7 ways to beat cabin fever this winter in Rochester
Late January in Minnesota may be “peak winter.” The holidays are long gone, yet warmer days are still multiple months away. It’s easy to get cramped up inside — believe me, I feel it too — but Rochester still offers some great options for getting outdoors during the coldest stretch of the year. Below are some of my go-tos from growing up here, along with a few recommendations that have been passed along to me.
Outdoor rinks
Some of Rochester’s best-kept secrets hide in secluded parks scattered across the city. Bring pucks and skates (or boots and tennis balls, as my friends and I have done for years at the John Withers Sports Complex) to eight different parks across town, where Rochester Parks and Rec floods part of the parking lot and puts up ice rinks for the winter. If you need a break from the cold, six of them also offer warming houses in the evening. If you want to skate but want no part in taking a puck to the face, the Soldiers Field track and the rink at Southern Woods Park are hockey-free.
Curling
The Curling Club of Rochester teamed up with Little Thistle Brewing Co. last winter to bring outdoor curling to Rochester, in conjunction with their leagues inside the Rec Center. They are back at it again in 2020, taking to the ice whenever the weather cooperates on the weekends. Check their Facebook page for open ice times and register for their 2020 bonspiel coming to Little Thistle at the end of the month.
Sledding
While hockey has become my main winter pastime in recent years, careening down Judd Hill on a sled was my favorite weekend winter activity as a kid. Schmidt Park, just north of 55th Street in northwest Rochester, is the other main sledding hill inside city limits. Bring your own sled and be prepared for the whole experience: the walk up the hill is a killer thigh workout, but the ride down is worth it.
BONUS — it’s just over 30 minutes away: If you want a change of pace (or if your sleds are a little slow), take a journey down I-90 to Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch in High Forest for some snow tubing. Be sure to reserve your spot ahead of time, though. Spaces are limited on the weekend and not available on weekdays.
Get on the trails
Rochester’s extensive network of bike trails go somewhat dormant in the winter, but Quarry Hill Nature Center’s slice of the network is groomed for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. If you don’t have the equipment, no problem — rent snowshoes or skis for a few hours, a full day, or an entire weekend. If you want to get out of the city, Oxbow Park also grooms trails and offers ski and snowshoe rentals.
Ice fishing
The fish still bite, even when it’s cold. There’s a handful of places in the Rochester area, like Foster Arend Lake and Willow Creek Reservoir, to get out on the ice and try your luck. You can’t just run onto a lake with a fishing pole, though — make sure your fishing license is in order, you’ve got the right equipment (like an auger or a chisel), and the lake is safe for walking. The DNR says four inches of ice is the minimum for traveling on foot, but make sure to check every 150 feet or so. Ice depth can vary across a lake.
History Center’s Winterfest
In the absence of an organized 2020 Winterfest across Rochester, the Olmsted County History Center still plans to put on their own program on February 1. Activities include sleigh rides and tours of the caves on the old Stoppel farmstead, where German immigrants George and Joseph Stoppel wintered in 1856. Details on the event can be found here.
SocialICE
Southern Minnesota’s favorite ice bar is back for 2020, with five downtown establishments ready to whip up themed drinks for three nights over the second weekend in February. Check out the live DJs, space out your drinks from the bar with new offerings from Café Steam, and bring the whole family Sunday afternoon for the second year of SocialICE FAM JAM.
BONUS No. 2 — day trips to the resort: Rochester’s hills only accommodate sledding, but if you’re looking for a little more action, don’t look too far. Coffee Mill and Welch Village both offer skiing and snowboarding just under an hour from Rochester (Coffee Mill’s just outside Wabasha, while Welch Village is about 15 minutes off Highway 52 near Zumbrota — follow Welch Village Road). There’s ski and snowboard rentals at both sites, as well as beginner programs where you can learn how to ski or snowboard for the first time. It’s not Aspen or Squaw Valley, but there’s nothing like being on the slopes, especially when it’s snowing.
Isaac Jahns is a Rochester native and a 2019 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. He reports on politics, business and music for Med City Beat.
