Portage, Indiana is a small town located on the southern tip of Lake Michigan, approximately 8 miles east of Gary, Indiana and 31 miles southeast of Chicago, Illinois. Indiana has four distinct seasons, and winters can be cold and snowy, as Lake Michigan influences the winter climate in northern Indiana. Portage, in northern Indiana, is a great destination for those who enjoy the snow and winter outdoor activities and sports.
Cross-Country Skiing
The city of Portage offers you cross-country skiing trails within its city limits. Iron Horse Heritage Trail, which connects Woodland Park and Imagination Park, has 5.1 miles of wooded trails for you to explore. Deer Park Trail located in the Ameriplex Industrial Park has cross-country skiing trails that follow alongside the Little Calumet River. You can explore these trails by snowshoes as well. You'll also find many trails within Indiana Dunes State Park.
Sledding
When at least 6 inches of snow has fallen, it's time to head for Countryside Park, the 33-acre park in the southwestern part of Portage. Here, you will find the town's largest sledding hill. When you tire of flying down the hill on your sled, you can always build a snowman or make snow angels in the park's large open spaces. A sledding hill is also available at Olson Memorial Park on Sunrise Avenue. Rogers Lakewood Park Hills in Valparaiso, only 10 miles away from the city, offers good sledding runs as well.
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
The Indiana Dunes are free to explore in the winter and you won't have to contend with any crowds. Look for animal tracks when you're hiking along the shores and snow-covered trails, but heed the National Park Service's advisory to stay off the ice. As well, sledding, snowboarding, inner-tubing and tobogganing are not allowed on the dunes. However, you can cross-country ski along the 6.4-mile Ly-co-ki-we trail. Advanced skiers and snowshoers will find the 3-mile Inland Marsh Trail a challenge.
Skating
Approximately 20 miles outside of Portage, in Crown Point, Deep River Waterpark becomes an ice skating rink from the end of November through the end of February. Skate rentals are available, if you don't have your own. Deep River also offers skating lessons. For in-line or rollerskating fun, you can go to R-Way Skate Center in downtown Portage.
Holiday Activities
Head out to Guse's Tree Farm, in Wanatah, to cut down your Christmas tree for the holidays. You can pick out and cut your own tree at Hensler's Nursery in Hamlet as well. Taking a walk along Portage's neighborhood streets, to view the holiday lights and decorations, is a nice way to get some exercise during the holidays. In nearby Michigan City, you can walk through Washington Park and view the display of lights put up by the Michigan City Parks and Recreation Department. Visit the animals at the Brookfield Zoo and enjoy the seasonal display of nearly one million lights.
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