorgeous landscaping and the Elkhart River as your backdrop.
Elevance Health Rink – Returning for the 2024-2025 season, the Elevance Health Rink will bring ice skating back to Bicentennial Unity Plaza.
Skiing, Snowboarding & Tubing
Paoli Peaks – Discover winter magic in southern Indiana at Paoli Peaks. Ski or snowboard your way down trails for all skill levels or grab a tube and experience an adrenaline-pumping ride at Arctic Blast tubing park!
Perfect North Slopes –This 100-acre facility offers downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing for all ages and abilities. With 23 picturesque trails, 2 terrain parks, 11 lifts, and snowmaking capabilities, you can enjoy a snow day every day on the slopes in Southeast Indiana. For those who love sled riding, Perfect North’s snow tubing hill has you covered.
Cross-Country Skiing at Indiana Dunes National Park – Looking for a new winter activity, give cross-country skiing or snowshoeing a try at the Indiana Dunes National Park. Navigate nearly 15 miles of interconnected loops at the Glenwood Dunes Trails or journey through a variety of habitats at the 2.9-mile Tolleston Dunes Trail.
Sledding & Tubing
Toboggan Run at Pokagon State Park – Zoom down the Midwest's only refrigerated toboggan run. With hills and valleys, you'll enjoy every second of the 90-foot drop throughout a quarter mile!
Fort Harrison State Park – A state park for many seasons for many reasons! Visit Fort Harrison State Park in the winter for one of Indianapolis' largest sledding hills.
Indiana Dunes State Park, Chesterton – Take a sled down Devil's Slide at the dunes and get a picturesque view of Lake Michigan to balance out your pumping adrenaline.
Arctic Blast Tubing Park at Paoli Peaks, Paoli – Paoli Peaks' tubing facility is separate from the Ski and Board lodge, equipped with its own parking lot, ticket sales, and day lodge. Inside the lodge, you will find bathrooms, lockers, a concession stand, and seating.
Tubing at Perfect North Slopes, Lawrenceburg – Enjoy one of the largest tubing areas in the country, right in the Tri-State! Perfect North has offered tubing for 16 years, and it's a perfect family activity. Experience the thrill of sliding down a snowy 1200' long run and then effortlessly riding one of two Magic Carpet conveyor lifts back to the top... no hiking uphill here!
Tubing at Koteewi Run, Noblesville – Join us for a breathtaking slide down Koteewi Run, central Indiana's only groomed snow tubing hill. Slide 700 feet down groomed lanes in our custom snow tubes to a soft landing, and then ride the tow line back to the top for another run.
Hiking & Horseback Riding
First Day Hike at Angel Mounds State Historic Site – Start 2025 off on the right foot with a First Day Hike at Angel Mounds State Historic Site. Explore the wooded trails during this guided tour of the location, learn about how the Mississippians likely survived the winter, and more.
Indiana State Parks – Indiana State Parks remain open year-round, providing a great place to get out and explore. Even in the winter, nature's beauty abounds, so bundle up and explore!
Spelunking – It’s always the same temperature inside these caves.
Natural Valley Ranch – Visit Hendricks County and explore 78 acres of scenic outdoors with 30 and 60-minute guided trail rides along the banks of White Lick Creek.
Snowmobiling
Buffalo Run Snowmobile Trail – Pack up your snowmobile and head north to Buffalo Run in the South Bend area to ride 68 miles of snowmobiling trails.
Miami Snowmobile Trail – Experience a 60-mile snowmobile trail in Elkhart County. Updated and maintained by the Elkhart County Snowmobile Club, this trail will take you through new paths each season.
