Winter is a great time for hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in the woods. Pictured above is Whitney Gleason, CWC's Water Quality Program Manager, enjoying cross-country skiing with her brothers in 1994. Photo courtesy Whitney Gleason

The holidays can be a fun and joyful time, but for many, they can also be a hectic and stressful time. If you find yourself needing a break from the chaos this season, bundle up, get outside and let nature give you a reprieve. Although hiking might not be your first thought when the snow starts falling, winter can be a beautiful and peaceful time to go for a walk in the woods.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of cross-country skiing with my brothers. I can still remember sitting in our living room and watching television, when my dad would come in and tell us that he was heading outside. We were fortunate enough to have a few trails around our house that my dad maintained. He would head out in front of us, blazing the trail and leaving a few little surprise envelopes filled with a dollar or my favorite candy bar, Toblerone, perched in the trees along the trail for us to find. It was always an adventure, and to this day, the magic of the snow-muted woods never ceases to fill my heart with joy.

I hope that you will find the same joy with your families out in nature this winter season. Getting outside for some fresh air is a great way to hit the reset button or to keep the kids busy and tire them out while they are home on holiday break.

Looking for a place to go? CWC has 30 nature preserves, many of which have hiking trails open for your enjoyment year-round from dawn until dusk. You can also snowshoe or cross-county ski at many of our preserves. Visit chautauquawatershed.org and use our interactive preserve map to find the perfect preserve for your outdoor adventure, get directions and discover the many other activities that each preserve offers. Two of our more popular preserves for winter activities are the Bentley Preserve on Bentley Avenue in Jamestown and the Dobbins Woods Preserve on Bly Hill Road in Ashville.

If you aren’t ready to head out on your own just yet, join us for a guided hike. We are having two Full Moon Frolics this winter season – one on Friday, Jan. 10 at the Cassadaga Creek Wetland Preserve and one on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Salomon Family Nature Preserve, both starting at 5 p.m. Following Full Moon Frolics, we’ll also be having a little potluck hangout. Simply bring a dish to pass, along with a plate and utensils. All are welcome, and we would love to see you there. Though not at one of our preserves, we will also be taking a walk at Chautauqua Institution on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 10 a.m. to talk about birds and their winter habitat. For more details on these events, see our website and Facebook page.

A quick note about safety — it is important to make sure that you are dressed properly for the weather, especially when it comes to your footwear – warm and dry feet go a long way. It’s also a good idea to bring along some water for after your hiking, snowshoeing or skiing trip.

Lots of people get dehydrated in the winter because we don’t think as much about drinking water when we aren’t sweating. Perhaps most importantly, please remember that it is hunting season in Chautauqua County until Dec. 17, so it’s a good idea to wear something bright orange to make you visible and unmistakable as a human while you are out there in the woods.

Happy holidays and happy hiking.

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is a local not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the water quality, scenic beauty and ecological health of the lakes, streams, wetlands and watersheds of the Chautauqua region. In 2020, CWC will be celebrating 30 years of conservation with several special events and preserve tours. For more information, call 664-2166 or visit chautauquawatershed.org or facebook.com/chautauquawatershed.