New Year: 2023 Amazing Winter Activities at Oakland County Parks

With winter in full swing, there is plenty of fun to be had. If you enjoy sledding, snowshoeing, hiking, sledding or skating, then there is an Oakland County park that fits the bill. Check out all the fun winter activities at Oakland County Parks.

A quick note: A daily pass or Annual Vehicle Permit is required for the following locations: Addison Oaks, Highland Oaks, Independence Oaks, Lyon Oaks, Orion Oaks, Red Oaks (dog park only) and Rose Oaks. Please purchase permits online prior to arrival as permits are not always available at the park during winter months.

Oakland County parks are generally open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sundown or as posted at the park. If you have questions, then you can call ahead to the park before your visit.

ADDISON OAKS

Addison Oaks is a 1,140-acre park where you can camp overnight or spend a day exploring. Winter activities abound, including fat tire biking, snowshoeing as well as ice fishing.

Winter Activities at Addison Oaks:

• Fat tire biking on 5.5 miles of trails
• Snowshoeing on 19 miles of ungroomed, marked trails. However guests must have their own equipment.
• Hiking on 19 miles of ungroomed, marked trails
• Equestrian use on more than 10 miles of ungroomed, marked trails
• Disc golf on a 24-hole course
• Ice fishing is available, however fish at your own risk. Staff does not monitor ice conditions.
• Portable toilets are available in the day use parking lot near playground, near the boathouse, side lot by rental house as well as at the Addison Oaks-East north of parking lot.
• Modern restrooms open for limited hours at Adams Lake Lodge.
• Contact Station open for limited hours daily

Addison Oaks
Address: 1480 West Romeo Road Leonard, MI 48367
Phone: 248-693-2432
Website: https://www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/addison-oaks/Pages/default.aspx

CATALPA OAKS

Winter is fun at Catalpa Oaks, a 24-acre park in Southfield. You can play sports, sled and also check out the playground.

Here’s what Catalpa Oaks has to offer in the winter:

• Hiking on a 0.6-mile aggregate perimeter pathway
• Cross-country skiing for those with own equipment on ungroomed surface
• Sledding
• Snowshoeing on ungroomed surface. However guests must bring their own equipment.

Catalpa Oaks
Address: 27705 Greenfield Road, Southfield
Phone: 248-464-8953
Website: https://www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/Catalpa-Oaks/Pages/default.aspx

HIGHLAND OAKS

Located in the Shiawassee River headwaters, Highland Oaks has 302 acres for activities like hiking, geocaching as well as cross-country skiing.

Highland Oaks winter activities:

• Hiking on 2.5 miles of ungroomed trails
• Equestrian use on 2.5 miles of ungroomed trails
• If you have your own equipment, then enjoy cross-country skiing on ungroomed trails.
• Snowshoeing on ungroomed trails. However guests must bring their own equipment.
• Portable toilets available
• No warming areas

Highland Oaks
Address: 6555 Milford Road, Highland
Phone: 248-634-9811
Website: https://www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/Highland-Oaks/Pages/default.aspx

INDEPENDENCE OAKS

The largest Oakland County Park at 1,286 acres. If you are looking for winter activities at Oakland County Parks, then Independence Oaks has you covered. The park has a nature center, archery range and more – including cross-country ski rental depending on staff and snow amounts.

Winter Activities at Independence Oaks:

• Nearly 10 miles of groomed as well as marked trails
• Ice fishing is available, however fish at your own risk. Staff does not monitor ice conditions.
• Cross-country skiing on all trails except Habitat trail
• Cross-country ski equipment rental available from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on weekends (weather permitting)
• Volunteer Nordic Ski Patrol on duty as available and on weekends to assist cross-country skiers
• Hiking is allowed on Habitat, River Loop and also All-Visitor’s trails
• No dogs allowed on Habitat Trail
• Snowshoeing is allowed on Habitat, River Loop as well as All-Visitor’s trails for those with own equipment.
• Group rentals are available weekdays by reservation only
• Heated restrooms available
• PLEASE NOTE: Due to COVID-19, there will be no indoor warming areas open for the 2020-21 season and the nature center is closed until further notice

Independence Oaks
Address: 9501 Sashabaw Road, Clarkston
Phone: 248-625-0877
Website: https://www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/Independence-Oaks/Pages/default.aspx

LYON OAKS

At Lyon Oaks, 800 acres of environmentally-sensitive wetlands are preserved in the 1,041-acre park. This Oakland County Park features trails, cross-country skiing and also a dog park.

Here’s what Lyon Oaks has to offer in the winter:

• Dog park offers off-leash recreation for dogs
• Portable toilets available
• If you have your own equipment, then enjoy cross-country skiing on ungroomed trails.

Lyon Oaks
Address: 52221 Pontiac Trail, Wixom
Phone: 248-437-1488
Website: https://www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/Lyon-Oaks/Pages/default.aspx

ORION OAKS

Best known for its popular dog park, Orion Oaks has 916 acres with hiking, mountain bike trails, and more. It’s a great place to enjoy winter activities within Oakland County Parks.

Orion Oaks winter activities:

• If you have your own equipment, then enjoy cross-country skiing on ungroomed trails.
• Snowshoeing on ungroomed trails. However guests must bring their own equipment.
• Hiking
• Ice fishing is available, however fish at your own risk. Staff does not monitor ice conditions.
• Dog Park offers off-leash recreation for dogs
• On-leash dog walking allowed on the trails
• Portable toilets available
•  No warming areas

Orion Oaks
Address: 1200 Joslyn Road, Orion Township
Phone: 248-625-0877
Website: https://www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/Orion-Oaks/Pages/default.aspx

RED OAKS

The 163-acres of Red Oaks is repurposed land located on top of the enclosed George W. Kuhn Drain. It features a dog park, a golf course, a nature center as well as trails. The system also includes a soccer complex and waterpark in the warmer months.

Here’s what Red Oaks has to offer in the winter:

• Dog park offers off-leash recreation for dogs (at the dog park)
• Portable restroom facilities are available
• Hiking on 1.3 miles of paved trails at Red Oaks Nature Center
• Portable restroom facilities are available at the nature center and the nature center is open for restroom access only during regular business hours
• Storybook Trail at the Red Oaks Nature Center

Red Oaks
Address: 30300 Hales Street, Madison Heights
Phone: 248-585-0100
Website: https://www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/Red-Oaks/Pages/default.aspx

ROSE OAKS

Open meadows and glacial lakes make up this 640-acre undeveloped park with trails together with natural beauty. It’s popular with equestrians, hikers as well as cross-country skiers.

Winter Activities at Rose Oaks:

• If you have your own equipment, then enjoy cross-country skiing on ungroomed trails.
• Snowshoeing on ungroomed trails. However guests must bring their own equipment.
• Ungroomed trails for hiking
• Ungroomed trails for equestrian use
• Ice fishing is available, however fish at your own risk. Staff does not monitor ice conditions.
• Portable toilets available
• No warming areas

Rose Oaks
Address: 10501 Buckhorn Lake Road, Holly
Phone: 248-634-9811
Website: https://www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/Rose-Oaks/Pages/default.aspx

WATERFORD OAKS

The 199-acre Waterford Oaks has hiking, an accessible playscape as well as a family sledding hill. Additionally, in the summer, it is home to a waterpark. The Oakland County Farmers Market is also there.

Here’s what Waterford Oaks has to offer in the winter:

• Hiking on more than three miles of ungroomed trails
• Snowshoeing on more than three miles of ungroomed trails for those with own equipment
• Family Sledding Hill
• Portable toilets available
• Platform tennis (memberships available) October-April

Waterford Oaks
Address: 1702 Scott Lake Road, Waterford
Phone: 248-858-0916
Website: https://www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/Waterford-Oaks/Pages/default.aspx

Oakland County Farmers Market

Open three days a week, the Oakland County Farmers market features grower-direct fresh produce, flowers as well as handmade goods.

It’s open from 7 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays until April.

Address: 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford
Phone: 248-858-5495
Website: https://www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/farmers-market/Pages/default.aspx

Connect with Oakland County Parks

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube