Winter Outdoor Activities To Do With Your Friends

Winter outdoor activities are a great way to enjoy the festive season and make the most out of the frosty weather. It might be cold outside, but that doesn’t mean you should spend all your time indoors. In fact, it’s not healthy to spend all your time indoors, because fresh outdoor air is good for you.

Don’t assume there’s nothing to do outside in the winter. It’s quite the opposite, and it could be argued that winter has some of the best outdoor activities and many advantages.

Winter activities in the great outdoors are typically the most fun with some friends or family. While it can be nice to take some time for yourself, spending the winter outside with your friends is even better. If you’re planning a meet-up but aren’t quite sure what to do, we have you covered. Below, we have a guide to take you through some of the best winter adventures you can experience together.

Winter Outdoor Activities to Try with Friends

Winter has many negative connotations, and many people see it as a depressing time of year. It’s understandable, as it gets darker earlier, and it’s pretty cold most days. However, winter isn’t all bad, and some studies show that the cold weather might even have some unique health benefits.

If you’re looking for a few winter outdoor activities to enjoy with your friends, keep reading. Here are our favorite winter outdoor activities to try with friends:

Go Winter Hiking or Snowshoeing

Hiking in the winter can be absolutely beautiful as well as refreshing, and while it’s one of the winter outdoor activities you need to make sure you are prepared for, it can also be a lot of fun. The trails feel different in the winter. The silence is almost musical, and the world is entirely changed from the summer. It can be a truly tranquil experience, which is great if you need to reduce a little stress or anxiety.

The snow-capped trees and white ‘winter wonderland’ vibes while snowshoeing or winter hiking is a very peaceful and lovely experience. You’re going to want to dress warm, don’t forget the hat and gloves, and take lots of scenic pictures with your friends.

Go Sledding

This activity is a lot of fun, and you don’t need any experience to get started. Just grab a sled and find a hill. You can go down solo or as a group; it depends on the size of your ride and how confident you feel about your steering abilities. Why not turn it up a notch and turn it into a sled race down the hill? A little healthy competition will have this turning into hours of fun.

Build an Igloo

It has to be really cold for this, and it definitely takes some practice, but there’s nothing to bond a group of friends quite like building an igloo. It’s the kind of winter outdoor activity that tests your mettle and puts your construction skills to the test as you try to build a stable structure.

However, once it’s done, you end up with a surprisingly warm shelter where you and your friends can hang out. With a little bit of practice, you’ll all be experts in igloo building and find yourselves with a little village of them.

Go Ice Skating

There’s nothing quite like taking to the ice, and while your first few times can be a little wobbly (and will end up with quite a few falls), you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly. Whether you go to a professional rink or a homemade one, it’s one of those winter outdoor activities that was made to be enjoyed by friends.

Grab your skates, but if you’re skating on wild ice, make sure you stay safe and ensure that the ice is thick enough to hold your weight before you head out onto it.

Build a Snowman

It’s a classic and certainly not one to be scoffed at. There’s something to be said for constructing a snowman with friends. You can come up with all sorts of wild combinations (think tiny body, giant head), and you also get to have fun dressing it up once you’ve built it.

Building a snowman doesn’t take a long time either, which makes it a good one to go for if it’s extra cold or you don’t have a lot of time. Who knows, you might even get your own rendition of The Snowman in your backyard this Christmas.

Battle in a Friendly Snowball Fight

You never grow out of a classic snowball fight, and there is very little that’s more fun. Build your barricades and prepare your arsenal as you battle your friends for the title of master snowball thrower. It’s one of those winter outdoor activities that can go on for a whole day, so you might want to bring some snacks and a thermos of hot chocolate for fuel.

Want a tip for the best snowballs? The powdery snow is best because you can pack it tightly to form a firm snowball that won’t explode before impact. Plus, you’ll get a really good hit as a result. If you’re a parent, you might find this a great activity to enjoy with your kids.

Go Winter Camping

Some winter outdoor activities are for those who are feeling a little more on the wild side, and this is one of them. To go winter camping with your friends, you should have a little experience and ensure that you are properly prepared for extreme weather conditions. Safety is key, and that is especially true if you end up camping in the snow.

Winter camping requires lugging a lot more gear since to camp safely in the winter requires more ‘stuff’.

However, once you are out there, you’re all going to have a great time. It’s a bonding experience you won’t forget, and marshmallows hit differently when they are roasted in the snow. A few days of winter camping can give you a whole new perspective on life.

Take up Skiing or Snowboarding

These sports are a lot of fun, but they can also be pretty risky, so make sure it’s one you and your friends are all going to have fun with. If you’re all new, you can try taking group lessons to learn how to ski or snowboard, which is sure to lead to a lot of laughs.

Hitting the slopes together can be a freeing experience and one that allows you to embrace the beauty of winter nature while also making awesome memories together.

Just Lay in the Snow and Make Snow Angels

Sometimes the simple things in life are the best ones. It’s times like that where you just flop down in the snow, make a few snow angels, and just watch the sky while you talk about anything that comes to mind. The feeling of the cold snow slowly working through your coat, the smell of it in the air, the gray skies… there’s something about it that’s hard to describe.

It’s true, though. Sometimes we just need to lay in the snow together and be in the moment. This winter is the perfect opportunity for you and your friends to try just that.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this article has given you a few ideas for winter outdoor activities that you can try with your friends during the colder seasons. From snowmen to camping, the possibilities are endless. It all depends on what you and your friends like to do. Whatever you choose to try, we’re sure you’re going to have a great time.

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