Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/626452
W I N T E R R E C R E AT I O N WINTER RECREATION When the snow rolls in, so does the fun! Play your way through winter. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING Strap on your skis, dig in your poles and explore the snow-covered Magic City! The Minot Park District maintains groomed cross-country ski trails at the Bison Plant, Souris Valley Golf Course and Oak Park. To rent cross-country skis, contact the Minot Park District. ICE FISHING Pop up a tent, drill a hole and drop a line through the thick ice at one of the nearby lakes, where you'll find yellow perch, northern pike and walleye. Lake Audubon, Lake Darling and Lake Sakakawea are all just a short drive from Minot. ICE SKATING & HOCKEY Lace up your skates and channel your inner Michelle Kwan or Wayne Gretzky! Both outdoor ice skating and hockey rinks are available at Polaris Park (712 26th Ave NW ) and Roosevelt School (619 9th St NE). Corbett Field (13th St SE and E Burdick Expy) offers a pleasure rink for skating as well. The ice rinks will be open from Dec. 15 until Feb. 15. Hours of operation are 4pm to 9:30pm on weekdays and 2pm to 9:30pm on weekends, but closed on Wednesdays. When kids are off school, the outdoor rinks are open from 2pm to 9:30pm, but closed on Christmas and New Year's Day. Indoor skating rinks are located at the Minot Park District's MAYSA Arena and the North Dakota State Fair Center. MAYSA and the North Dakota State Fair Center are the homes to various hockey leagues, figure skating clubs and the Minot Curling Club. Maysa Arena will have a third rink come the fall of 2016! For availability of public ice times at the MAYSA, call (701) 857-1544 or visit minotparks.com/maysa-arena. SKIING & SNOWBOARDING Pack up your skis or snowboard and show off your snow skills. Bottineau Winter Park A family-friendly ski resort located in the heart of Turtle Mountain. The mountain features nine runs, five chair lifts, a 250' vertical drop and snow-tubing hill. 1047 Hwy 43, Bottineau, ND (approx. 85 miles from Minot) (701) 263-4556 skibwp.com SLEDDING Minot features a designated sledding area at the Souris Valley Golf Course. SNOWMOBILING Bundle up and experience the thrill of cruising over freshly-groomed snow. The Minot area's snowmobile trail system consists of 351 miles of groomed trails, open from December 1 to April 1, depending on snow conditions. For current conditions, call (701) 328-5377. West Connects Burlington, Foxholm, Carpio and Berthold; loops back to Burlington and Minot. North Connects Deering, Ruthville and Minot. There is also a connecting trail from Ruthville to Foxholm. Southeast Connects Minot, Surrey, Sawyer, Velva, Granville, Deering, Upham and Towner. Connections to other trail systems Towner to the North Central Trail System; Upham to Bottineau and the Peace Garden Trail System.