Christmas has arrived, you're off work, and the kids are home from school. And you need something to keep yourself and them away from the cookie jar and sweets that have piled up in your house. Now is the time to take advantage of the mild winter temperatures and the endless option for winter recreation that Anchorage provides.

Sledding

The Municipality of Anchorage's Parks and Recreation offers three sledding hills for children of all ages. Hills are located at Centennial Park, Kincaid Park, and Russian Jack Park and moderate to advanced sledding slopes and warm-up rooms are provided. 

Public Ice Skating

The Ben Boeke/Dempsey Anderson Ice Arena offers public skating on Wednesday and Fridays from noon to 1:30pm. Admission is $5.00/person or a family rate of $10.00. Skate rental is $2.00.

The Harry J. McDonald Memorial Center also offers a wide range of skating activities. Leisure skate is open to the public seven days a week and costs $4.00 per session with rentals available for $3.00. Click here for a list of activities and schedules.

Hockey Rinks

With five skatable rinks now open, there is no excuse not to lace up those skates and make some tracks. The rinks that are currently open include: Delaney -10th and E, Tikishla - Scotty Gomez, Mulcahy - south rink is skatable, Cuddy-Midtown Fitness Oval is now skatable. Finally, the Town Square Winter Center is skater ready and ice blocks have been put in for in the Winter Center Grand Opening.  Check parks and rec guide for listed fees and rink conditions.

Cross-country skiing

Cross-country ski trails are in abundance around Anchorage and conditions vary from groomed and packed trails to unpacked. Parks and Recreation maintains an updated list of trail conditions and user fees to help you plan your next outing.

Chugach State Park is another great place to get away for the day. Cross-country skiing are snowshoeing are available anywhere in the park with Glen Alps, Prospect Heights, and Eklutna Lake being good places for beginners. A park map and trail conditions can be found by clicking on the links provided.

Snowmobiling is also allowed in five areas throughout Chugach State Park, all outside the wilderness zone. Visit the parks website for a complete list of rules, regulations and trail conditions.

Skijouring and dogsledding are also allowed on the Eklutna Lakeside Trail, Peter's Creek, and the Powerline Pass Trail. These old roads are great places to run your dogs in the snow.

As always check road, weather, trail and avalanche conditions before heading out and make sure to carry the 10 essentials. For more information on winter activities visit Anchorage Parks and Recreation and the Chugach State and National forest webpages.