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How to Enjoy your Parks & Public Lands in the Cold

Just because there’s a chill in the air doesn’t mean your public lands deserve the cold shoulder. With a little bit of forethought, your SLC parks and trails are still the perfect place to visit all year round. Here are our tips for staying happy outdoors in the winter months!

1. Come Prepared

Being prepared doesn’t just refer to what you wear or bring in your backpack, it means coming prepared in mindset, too! These landscapes will likely look and feel different, which means the way you recreate might need to change! Try coming back to these spaces ready to experience them in their new form. Proper layers, water, and snacks all play a huge role in this, too.

2. Consider a New Outdoor Hobby

Tip number two flows right alongside tip one. If running through your local park or on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail is your go to, you might consider walking/hiking if you feel running in the potential conditions winter presents (ice, slush, snow) might not be your comfort level. While bird watching might feel difficult in the winter compared to summer, you might observe the way other pieces of the natural world unfolds and journal about it. If you’re yearning for your summer activities, activating these parks and natural lands via hiking/walking with a podcast or audio book about your favorite activities is a great way to get excited about the seasons to come!

3. Bring a Friend

Name somebody better at cheering you up than your best friend, we’ll wait. Bringing friends or family members with you can help distract yourself from the cold and create time to challenge yourselves in. These public spaces are perfect to create new memories or maybe even new traditions. Even if you still aren’t loving being outside in unfavorable weather, at least you both have something to remember and laugh about down the line.