Plan a day enjoying the beauty of Ohio winters. Cross-country skiing paths and hills to snow tube are ready for you here in Richland County. Take advantage of the indoor waterpark, with special rates for skiers. Discover two manmade outdoor skating rinks, one in downtown Bellville and the other in Mansfield’s South Park.
Ohio’s First & Finest Ski Resort
Can’t get enough snow? Head to Snow Trails, where pristine slopes await you December through March. State-of-the-art snow machines keep the slopes perfect all season long. Take classes or go to special events like Ski Carnival, Glow Tubing or one of their competitive races. Live music featured in the Snowflake Lounge and bar. Don’t ski? The whole gang will enjoy the Vertical Descent Tubing Park: no skill required! Perfect for pros and beginners alike, Snow Trails is fun for the family and a destination for serious skiers.
Cross Country Skiing
Bring your skis and trek the varied terrains offered by Richland County. From paved and unpaved paths to rolling landscapes, there are great cross country skiing locations for beginners and pros alike.
Gorman Nature Center
The perfect place for winter hikes and cross-country skiing. The Richard County Park District’s Gorman Nature Center features 150 acres of forests, prairies, ponds and streams and provides over four miles of public trails. The Gorman Nature Center naturalist staff sponsors weekly programs for the public featuring a variety of hikes, field trips, and natural history programs. Their winter programs include Night Sky explorations, Bird watching classes, nature writing classes and naturalist presentations.
Malabar Farm State Park
The 900-acre country estate of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Bromfield, Malabar is a great place to explore in the winter! Hike the hills or bring your cross-country skis and spend the day hitting the beautiful wooded trails. Choose from three levels of difficulty: Beginner loop (1 mile), Moderate Loop Trail (2 miles) and the Advanced Trail (4.5 miles).
Richland B & O Bike Trail
A paved 18.4-mile bike trail is built on the railroad bed of the former Baltimore & Ohio Railway. Connecting Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville and Butler, the trail traverses some of the most scenic parts of North Central Ohio. There are multiple access points in each community, so travel the whole trail or just a small stretch. The trail is open year-round during daylight hours for bicycling, in-line skating, walking, jogging and cross-country skiing in the winter.
Shelby Reservoirs & Trails
Shelby’s Reservoir No. 3 provides a scenic and serene location within the city. Hike the over 3-mile wooded nature trail or walk the 1.25-mile paved surface surrounding the reservoir. Great location for cross-country skiing and sledding.
Ski and Soak Lodging Deal
Comfort Inn Splash Harbor is a family-friendly hotel complete with an indoor water park. Go skiing and come warm-up in the hot tub and let the kids play in the pools and water slides. This local deal includes 10% off overnight accommodations for skiers, up to 4 passes for Splash Harbor Water Park and a complimentary breakfast buffet featuring homemade Belgian waffles. Tickets for Snow Trails may be purchased at the front desk to beat the lines!
Get more information on fun in the snow here!