Find out how you can get out and explore the beauty around you, especially at the Holden Arboretum

No Bad Weather

Holden Forests & Gardens offers plenty of ways to get outside and enjoy winter. By Beth Kelly, Director of Guest Experience

Blaze your own trail with snowshoes. You can bring your own or rent them at the Arboretum Visitor Center while supplies last!

It’s a gloomy winter day — again. What’s the best way to cure cabin fever and boost your mood during a cold, dark winter? Get outdoors and move. Winter may be the most underrated season for outdoor activities in Northeast Ohio — it takes a little more preparation, but there are lots of ways to enjoy this season when temps are low.

One of our favorite sayings around here in the winter is from Norway, “Det finnes ikke darlig klaer,” which translates to “There is no bad weather, only bad clothes.” When you’re planning an outdoor adventure in the cold, remember to layer up and accessorize. Dress for warmth with sturdy boots and socks, a cozy hat, mittens or gloves, and your winter coat. It’s easy to work up a sweat when you’re hiking in the cold, though, so be prepared to shed a layer or two if needed. And no matter what the temps are, stay hydrated and bring a water bottle.

Get Moving…Simply

One of the simplest forms of exercise is hiking, a fancy way of saying “walking in nature.” No matter what time of year, walking is great exercise. It can also be a good way to meditate and focus your mind. We tend to spend a lot of time indoors in the winter, so even a short walk on an overcast day can be a mood-booster and a helpful way to soak up a little vitamin D.

Step it Up with Snowshoes

If you’re interested in “stepping up” your winter activity a little, snowshoeing may be for you. Whether you’ve never tried it before or are a seasoned snowshoer, the 240 core acres of the Holden Arboretum are a great place to get into it.

What exactly is a snowshoe? Great question. Used by cultures from snowy areas for thousands of years, it is a piece of equipment that can be strapped onto a shoe with a wide frame and webbing. The frame and webbing distribute a person’s weight over a wider area, making it possible to walk on top of the snow. Traditional snowshoes were made from wood and leather, but most modern snowshoes are now made from lightweight aluminum.

What is the best weather for snowshoeing? First and most importantly, snow on the ground. It is technically possible to snowshoe when the snow depth is around 4 inches, though the ideal depth is 6 inches or deeper. And the wetter, the better — thick, dense snow packs down easier and makes for a sturdier surface to walk over. You can always check out the Arboretum’s Plan Your Visit web page to find out the snowshoe conditions or call the main phone line to ask.

For beginners, snowshoeing is a simple activity with a low barrier to entry, and it’s a great workout. It may take some time to get used to walking with what feels like tennis rackets on your feet — keep your knees high and take marching steps. Snowshoe rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Corning Visitor Center on snowy days. And if you’re a seasoned snowshoer, you can bring your own equipment and hike around. You do not need to check in at the Visitor Center.

Once you’re on the snow, the Arboretum is your winter wonderland. Equipped with snowshoes, you can hike over any trails or large meadows throughout the property. A good beginner’s trail is the Blueberry Pond

Loop. It’s a moderate distance from the Visitor Center, and the pond can be a great place to spot winter animals or their tracks.

It is worth noting for safety you should make sure you’re looking out for and staying away from bodies of water and garden beds. Both of these spaces can be more difficult to notice when covered in snow, so keep an eye out for signs that identify ponds, lakes, and beds — and make sure you’re staying away from areas with significant low or high points.

An Activity for Anywhere

Whether you’re on foot or in snowshoes a fantastic winter activity for folks of all interests and abilities is birdwatching. While we love to recommend both the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden as great spots for this activity (also known as “birding”) this is something you can do from a window in your nice, warm home, too. As much as we may miss the leaves on our trees over the winter, bare branches make for much easier conditions to spot winter birds. Surprisingly, there are a lot of avian winter residents to add to your birding checklist. Well-known birds with bright colors like the northern cardinal, blue jay, American goldfinch, American robin, and downy or red-bellied woodpeckers are great species to spot more easily if you’re a beginning birder. Those with darker or more neutral plumage, including cedar waxwings, dark-eyed juncos, Carolina wren, and many species of sparrows, can be a good challenge. As you’re walking outdoors, try walking around different types of habitats and looking at different levels — treetops, meadows, or bushes for example. Different species prefer different types of habitats, so looking in varied areas can be a good way to add new birds to your list.

However you decide to keep active this winter — hiking, snowshoeing, birding, or something else — there are a lot of ways to enjoy the low temps. We hope to see you at the Holden Arboretum or Cleveland Botanical Garden so, together, we can make the best of this underrated season.

MEET THE STAFF

Beth Kelly is the Director of Guest Experience and has been with Holden Forests & Gardens since August of 2020. Her job is to ensure that everyone who visits the Arboretum feels welcome, safe and has a great experience. Her museum career, which began in admissions, has spanned managing and installing exhibitions, coordinating an executive office and planning events. She works closely with the talented guest experience team, and enjoys talking with members and guests. Beth is also a quilter, a novice birder, and she likes to spend time outdoors with her family.