Fight the Cold with these Winter Activities in Wayne County

Story by Max White

Winter is the best time to do things outdoors if you like the snow and the cold, and Wayne County is a great place to play some winter sports and do some winter activities. There’s sledding, ice skating, skiing, snow-shoeing and more to do in Wayne County, which will allow you to enjoy what some may think are the worst months of the year.

Sledding

According to Wayne County, there are a variety of places to sled. Two hills in Hines Park – the Cass Benton Hill and Middlebelt Hill – in Westland are great for sledding hills. There are also sledding hills at the Nankin Mills Interpretiv Center in Westland and Lola Valley Park in Redford.

You can also do some sledding at Huron-Clinton Metroparks – specifically Lake Erie Metropark in Brownstown Township and Willow Metropark in New Boston.

Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing

If you like to strap on the skis for a great workout or as a way to explore, Wayne County has a variety of trails for cross-country skiing.

Crosswinds Marsh in Sumpter Township has trails where you can ski and take in the beautiful views. Look up and try to catch a sight of a bald eagle that is often seen in the area.

Willow Metropark in New Boston has six miles of marked cross-country ski trails; Oakwood Metropark and Lower Huron Metropark also have trails, though some are not marked or groomed, and Lake Erie Metropark has 4.25 miles of trails.

Ice Skating

If you want to lace up the skates and get out on the ice, there are places both indoors and outdoors to try it.

Outdoor skating is available at Clark Park in Detroit and Patterson Park in Grosse Pointe Park.

Other indoor ice rinks include the Dearborn Ice Skating Center, Kennedy Recreation Center in Trenton, Yack Arena in Wyandotte and Eddie Edgar Ice Arena in Livonia.

Ice Fishing

With temps continuing to stay cold, many people get on lakes and ponds, big and small, to try and catch the fish under the ice.

Most importantly, remain safe on the ice and focus on the strongest ice – which is clear with a bluish tint. Test the ice before you fish.

Some inland lakes available for ice fishing, according to the State of Michigan, include Flat Rock Lake and Belleville Lake, and some areas along the Detroit River.

Winter and Events

If you’re not one for sports, you can check out one of the many winter festivals that happen throughout Wayne County in the winter.

Celebrate Fat Tuesday in Hamtramck. The annual Paczki Run takes place in February where you can run through the city and finish with a beer and a paczek. Then, take in the sites of Hamtramck early in the morning on Fat Tuesday as people line up for paczki.

Around St. Patrick’s Day, you can check out the St. Patrick’s Party and Pub Crawl in Wyandotte.

Dearborn Restaurant Week takes place in early March, where you can warm up inside some of the city’s best restaurants with diverse dishes and great food.

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Author

Max White
Max White is a freelance writer who loves telling stories about his favorite city, Detroit, where he lives with his wife. When he’s not working or writing, you can find him rock climbing, visiting one of the many Detroit breweries, or taking a stroll throughout the city.