Bucks County Parks: Where to Spend a Winter Day

It’s that time of year again – the holidays are over, school is back in session, and here in Bucks County we’re finally getting snow… plus some seriously low temperatures. But the cold shouldn’t be a reason to stay inside for the next few months! There are so many great parks to explore in our area, and visiting them in the winter is a completely different experience than any other season.

Read on for some tips on spending a chilly day outside in the park, plus a rundown of all the State and County Parks in Bucks County!

Photography credit: Justin DeRosa

1. Layer Up

As my friend Jade Greene is fond of saying, “There’s no bad weather, only bad clothes.” For her fabulous outdoor winter Tinkergarten classes, that often means dressing in several layers to combat the cold. Try pulling on materials that will retain heat and block the wind, with an inner layer that wicks away moisture. Don’t forget a hat and mittens!

2. Get Moving

The longer you stand still, the colder you’ll get. Though cold at the start, once you get going down a trail, I think you’ll be surprised how quickly you warm up. And if hiking isn’t appealing, consider working in a new form of seasonal transportation: snowshoes, skis, skates and sleds are all great to try out in the park this winter.

Winter Walks blog

3. Warm Drinks

If you’re planning on a longer winter walk, I recommend stopping for coffee, tea, or a beer on the Bucks County Ale Trail after to warm you up. When bringing along younger hikers, I’m not above pouring hot chocolate as bribes – I mean, hiking incentives.

4. Seek Sun

Before heading out, remember to check when the sun sets. (Full disclosure, I have a terrible track record here – all too often leaving for a hike in the late afternoon and then finding my car in the parking lot by my phone’s flashlight.) Between December and March, it’s usually between 4-5 p.m. In the winter, it’s extra important to make sure you have enough sun left in the day for your activity. It’ll keep you warmer, your path less icy, and ensure you have plenty of time to leave the park before staff lock the gate at sunset.

5. Set a Goal

One of my favorite winter-in-the-park memories was from a freezing day last year. My friend and I were going nuts inside and decided to meet at Churchville Nature Center to taste test two cakes we’d baked that morning. It was snowy, super cold, and definitely empty at the picnic area, but we had a great time and snuck in a hike afterwards! While I’m all for throwing on my boots and wandering down the trail, sometimes a specific goal helps get me outside. Some days I’ll try to look for certain textures in the landscape – fuzzy, frozen wildflowers, or strange patterns in the ice. For my son, he’s always on the lookout for birds, animal tracks, and a particularly good walking stick. For you, that goal might be meeting a friend, picking a park, and finding five things you’ve never seen before. Who knows?

Whatever your plan, I hope you have a fantastic time outside this winter – enjoy!

Winter Walks blog