In case you haven’t noticed, winter in Sioux Falls is here. It has arrived. And on the right day, it will smack you right in the face when you walk outside. But for the days that the temperature rises above freezing – Sioux Falls has a variety of activities to get you out of the house and are all kid friendly! If you’re looking for some winter fun, look no further. Read below for great ideas on how to get out and about this winter season.
Tuthill State Park has it all – Sledding, ice skating, cross country skiing. It’s a picturesque park that’s only 3 miles away from Graystone Heights plus it’s dog friendly. They even offer free horse drawn sleigh rides (courtesy of McCrossan Boys Ranch) and have concession stands in case you need a toasty treat to warm up. The park is open until 10pm.
Great Bear Recreation Park offers 6,000 feet of groomed trails for the more adventurous. A full day lift ticket gets you access for skiing, snowboarding and tubing. A full day pass is just $26 for adults and children under 5 are free. This place is great for beginners and children as well.
Ice fishing at Catfish Bay is a blast for the whole fam. On January 27th, Catfish Bay hosts Ice Fish Fest – a family friendly event with a $2,000 grand prize for biggest catch of the day and over $10,000 in prizes overall. Catfish Bay is a privately stocked lake so you’re bound to catch something! There are numerous other lakes in the area to ice fish as well. For more information on Ice Fish Fest: http://www.icefishfest.com/
Ice Skating is offered at numerous locations in Sioux Falls and is always a great winter activity. Places like McKennan Park Ice Skating Rink and SCHEELS IcePlex are great places to go. SCHEELS IcePlex even offers hockey for those of you who are a little more coordinated on skates. For a list of other outdoor rinks around town: https://siouxfalls.org/parks/ice-rinks
Hopefully, these ideas will help you get outside a few times this winter. Although the temps have us bundling up in winter jackets and hats, it is always so refreshing to get outside. And it’s always so much fun to play in the snow – no matter how old you are.