Best iSportsman Locations for Winter Recreation

Spring is right around the corner, but there’s still a bit of time to enjoy some winter recreation. While this is the time of the year where most people bundle up and stay indoors, content to wait until warmer weather, there’s many great outdoor opportunities that are only available to the courageous recreationists who dare to challenge the elements. Don’t worry, there’s a range of activities and difficulty levels for winter recreation at iSportsman locations, and we’ve rounded up a range of options to give you the chance to embark on your very own adventure.

Winter Recreation at iSportsman Destinations

Fort Carson: Camping

Camping is allowed year-round at Fort Carson. The Womack, Townsend, Haymes and Northside Reservoirs are open, so come on down, pitch your tent and experience the joy of a winter camping trip. All you need is a valid camping permit and you’re good to go.

Now, if you’re thinking to yourself, “I’d love to go winter camping, but I’m not sure I could handle the cold,” then have no fear! Fort Carson also allows for RV camping anywhere in gravel parking areas, meaning you can enjoy all the benefits of winter recreation without having to get your hands dirty per se.

Learn more about camping at Fort Carson here.

Fort Drum: Snowmobiles, Skiing, and Fishing

If you’re looking for something a little more extreme, than you should check out Fort Drum’s Guided Snowmobile Ride on Friday, February 23 at 8:00 AM. Experts will take you on a guided ride of The Tug Hill and surrounding areas near the base, weather permitting of course. For more information you can call 315-772-8222, or head here.

Fort Drum also has Ski and Snowboard Lessons free for single soldiers on Saturday, February 24 from 8:30 AM-12:00 PM. This is designed to teach you how to ski or snowboard, and is made for single soldiers as part of the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program. So, if you’ve wanted to learn how to ski or snowboard but never had the opportunity, now’s your chance! Learn more about this event here.

“But wait, that sounds too intense for my taste, don’t you have something more relaxing, like a good old-fashioned fishing trip?” Why yes, Fort Drum also offers year-round fishing, which means you can get your tackle on no matter the season (including this winter of course). Go fishing for Northern Pike, Walleye, Pickerel, and Tiger Muskellunge, on any body of water on Fort Drum that isn’t in a permanently restricted area. These include Remington Pond, Quarry Pond, Conservation Pond, Indian Pond, Black Creek, and more. Read more about the specific rules and regulations for fishing at Fort Drum here.

Fort Walker: Biking

I know, biking at Fort Walker? Seems like a bit of misnomer, am I right? Well, regardless of the name, Fort Walker’s biking permits are now available, which means that you can embark on a frosty and fun winter bike ride through one of the base’s four biking routes. Make sure to grab your permits, put on a safety helmet and then launch from the Beaverdam parking area to have some last-minute winter recreation fun before the season is over. Learn more about biking at Fort Walker here.

Fort Eisenhower: Fishing and Horseback Riding

Fort Eisenhower offers numerous fishing opportunities throughout its many bodies of water, giving anglers many chances to catch their favorite fish before winter’s end. To learn more about the base’s 25 controlled lakes, fishing schedule permit requirements and regulations, head to the Eisenhower iSportsman page here.

If fishing’s not your thing and but you still want to get out this winter at Fort Eisenhower, then you should try out the base’s horseback Trail Rides. These are 1-hour rides led by a guide through one of many scenic trails that run through the natural area of the base, giving you a front-row seat to the beauty of the base. You don’t even need to be a horseback riding expert to enjoy this either: No riding experience is needed! Learn more about this wonderful winter recreation opportunity here.

Winter Recreation Galore

Whew! That’s a lot of opportunities for winter recreation. Don’t let the cold weather dissuade you, some of my favorite outdoor memories are from a winter camping trip or event with friends and family. Something about the season makes you appreciate everything even more than you would have in the summer.

These are just a few of the countless activities and events available on just a handful of iSportsman’s many locations. To stay up to date on everything iSportsman and learn about more opportunities near you, make sure to stay tuned to iSportsmanUSA.

Also learn about the top 5 winter hiking trails on iSportsman locations.