Outdoor winter fun in Hamilton

Living in Hamilton offers residents so many opportunities to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Now that the chilly weather is here to stay – at least for a few months - bundle up and get out there to discover all the fun ways your family can enjoy winter in Hamilton! 

An invigorating hike is a great opportunity to get everyone out of the house and burn some calories. There are dozens of fantastic spots to visit in Hamilton, each offering a unique perspective of the city's winter transformation. At Royal Botanical Gardens, you can catch a glimpse of countless winter birds, particularly on the Marshwalk Trail and Princess Point Trail. Tiffany Falls Conservation Area in Ancaster is the perfect spot for a winter hike, offering an easy-to-navigate, well-groomed trail. 

For the family of ice skaters, the Hamilton Waterfront Outdoor Rink at Pier 8 is the perfect place to spend a winter afternoon. Skate rentals are available for children and adults Monday to Friday, from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.  The rink will be open for Family Day (February 15) from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Helmet rentals and skate sharpening is also available. After your skate, warm up with a steamy hot chocolate or cappuccino at Williams Fresh Café. 

Skaters will also find more than two dozen outdoor rinks across the city from Dundas to Stoney Creek. Visit https://www.hamilton.ca/parks-recreation/outdoor-fitness/outdoor-skating-rinks for locations and schedules. 

Tobogganing is a Canadian pastime treasured by children of all ages. New for winter 2016, the City of Hamilton has pledged to approve three local hills for safe sledding. Visit www.hamilton.ca to find out more. 

Just a short drive away in Milton, skiers, snowboarders and tubers can find wintry excitement on one of the hills at Glen Eden.  Glen Eden offers a rental shop, fully equipped terrain park for snowboarders, snow tubing and lessons for all ages and skill-levels. 

If zooming down slick, snow covered hills isn't at your comfort level, but you still want to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh powder on the ground, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing may just be a perfect fit for you. Hamilton is home to some unique trail systems and when the weather is right, each of the 10-kilometre trails at Valens and Christie Lake Conservation Area are groomed for cross-country skiing.