Find Year-Round Outdoor Adventures in Fox Cities, WI

Explore the outdoors all year here.

By Kevin Litwin on July 13, 2023

Wisconsin DNR

Ah, breathe in some of that fresh air in the Fox Cities region, where year-round adventure is abundant.

One of the hotspots for outdoor activity is Lake Winnebago, which has many different recreation opportunities that residents enjoy, including boating, fishing, sailing, swimming and paddle boarding. Even more unique is sturgeon spearing that starts once the water ices over. Wisconsin’s largest lake is also a good place to view the fall colors.

Speaking of fall colors, High Cliff State Park in Sherwood offers eye-pleasing colorful foliage from late September to mid-October. The park’s key highlights are a 100-slip marina on Lake Winnebago, 112 campsites, and five hiking trails that are looped and vary in length. In addition, a 40-foot observation tower allows hikers to see the cities of Appleton, Kaukauna, Neenah, Menasha, and Oshkosh.

When the Temperatures Drop

If you’re into golf, some nice venues in the region are High Cliff Golf Course in Sherwood, Winagamie Golf Course in Neenah, the private North Short Golf Club in Menasha, Ridgeway Country Club in Neenah and Butte des Morts Country Club in Appleton. Reid Golf Course in Appleton allows you to play 18 scenic holes during the warm weather months, then when the temperatures drop, Reid features well-groomed trails for fat tire biking and cross-country skiing.

In the winter, for a fun day of sledding for the kids (and adults), great hills in Appleton are accessible at Appleton Memorial Park as well as Arrowhead Park, Erb Park and Reid Golf Course. Additional excellent hills are at parks throughout the Fox Cities in the communities of Combined Locks, Kaukauna, Kimberly, Menasha, Neenah and Sherwood.

Also in the colder months, snowmobiling is a popular revved-up sport, thanks to miles and miles of snowmobile trail networks, as well as sports like ice fishing and sturgeon spearing.

Erica Burkowicz

Skaters and Skiers

Many Fox Cities residents enjoy hockey and skating, and the region has quite a few ice rinks. Appleton is home to six parks equipped with ice rinks, while Neenah has four such parks. Also available to ice skaters is Jennerjohn Park in Greenville and Hart Park in Menasha.

Many residents of the Fox Cities like to get their winter outdoor exercise by cross-country skiing, and there are many places to enjoy that activity. Skiers in Appleton can also go to Bubolz Nature Preserve, and 1000 Islands Environmental Center is a great place to ski in Kaukauna.

Another good cross-country skiing trail is in Menasha at the Smith Park Conservancy Area, while skiers in Neenah can access trails at the Best Western Premier Bridgewood Resort Hotel & Conference Center.