Winter fun
Summit Metro Parks has three lighted sledding hills for winter fun.
They are at the Oxbow Area of Cascade Valley off Cuyahoga Street, at Goodyear Heights and at Sand Run’s North Hawkins Area. All three are in the city of Akron.
Non-lighted sledding hills are at Firestone Metro Park in Akron, Furnace Run in Richfield Township and Munroe Falls in Munroe Falls.
Lighted ice skating is offered at the Brushwood Area of Furnace Run, at the Gorge in Cuyahoga Falls and at Sand Run.
The six areas open for cross-country skiing include:
• Firestone Metro Park.
• Furnace Run.
• Goodyear Heights.
• Munroe Falls.
• Silver Creek in Norton.
• Springfield Bog in Springfield Township.
You can also cross-country ski on the 34-mile Bike & Hike Trail, on 22.4 miles of the Towpath Trail and on the six-mile Freedom Trail in Akron and Tallmadge.
You can ice fish at Liberty Park’s Tinkers Creek Area in Streetsboro, at Nimisila Reservoir in Green and at Silver Creek.
Most park areas are open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., unless otherwise posted.
Visitors must provide their own equipment.
For more information, call 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Today
Volunteer meeting — The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is holding an orientation meeting for new and prospective volunteers from 6 to 8:30 p.m. For registration, information and the location, call 330-657-2299.
Friday
Winter hike — Summit Metro Parks is conducting a winter hike from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Firestone Metro Park. Meet in the Tuscarawas Meadows Area off Harrington Road in South Akron. Dress for the weather. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Fit Friday — The Stark County Park District is holding a Fit Friday hike at 9 a.m. at Quail Hollow State Park, 13480 Congress Lake Road NE, Lake Township. 330-409-8096 or www.starkparks.com.
Saturday
Winter bird walk — Volunteer naturalist Dwight Chasar will direct a winter bird walk on the trails surrounding the Oak Hill Area of the Cuyahoga Valley. It will run from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet at the Oak Hill Trailhead off Oak Hill Road in Boston Township. 330-657-2752.
Botzum hike — The National Park Service is holding a 1.5-mile, on-and-off-road hike to learn about the old village of Botzum in the Cuyahoga Valley. It will begin at 9 a.m. Meet at the Botzum Trailhead off Riverview Road in North Akron.
Snowshoe hike — The National Park Service is holding a snowshoe hike from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Valley. Meet at the Kendall Lake Shelter off Truxell Road in Boston Township. Free. Rentals are available. 330-657-2752.
Archery fun — Summit Metro Parks is offering indoor archery for youngsters 9 to 12 from 10:30 a.m. to noon and for senior citizens 55 and older from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Firestone Metro Park. Meet at the Coventry Oaks Area off Axline Avenue. All equipment and instruction will be provided. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Oxbow hike — Summit Metro Parks is presenting a naturalist-led hike on the Oxbow Trail from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Cascade Valley Metro Park. Meet at 1061 Cuyahoga St., Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Canine hike — The Medina County Park District is presenting a canine hike at 10 a.m. at Green Leaf Park off state Route 162 in Sharon Township. All dogs must be on leashes and under owners’ control. Bring a towel for muddy feet and a water bowl. 330-722-9364.
Breakfast with birds — The Wilderness Center at 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Sugar Creek Township, is hosting Breakfast with the Birds from 9 a.m. to noon. Donations requested of nonmembers. It will also host a planetarium show at 1 p.m. and a program on nature’s poems at 2 p.m. 877-359-5235 or www.wildernesscenter.org.
Sunday
Wood Hollow hike — Summit Metro Parks is presenting a winter hike from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Wood Hollow Metro Park in Hudson. The park is at 2121 Barlow Road. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Archery fun — Summit Metro Parks is offering indoor archery for adults 18 and older from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and for teens 13 to 17 years old from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Firestone Metro Park. Meet at the Coventry Oaks Area off Axline Avenue. All equipment and instruction will be provided. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Beaver Marsh — The National Park Service is directing a hike at the Beaver Marsh to look for winter wildlife from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Meet at the Ira Trailhead off Riverview Road north of Ira Road in Cuyahoga Falls. 330-657-2752.
Nature drawing — Summit Metro Parks is holding nature-drawing workshops for youngsters 6 to 12 years old from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Paper and pencils will be provided. Advance sign-up is required. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
Beastly hike — The Medina County Park District is holding a hike to learn about beastly animals (bears, bobcats, wolves and mountain lions) at 3 p.m. Meet at the Lodge at Allardale in Granger Township. Dress for the weather. For ages 7 to adult. 330-722-9364.
Bog hike — The Stark County Park District is staging a winter hike at Jackson Bog in Jackson Township at 10 a.m. The bog is off Fulton Road NW in Jackson Township. 330-409-8096 or www.starkparks.com.
Campfire stories — The Stark County Park District is holding a family campfire with stories at 4 p.m. at the David Fichtner Center, 12833 Market Ave. N., Hartville. 330-409-8096 or www.starkparks.com.
Kent concert — The Mountain Rose Concert Series presents the Chicken Farmers (Bill Thomas and Dave Bender) at 6:30 p.m. at the Roy Smith Shelter in Kent’s Fred Fuller Park. That’s at 497 Middlebury Road. Admission is $7. 330-283-1212 or www.mountainconcerts.org.
Monday
Winter hike — The Stark County Park District is holding a winter hike at 10 a.m. on the Iron Horse Trail. Meet at 1141 W. Beach St., Alliance. 330-409-8096 or www.starkparks.com.
Tuesday
Creative Concoctions — The Medina County Park District is holding Creative Concoction workshops for prechoolers 3 to 6 years old at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Buffalo Creek Retreat off Hubbard Valley Road in Guilford Township. All supplies provided. Come dressed for a mess. Advance sign-up is required. Free. 330-722-9364.
Wednesday
Canal in winter — Summit Metro Parks will look at what life was like along the Ohio & Erie Canal in the winter. The program will begin at 7 p.m. at the Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 330-865-8065 or www.summitmetroparks.org.
For a complete list, go to www.ohio.com.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning at the beaconjournal.com.