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Frosty Fun in the Beautiful Susquehanna River Valley
Winter is here! Resist the urge to hibernate and come outside in the Susquehanna River Valley . . . because every season is the right
season to visit the Susquehanna River Valley.
Admire the artistry of nature with outdoor recreation activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice skating, ice fishing, and more.
Then, come in out of the cold and warm up with local libations and comforting cuisine at our breweries, wineries, and restaurants!
Fight back against the winter blues, bundle up, and prepare to be delighted by the sights and sounds of the season!
TRAILS FOR HIKING, CROSSCOUNTRY SKIING AND SNOWSHOEING
The Susquehanna River Valley has many popular trails for hiking as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when the snow blankets the region.
State Forests and Parks
Twenty-four miles of cross-country ski trails have been developed within the Bald Eagle State Forest, with trailheads at R. B. Winter State Park and Hairy Johns State Forest Picnic Area. R. B. Winter State Park has the 10-mile Halfway Cross-Country Ski Trail with connecting trails and roads on surrounding state forest land.
The Roaring Creek Tract in Weiser State Forest offers a chance to get outside in Northumberland County. An eight-mile shared-use trail runs through the valley along the creek and reservoirs, for those who wish to enjoy a winter wonderland.
Easy hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails can be found at area state and local parks as well. Or amble along the riverside trails at Shikellamy State Park, Milton State Park, Watsontown Canal Park Path.
Cross-country skiing is a great way to enjoy a state park in winter, especially when there is lots of snow on the ground. Cross-country skiing trails are located on:
- Hiking trails
- Equestrian trails
- Service roads
- Fields
- Frozen lakes
- Old railroad grades
- Lake shorelines
Some trails have track set. Visitors are asked not to hike or snowshoe over the set track. Snowshoeing is available anywhere there is enough snow.
The Merrill Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy’s maintained trails are perfect for a short winter hike. Visit their website to learn more about the Dale’s Ridge Trail located just outside of Lewisburg as well as the Koons Trail in Mifflinburg at the historic Hassenplug Covered Bridge.
Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area in Shamokin: While the majority of trails are for offroad enthusiasts with ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes and full-size vehicles, there is also a 3.1-mile walking trail with scenic outlooks. The trailhead kiosk is located at the AOAA Welcome Center.
Faylor Lake in Snyder County offers 3.75 miles of trails surrounding the lake.
The Montour Area Recreation Commission manages parks, trails and outdoor recreational programming including the Montour Preserve which offers trails in varying lengths from the .2-mile Hummingbird Trail to the 3.9-mile Chillisquaque Trail. The Montour Preserve Visitors’ Center is open Monday – Saturday from 8:00am – 4:00pm. The building may be open at additional times for programs and special events.
The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art in Millersburg has beautiful trails open for those looking to experience the splendor of a winter woods walk.
ICE SKATING
Lewisburg Ice Skating Rink
St. Lawrence Street & St. Mary Street, Lewisburg
The Lewisburg Ice Rink opens during wintertime depending upon the weather. The rink is entirely outdoors, but a warming house is available to get in out of the cold or rest beside an outdoor wood fire. The best way to find out if the rink is open is to call 570-524-4774 or check the BVRA Facebook page.
Buffalo Valley Recreation Authority
Main Office
815 Market Street, Suite 182
Lewisburg, PA 17837
(570) 524-4774
www.BVRec.org (facilities)
Sunbury Ice Skating Rink
Sunbury Community Center
249 Memorial Drive, Sunbury, PA 17801
570-286-1441
Facebook: Sunbury-Ice-Skating-Rink
Open October 1-March 31
Admission: Adults $6.00 Students $4.00 Skate Rental $2.00
Membership is available. The rink only accepts cash for admission and snack bar.
Public Skating Sessions:
Monday-Friday, 11:30 am to 2:00 pm
Wednesday, 7:00-9:00 pm
Friday, 6:30-9:00 pm
Saturday, 1:00-3:30 pm and 6:30-9:00 pm
Sunday, 1:00-3:30 pm
Tuesday 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm Open Hockey for people 16 years old and up.
During all Shikellamy School District Holidays the rink will be open 11:30 am to 3:30 pm.
The Sunbury Community Center is the main entrance for the Ice Rink and houses locker rooms, skate rentals and refreshment stand. Skater aids (looks like a walker) are available for our physically handicapped and beginner skaters. Remember to dress appropriately for skating. You may want to bring hats, gloves and coats because the rink is very cold. You can warm yourself in the lobby by the fireplace.
The Ice Rink is fully enclosed and is the home ice for the Bucknell University and Susquehanna University Ice Hockey team as well as many youth and adult hockey leagues.
Skating at SRV Natural Areas
In the heart of winter when the temperatures have been consistently below freezing, Halfway Lake at R. B. Winter State Park and freeze enough to allow ice skating. Be sure to check the winter conditions before going out onto the ice.
Bald Eagle State Park - Ice skating is permitted on the lake as conditions permit. Ice thickness is not monitored.
Raymond B. Winter State Park - Skating is permitted on the natural ice of the lake as conditions permit.
SLEDDING
Bald Eagle State Park - About five acres of cleared hillside allows for a 1,320-foot run. The slope faces the modern campground and is accessed from Skyline Drive near Pavilion #5.
Raymond B. Winter State Park - The western edge of the large day use parking lot is a sledding hill when conditions permit.
SNOWMOBILING
Bald Eagle State Forest has more than 300 miles of state forest roads and trails open for snowmobiling. Snowmobiles must be properly registered and may only be operated on designated roads in Bald Eagle State Forest following the official closing of the rifle deer season. Raymond B. Winter State Park allows registered snowmobiles on designated park roads, which lead to more than 300 miles of roads and trails in the Bald Eagle State Forest.
Trail maps for snowmobiles, are available from the Forest District Office or from the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau in Lewisburg. Email [email protected], call 570-524-7234 or stop by the Visitors Center.
WINTER CYCLING IN THE SRV
From Bald Eagle State Forest and R.B. Winter State Park in the west and Weiser State Forest towards the southeast, the Susquehanna River Valley offers a variety of mountain biking trails for winter cycling. Contact the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau to request mountain biking maps and brochures or view bicycling under outdoor recreation on our web site for mountain biking trails and maps. For more information on local winter cycling talk to the staff at our local bike shops.
TIPS FOR COLD WEATHER CYCLING from Brookside Bikes
See and be seen.
Winter daylight is short-lived. Alert drivers by using bright lights and reflectivity. Ideally, you should have two lights in the front and two in the back–one on your bike and one for your helmet. You can also add visibility by wearing a reflective vest or bands over your gear, or by adding reflective tape or reflectors to your bike, clothing, or bags.
Proper clothing is key.
Think in increments and layers. For every ten degrees of temperature decrease, you’ll want another layer of clothing. And if there is wind or precipitation, it will feel 5-10 degrees colder than the thermometer shows.
Maintain your bike after a ride.
Winter riding brings moisture, grime, road salt and other chemicals. After a ride, give your bike a quick rinse. Wipe down your bike, and finish by lubing your chain, preferably with a lube designed for wet conditions. For rim brakes, wipe down the pads and the rims to ensure the contact surfaces are clean.
Inflate for winter temps
Before every ride, check your tire pressure. You'll want tires inflated only to the lower edge of their pressure range, which will create more contact with the road surface and provide better traction.
Keep batteries warm
Cold weather will drain your e-bike battery more quickly. Remove batteries and store them in a heated room when not riding. Covers are available for in-transit protection. Most importantly, be aware of the decreased battery life and ride accordingly. Use eco mode when you can and skip turbo mode.
ICE FISHING
Ice fishing is a popular winter activity at Montour Preserve’s Lake Chillisquaque when the weather allows the safe formation of ice. Warning – no agency inspects the ice thickness and ice thickness will vary across the lake. Ice fishing or other activities performed on the ice are done at your own risk.
Ice Fishing is permitted as conditions allow at Faylor Lake and Walker Lake in Snyder County.
Bald Eagle State Forest: About 630 acres of the Sayers Reservoir at Bald Eagle State Park are available for ice fishing during the winter. Ice Fishing is also permitted at Raymond B. Winter State Park's Halfway Lake when conditions allow.
Weiser State Forest: On the Roaring Creek Tract in southern Northumberland and Columbia counties, fishing opportunities abound. South Branch Roaring Creek is a high-quality cold-water fishery which runs for ten miles through this tract and includes three large reservoirs where warm water fishing is available. Ice fishing is becoming a popular winter activity on this tract.
To learn more about ice fishing safety, tips and tricks, please visit: Ice Fishing | Fish and Boat Commission | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
MORE WINTER RESOURCE INFORMATION, HOTLINKS AND STATE PARKS WINTER REPORT
Purple Lizard Maps of Bald Eagle State Forest are also available for purchase at the Visitors Bureau. Purple Lizard Maps are durable, waterproof, easy to read topographic maps featuring contour lines, elevation data, shaded relief and all the key details you need to plan your adventures: backroads and trails, trail use designations, road surfaces (paved/gravel/4wd), parking access, campsites, public lands, historic sites and more.
Snow and Ice Conditions at State Parks
The Winter Report provides ice and snow depth information for state parks.