All along the Great Miami Riverway, our park district partners are hosting a series of guided winter hiking events that stretch from now through March. You can learn about winter hiking, meet other hikers, and start the new year fresh with getting outdoors. Much research has shown that spending time outdoors can improve physical and mental wellbeing. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), spending at least 2 hours per week in nature can achieve these benefits. Even a 5-minute walk is shown to improve mood.
Here are some programs to get you started:
- Miami County Parks District has several hiking events throughout the rest of winter, like their Date Night Hike Series, Sip & Strolls, Winter Bird Walks, and more.
- Five Rivers MetroParks has a ‘Try Winter Hiking’ series. Plus, their annual trail challenge kicks off on February 1.
- MetroParks of Butler County has a weekly winter hiking event, exploring a different park each week. Warm beverages and soup provided.
- Great Parks has their annual Winter hike Series, featuring challenging and educational hikes ranging from four to 5.5 miles.
If guided hikes or social groups aren’t your thing, you can use our interactive map to explore all the parks available on the Great Miami Riverway from Sidney to Hamilton, Ohio.
To stay comfortable on a cold-weather hike, it’s critical to wear the right clothing and carry the right gear.
Wear layers: Layering is a three-part system that includes a base layer that wicks perspiration away from your skin, a mid layer that insulates you from the cold and a shell (or jacket) that keeps wind and moisture out. The goal with layering is to add and remove layers throughout your hike so you can stay warm and comfortable without overheating and getting sweaty. It can feel like a chore to stop and change clothes, but it’s really important to stay dry. Getting wet on a cold day can possibly lead to hypothermia.
Say no to cotton: When cotton gets wet, it takes a very long time to dry, which can leave you feeling damp, cold and miserable. Synthetic and wool layers dry much faster and will move perspiration away from your skin.
Cover your skin: Any skin that is exposed to freezing temperatures and cold wind is prone to frostbite. Take special care of your nose, cheeks, ears, fingers and toes.
- For your hands, try wearing lightweight or midweight fleece gloves under waterproof shell mittens or shell gloves. It’s also a good idea to bring an extra pair of fleece gloves that you keep stowed in your pack in case the ones you’re wearing get wet.
- For your feet, wear synthetic or wool socks that fit well. Thicker socks provide more insulation, but make sure they don’t cause your boots to fit too tight, which can cut off circulation. It’s also important to keep your feet dry, so carrying an extra pair of socks to change into is a good idea. Wear waterproof boots if you’ll be trekking through snow, and if you’ll be in very cold temperatures you might require boots with built-in insulation.
- For your nose and cheeks, try a neck gaiter for face mask.
- For your ears, a winter hat or headband can do the trick. A neck gaiter or face mask may also provide coverage for your ears.
Avoid tight clothing: Wristwatch bands, cuffs of gloves, gaiters and boots that are too tight can cause poor circulation, which can increase your chance of getting frostbite. Make sure your clothing and gear fit properly.
Add heat: Hand warmer and toe warmer packets are a great way to warm up your digits, especially if you’re prone to cold fingers and toes.
Wear a hat: You can lose heat through the top of your head, so pull a winter hat on if you’re feeling chilly.
Bring goggles or sunglasses: Always protect your eyes from the sun and wind. Many goggles and some sunglasses allow you to swap lenses in and out so you can select the right lens tint for the weather.
Apply sunscreen: Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean you stop worrying about sunburn. In fact, if there’s snow on the ground, the sun’s rays can reflect back up at you, so you need to be diligent about applying sunscreen on the underside of your nose and chin and around your neck.
The building that Sunrise Cafe occupies has been part of Yellow Springs’ downtown dining scene since 1948, originally housing Dick & Tom’s, a neighborhood diner started by Dick and Babs Bullen after Brenner’s Meat Market went out of business. That restaurant was a local gathering spot for decades. Later it became the Village Coffee Shop before eventually being transformed into Sunrise Cafe in 1990 by Jonathan Brown.
(v,gf)Filet Of Beet
(v)Mexican Hot Chocolate Pancakes
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