Winter Wonderland By Derek Bartos The Press & Dakotan Winter weather can put a damper on many activities, but it also creates opportunities for several more. For those looking for chances to enjoy the outdoors during the winter months, they can find them right here in the Yankton area. “There’s a number of activities people can partake in, from snowmobiling to cross country skiing to snow angels to sledding,” said Lisa Scheve, director of the Yankton Convention and Visitors Bureau. “There’s a little bit of everything for everyone here during the winter months.” Due to the freedom given to riders, snowmobiling has become one of the area’s most popular winter activities. Unlike many areas, Yankton doesn’t have a designated trail system, which allows people to make their own trails. “It allows you to be able to go out and explore and find the areas you like to go through and make your own path in the snow,” Scheve said. For those who would like a predesigned path, many options are available. Many people enjoy visiting the state and Corps campgrounds and using their designated recreational trails. During the summer, the trails are used by pedestrians for walking, hiking and biking, but they can also be used during winter months for snowmobiling and cross country skiing. “If you’re looking for a designated path already for those activities, you can use our regular trail map that we have and follow the basic area of where our trail system goes throughout the state campground,” Scheve said. Yankton’s parks are open for riding, but there are times when some areas will be closed. Anyone wishing to ride through the parks are encouraged to first contact the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area at 605-668-2985. Even though riding is popular throughout the area, people needn’t own a snowmobile to enjoy the snow. “The lake area is a popular area for people to go sledding as well,” Scheve said. “There’s a lot of great hills out in that area, especially along the dam.” Ice fishing on Lake Yankton is another popular activity. “There’s a number of ice communities that pop up along Lake Yankton,” Scheve said. “Of course we always encourage people to make sure the ice is nice and frozen before they step foot on it, but that is another popular area as well as fishing on the river.” While the snowmobiling, skiing, sledding and fishing are the most popular winter activities, the possibilities for outdoor fun in the area are limitless. “When it comes to winter, think of your favorite outdoor activities that you do during the summer and see if you can put a twist on it,” Scheve said. “This is a great place for every season here in Yankton.” VISITORS GUIDE • YANKTON, SOUTH DAKOTA – 29