Where to Go to Have Fun in the Snow around Boston
The temperature may have dropped, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still plenty of ways to get some fresh air close to home.
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SNOWSHOEING
Boston Nature Center, Mattapan. Not everything hibernates in the winter. This Mass Audubon property often hosts guided hikes, during which a naturalist will point out plant and animal species along the trails.
Weston Ski Track, Weston. Take a walk in the white stuff no matter the weather thanks to this 9-mile course’s snowmaker. Bonus points for lessons that cover ascending, descending, and crossing hills while wearing snowshoes.
Great Brook Ski Touring Center, Carlisle. Savor the beauty of farmland and forests under a blanket of snow along the Acorn Trail, one of many ungroomed areas for snowshoers at this park north of Boston, also known for its smooth cross-country ski trails.
SLEDDING
Larz Anderson Park, Brookline. This 64-acre park is packed with hills big and small—meaning it’s perfect for kids of all ages. Parents, meanwhile, will breathe a sigh of relief knowing there are safety bumpers on trees that pose a hazard to sledders.
Peters Hill, Roslindale. The best peak in the Arnold Arboretum to zip down? Peters Hill in Rozzie, no question. It offers a lovely view of the skyline, plus a slick slope for sliding.
Mount Hood Park, Melrose. There’s a long history of sledding at this park on the Saugus-Melrose line—FDR’s Works Progress Administration built several structures there in the 1930s, including a ski jump and a toboggan run. Both no longer exist, but the tradition remains.
SKIING
Wachusett Mountain, Princeton. With some 25 trails, eight lifts, and a 2,006-foot summit just an hour from Boston, this resort is the urban skier’s dream. Bonus: During the season, the MBTA runs trains outfitted with ski and snowboard racks that service the newly installed Wachusett stop off the Fitchburg Line.
Nashoba Valley Ski Area, Westford. Hitting the slopes for the first time this winter? This ski and snowboard destination doesn’t draw huge crowds, making it ideal for beginners still getting their bearings. More advanced skiers, meanwhile, will appreciate the five Black Diamond trails.
Blue Hills Ski Area, Canton. Small but mighty are the 16 runs at Blue Hills, a ski area that’s given South Shore residents a taste of winter fun since 1950. Glide down the western side of Great Blue Hill, which reaches a summit of 635 feet, morning, noon, and night.
TUBING
Ski Ward, Shrewsbury. Zoom up and down without waiting around at Ski Ward’s “TubaSlide” area, where 200-plus tubes across 10 lanes keep the good times rolling.
Nashoba Valley Tubing Park, Littleton. Purchasing a two-hour ticket to this park gives you access to 18 lanes, not to mention four lifts to ferry you back up the hill. A set of lights means you can even tube at night.
Planters Hill, Hingham. BYO tube to World’s End Reservation, managed by the Trustees, where a 118-foot drumlin rising near the coastline makes for an excellent place to shove off.
