Winter Fun Awaits You
Where in New York can the winter adventurist find a one-stop location for Nordic skiing, fat bike riding, snowmobiling, and, for the really dedicated enthusiast,: snowshoe racing (and even a snowshoe marathon)? Winona State Forest, thanks to the Winona Forest Recreation Association, with the help of a Park and Trail Partnership Grant.
Just south of Watertown in the Tug Hill region of the state lies a destination comprised of 70 miles of trails maintained by the Winona Forest Recreation Association (WFRA) has worked in partnership with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for 40 years as stewards of the 9,000+ acre Winona State Forest and its 70 miles of trail. The state lands are location just south of Watertown in the Tug Hill region, which is known for its bountiful snow.
Winter has brought a flurry of activity over the past few years, and this season shows no signs of slowing down despite some adjustments made for the pandemic. The Association kicked off the season with the Norway 5K Snowshoe Race, which is a warm-up for the larger events to follow. The Stone Wall is a signature 5K/10K snowshoe race on (according to the website description) “one of the most relentless snowshoe courses anywhere in the world.” For those who prefer to glide, the Try-it 10K cross-country ski event features a new trail completed this past summer. Those with a preference for two wheels will be interested in the upcoming March IditaFat which has become one of the biggest winter fat bike events in the country.
“There is no other way to do this than with the help of the Park and Trail Partnership Grant (PTPG) program,” said Matt Westerlund during a recent phone conversation. Matt is the President of the Winona Forest Recreation Association, a non-profit organization that has received four PTPG grants. The funds have gone towards building miles of trail needed to host the Association's many events and, just as importantly, the tools and equipment needed to maintain the trails both above and beneath the snow. “We had a foot of snow fall just before this year’s Stone Wall race. If it weren’t for the equipment provided by your grant to prepare the trails, that event would not have happened,” says Westerlund.
The Park and Trail Partnership Grant program has awarded WFRA four Stewardship and Public Access grants totaling over $100,000. The organization’s strategic planning for these projects has resulted in various phases being successfully completed over time. Working in close partnership with the DEC, they have demonstrated the ability to take on large projects with an awareness of their limitations. Their foresight into expanding the network of trails while being cognizant of increased visitation urged them to build accommodations into their proposals such as expanded parking lots, additional signage, and, most importantly, the equipment needed to maintain these trails. Westerlund was correct: the groomer funded by the PTPG program provided the proper conditions to host the aforementioned Stone Wall race on grant-funded rehabilitated trails that simply would not be able to handle such an event.
Winona State Forest and the Association continue to look to the future. Currently, plans for a multi-season pavilion and comfort station are in the works. The U.S. Snowshoe Racing Association has its eye on the location to host its nationals, and the fast-paced growth of fat biking is yet another activity on the horizon that will surely benefit from the expanded network of trails.
For info about past events and to register for upcoming adventures, visit the Winona Forest events page.