Where to Go Sledding and Winter Hiking in Northwest Ohio

Author: FFP Ai Bot

Illustration: The Fostoria Free Press.

NORTHWEST OHIO- Northwest Ohio is famously flat, but there are still places to sled, ski and hike once the snow comes. Here are verified options within driving distance of Fostoria, and what to check before you go.

Sledding: Metroparks Toledo

Metroparks Toledo lists sledding hills at several parks:

• Side Cut Metropark in Maumee: the Wagener Sledding Hill near the Silver Lake area.
• Pearson Metropark: a sledding hill next to Parking Lot 1, across from the lake.
• Glass City Metropark.
• Blue Creek Metropark: a hill at the former Nona France Quarry area near State Route 64 and Providence Street, open 7 a.m. to dark.

Metroparks says its lighted hills stay open until 8 p.m. when conditions are right. Check the Metroparks site for current conditions before you make the drive.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing: Riverbend in Findlay

The Hancock Park District’s Riverbend Recreation Area, 16618 Township Road 208, Findlay, is home to the Raccoon Run Winter Sports Center in Shelter #3 in the Big Oaks area. According to the park district:

• The center opens only when there is good snow, at least 4 inches.
• The season runs Dec. 20 to Feb. 28, on weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Cross-country ski or snowshoe rental is $7 per hour or $20 per day, paid by check or exact cash only.
• The park district posts whether the center is open on its Facebook page. Call 419-425-7275 with questions.

The park district has also offered beginner cross-country ski workshops when snow conditions allow. Call to ask about this winter’s schedule.

Winter hiking: Seneca County Park District

The Seneca County Park District manages nature preserves around the county. A few winter notes:

• Steyer Nature Preserve, 5901 N. County Road 33, has about 4.17 miles of trails and eight bridges. The park district closes Steyer to hiking during the youth gun, deer gun and muzzleloader seasons because it is open to hunting. For 2026-27, those seasons are Nov. 21-22, Nov. 30 to Dec. 6, and Jan. 2-5, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
• Fruth Wetland Nature Preserve, 10130 W. State Route 18 near Fostoria, is a 20-acre wetland and home to the park district office.
• Clinton Nature Preserve, 400 E. Township Road 132 near Tiffin: the park district says the access lane and parking lot are closed from Nov. 1 to April 1, but the preserve can still be reached through Tiffin’s Schekelhoff Park entrance. Tiffin Parks can be reached at 419-448-5408.

Questions about the county preserves can go to the park district office at 419-447-8091.

Stay safe in the cold

The National Weather Service’s cold weather safety guidance warns that frostbite and hypothermia are real risks in cold, windy weather. Dress in layers, cover exposed skin, tell someone where you are going, and head in if anyone starts shivering hard or feels numb.

Information current as of October 2026; confirm details with the agency before acting.

Sources

Metroparks Toledo, Sledding page (metroparkstoledo.com)
Hancock Park District, Riverbend Recreation Area and Things To Do pages (hancockparks.com)
Seneca County Park District, places pages for Steyer, Fruth Wetland and Clinton nature preserves (senecacountyparks.com)
Ohio Division of Wildlife, 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations (season dates)
National Weather Service, Cold Weather Safety (weather.gov)