OUTDOOR ACTIVITEIES
winter sports Mankato never goes into winter hibernation because there are plenty of winter recreation opportunities available. Get out there and enjoy the beautiful winter weather then warm up at an excellent restaurant or hotel.
Cross Country Skiing Our extensive trail system offers many opportunities for cross-country skiing. Skiers will enjoy Indian Lake Park, Williams Nature Center, Bray Park, Wildwood Conservation Area and Daly Park. The trails are periodically groomed in the winter months. Call 507.304.4025 or visit www.co.blue-earth.mn.us for more information.
Down-Hill Skiing D-8 For down-hill skiers, Mount Kato draws visitors from Southern Minnesota, Northern Iowa and South Dakota. Mount Kato has 19 groomed trails for skiing and snowboarding. After the fun grab a bite to eat in the cozy ski lodge.
Ice Skating Mankato offers eleven parks with outdoor ice skating rinks and one indoor skating rink at All Seasons Arena. For a detailed list of ice skating rinks in Mankato, go to visitmankatomn.com.
Sledding Grab a sled and head to Sibley Park to do some downhill sledding. Or, if you’re looking for a bigger thrill head to Mt. Kato to go downhill tubing.
Snowbiking Snowbiking is gaining popularity in the biking world. Snowbikes or “fat bikes” typically have tires about four inches wide which allows for more flotation on packed snow trails. Snowbiking is best along packed snowmobile trails or frozen rivers and lakes. Always use caution when on frozen rivers and lakes.
Snowmobiling There are 160 miles of trails for snowmobilers in Blue Earth County. Snowmobilers should visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website to get detailed maps of the snowmobile routes available. Snowmobilers can also download these maps to their GPS. Snowmobile State Trail Stickers are required and snowmobilers should check trail availability before they go. All information can be found at dnr.state.mn.us/snowmobiling/index.html
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visitmankatomn.com
Snowshoeing
Explore our parks in a whole new way this winter by trying snowshoeing. For information about snow shoe rental, see page 11.