To make the most of the winter months, it’s important to get outside and be active. Make time for all of your favourite outdoor activities and be sure to try a few new ones as well. Whether it’s skating or tobogganing, hiking or snowshoeing, bundle up warm and take full advantage of the recreational opportunities located nearby. Here are our favourite winter activities near Cowdray Court.

Go On A Winter Hike

For a great winter hiking experience, visit Rouge National Urban Park. This massive park stretches over a huge geographical area and can be accessed from a number of different spots along the eastern edges of Scarborough. It showcases a number of different landscapes and is a great spot to birdwatch in the winter, take photographs, and explore. It’s the perfect place to go when you want to get away from it all and be fully immersed in nature.

Hit The Hills

Tobogganing isn’t just for the kids, it’s a fun activity for all ages. There is an excellent spot to go tobogganing just up the road from Cowdray Court. L’Amoreaux Park South has a popular sledding hill that is quite big and has a great, panoramic view from the top. In fact, this particular hill is probably better suited for older kids and those who are more experienced sledders. Thanks to a pretty steep descent, you’ll travel down the hill at a much higher speed than you might expect.

Lace Up Your Skates

There are two terrific options for skaters near Cowdray Court. Albert Campbell Square at the Scarborough Civic Centre has a popular outdoor rink with a changeroom and a washroom. You can leisure skate for hours at this unsupervised rink. The RINK at STC is the newest skating destination; it’s a synthetic ice rink where you can book a 45-minute skate and capacity is limited to 10 skaters at a time. In February they will even be hosting DJ Skate Nights and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Scarborough Health Network Foundation.

Put On Your Snowshoes

Did you know that you can walk or snowshoe at the Tam O’Shanter Golf Course? They have a snow loop you can explore and enjoy in the winter months—it’s a whole new way to enjoy the golf course. The Finch Recreational Trail is a paved pathway and cycling trail that runs along the hydro corridor just east of L’Amoreaux Sports Complex. There are three kilometres of winter-maintained walkway, but it’s also the perfect spot for snowshoers, as there are acres of snow to explore on either side of the winding path.

Go On A Winter Walk

There are several places you can get out and explore on foot in Scarborough. Consider a winter walk in the Birkdale Ravine, Thomson Memorial Park, Bendale Park, Hague Park, and Cedar Brook Park. The City of Toronto maintains these five kilometres of pathway from the Birkdale Community Centre to Cedarbrook Community Centre. There are several parking lots along the route, so you can plan the length of your outing. There is also an off-leash area for dogs at Thomson Memorial Park and outdoor fitness equipment and playgrounds to enjoy along the route.

These are just some of the winter activities near Cowdray Court that you can enjoy; you’re sure to discover more of your own. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to follow the Gemterra blog for more great active lifestyle tips.