30 Nov Winter Fun In and Around Pawling by Amy Emke

Are you looking for winter outdoor activities to do on those unexpected snow days and other school holidays?  Check out these local spots for winter fun!

Sledding:

We have some amazing sledding spots here in Pawling!  Here are a few favorites:

Murrow Park behind the Lion’s Club Building

      If we’ve got some nice snow on the ground, head on over to Murrow Park.  After you park in the lot, bring your sled/toboggan/saucer/tube up the service road to the right of the Lion’s Club Building.  Walk all the way to the top of the hill and check out the beautiful view of the lake below.  Not for the faint of heart,  the hill is steep enough to give quite a thrillingly fast ride.
This spot is never crowded and the bonus is that between rides you can relax at one of the picnic tables in the upper pavilion.  You can even bring a thermos of hot cocoa and cookies up there for a real treat!

Toboggan Hill at Lakeside Park

We have it on good authority that Pawling Councilwoman Corinne Pitt had the excellent idea to bring sledding back to Lakeside Park after a long hiatus!  Call Pawling Recreation for more information about this sledding hill.

(At the locations listed above, children must be supervised and sledding is at your own risk.)

Ice Skating:

If you love to ice skate, it might be tempting to try out one of Pawling’s many lakes and ponds, but that’s a risky proposition.  Not to mention, natural ice is not always uncluttered and smooth enough to skate on.  Better to try one of these options.

  Pawling Recreation Skating

    Trinity Pawling
       If you have your own ice skates, Pawling Recreation offers open skating times at Trinity Pawling School over the holidays. Admission is $2 per skater and helmets must be worn. Call the Pawling Recreation department or visit their website to learn more.

 Lakeside Park
      This relatively new temporary rink is set up under the Pavillion near the teen center. Admission is free and open to the public during the hours that the park is open.  Helmets are required, and kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

        Brewster Ice Arena

      If you’re new to skating or don’t own your own skates, the Brewster Ice Arena offers skate rentals as well as instruction for skaters of all ages and levels of expertise. Located at 63 Fields Lane in Brewster, it’s a twenty-minute drive south from Pawling.

      Their facility has 3 indoor rinks, skate rental, a pro shop, a snack bar, and a restaurant that are open year-round. In the winter, they also have an additional outdoor rink.  To learn more and to view the open skating schedule, go to https://brewstericearena.com/seasonal-schedule.

Skiing and Snow boarding:

Thunder Ridge Ski Area

It’s always snowy on the mountain at Thunder Ridge–at least it is after the first big freeze in winter every year.  Located at 137 Birch Hill Road, just 10 minutes away in Patterson, Thunder Ridge has 22 trails, 3 chair lifts, 4 magic carpets, and has slopes suitable for all ages and abilities.  Onsite dining is available at the Slope Side Cafe. They offer a variety of classes and events throughout the season, and there’s even a free shuttle between the slopes and the Patterson Metro-North Station for folks who want to visit via train. To learn more, visit https://thunderridgeski.com/

Skiing with Pawling Recreation

Pawling Recreation partners with Thunder Ridge Ski Area to offer discount group lessons.  Check the Pawling Recreation website https://pawlingny.myrec.com/info/default.aspx  for registration info. This program fills quickly, so be sure to register early if you’d like to participate.

Pawling Recreation also offers Cross Country Skiing at Lakeside Park during regular park hours. Call them for more information.

Have a great time enjoying the snow in Pawling with your family this winter!