January’s here, so we expect some serious snow to be coming our way. One way to get some great exercise in the winter, and still enjoy a bit of the outdoors, is cross country skiing. Richland County offers a variety of terrains, including paved paths and hilly landscapes, making this region a great cross country skiing location for beginners and pros alike. Check out these recommendations for where to go:
Gorman Nature Center (Mansfield)
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. Visit them online here.
Malabar Farm State Park (Lucas)
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). Find them online here.
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. Find their electronic brochure online here.
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. An online map for the reservoir, as well as directions to the location, is available here.
For more information on these and other wintertime activities, visit the website of Destination Mansfield – Richland County.
Source: Destination Mansfield – Richland County
