Winter in Five Rivers MetroParks

Winter Activities in Five Rivers MetroParks!

Five Rivers MetroParks are full of fun activities year-round! As winter arrives, so does spectacular winter scenery and sledding, cross-country skiing, skating and hiking across our more than 14,000 acres of natural areas.

We encourage families to celebrate winter's beauty and fun with a visit to one of our 18 facilities - one of which is never more than 15 minutes from you in Montgomery County.

	Sledding Carriage Hill MetroPark Sledding Hill is in the pasture next to the visitor center at Carriage Hill MetroPark, E. Shull Rd. & Route 201, Huber Heights. Englewood MetroPark Englewood MetroPark's Sledding Hill is West Park. Use the 100 E. National Rd. entrance (US 40 at St. Rte 48) and follow the park road to the right for parking. Germantown MetroPark Sledding Hill is located at 6206 Boomershine Rd., just north of Manning Road. Taylorsville MetroPark Taylorsville MetroPark's Sledding Hill's entrance is on east side of Brown School Rd., south of US 40.
	Cross-Country Skiing Cross country skiing doesn't require hills and can be enjoyed on almost any snow-covered location. It's also easy to learn and offers an entire body aerobic workout. Five Rivers MetroParks embraces the sport and encourages residents to get out on their skis and use and of our existing hiking trails or blaze your own trails across snow covered public spaces.
	Hiking Hiking trails are open all winter long in most MetroParks. Some trails are plowed, and others are packed snow. To view hiking trails, visit our Find a MetroPark page and click on the trail maps links below the map image.
	Photography All of the Five Rivers MetroParks make an excellent backdrop for your photos. Winter can be an excellent opportunity for photographing nature, wildlife and people! There’s a picture waiting for you to capture in your local MetroPark. Also feel free to visit our photography activities page, join our Flickr photo group or share photos on facebook.
	Camping Enjoy the beauty of winterized Ohio on the Twin Valley Backpacking Trail connecting Germantown and Twin Creek MetroParks. This 22-mile trail is open all year round with backcountry hiking and camping opportunities for individual and group campers. Call 277-4374 for camping permits.
	Ice Fishing Where can winter anglers go for some hot ice-fishing action this season? A few MetroParks offer opportunities for ice fishing on ponds and lakes. In addition, fishing can also be good in deeper sections of our local rivers and near warmwater discharges. Carriage Hill MetroPark Ice fishing is permitted, but ice conditions are not monitored. Fish without a license and free-of-charge from the banks of both Cedar Lake and North Woods Pond. Englewood MetroPark Ice fishing is permitted off Old Springfield Road, but ice conditions are not monitored. An Ohio fishing license is required. Possum Creek MetroPark Ice fishing is permitted, but ice conditions are not monitored. Fish, free-of-charge and without a license, in ponds and Argonne Lake. There is a 10-inch minimum size on bass and a six-fish limit per day. Trout is introduced to the ponds during cold months (typically December through February or March).
	Ice Skating RiverScape MetroPark The Ice Rink at RiverScape MetroPark is closed while the construction for RiverScape Phase III takes place. The new Ice Rink (about 50 percent larger than the old one) will re-open on November 26, 2010. For more details please visit the Ice Rink page.