7 Calorie-Burning Winter Activities to Keep You Active

Winter weather doesn’t have to keep you indoors or disrupt your fitness goals. With the right activities, you can stay active, enjoy the season, and burn a surprising number of calories. From skiing to shoveling snow, here are seven calorie-burning winter workouts that will keep you fit and energized.

1. Downhill Skiing

Calories Burned: 250–510 per hour (casual pace); 350–610 per hour (moderate pace)

Downhill skiing combines cardio with muscle strengthening, targeting your legs, core, and arms as you navigate the slopes. To maximize your calorie burn, focus on your time actually skiing subtract the minutes spent in lift lines or riding the chairlift.

Pro Tip: Skiing at a moderate pace increases calorie burn while also improving balance and leg strength.

2. Snowboarding

Calories Burned: Slightly higher than downhill skiing at moderate speeds

Snowboarding engages your legs and core for balance, with an added emphasis on flexibility and body rotation. The twisting and turning required on the board make it a great full-body workout.

Pro Tip: Stretch with lower-body strength moves like squats before hitting the slopes to increase flexibility and improve your performance.

3. Cross-Country Skiing

Calories Burned: 500–700 per hour

Cross-country skiing is one of the most effective total-body winter workouts, engaging your triceps, biceps, back, core, glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves. Since you’re propelling your body weight, you’ll build endurance and burn calories fast.

Pro Tip: Add a HIIT element by alternating between short bursts of high-intensity skiing and slower recovery periods to boost your calorie burn.

4. Snowshoeing

Calories Burned: 400–600 per hour

If you can walk, you can snowshoe! This beginner-friendly activity strengthens your glutes, calves, quads, and hamstrings while offering a serious cardio workout. Opt for hilly terrain to challenge your lower body and elevate your heart rate.

Pro Tip: A steady pace of 3 miles per hour is ideal for burning calories while enjoying the scenery.

5. Ice Skating

Calories Burned: 250–500 per hour

Ice skating isn’t just fun it’s also a fantastic workout for your core, lower body, and ankle strength. Whether you’re gliding outdoors or at an indoor rink, maintaining your balance works your muscles in ways that walking or running don’t.

Pro Tip: Try alternating between slow laps and speed sprints to ramp up the intensity and calorie burn.

6. Sledding

Calories Burned: Around 400 per hour

Who says sledding is just for kids? Walking uphill after each ride down provides an excellent cardio workout that engages your legs and core. The steeper the hill, the harder your muscles have to work and the more calories you’ll burn.

Pro Tip: Carry two sleds or race friends up the hill to make it a competitive calorie-torching workout.

7. Shoveling Snow

Calories Burned: 400–600 per hour

Shoveling snow is an underrated winter workout. Lifting heavy snow engages your core, back, arms, and legs, while the repetitive motion gives you a cardio boost. The denser or heavier the snow, the harder your body has to work.

Pro Tip: Speed up your pace or tackle heavier, icier snow to burn more calories and build strength.

Tips for Exercising in Winter

Before heading out, dress in layers made from materials like wool or synthetics to retain heat while wicking moisture away. Stay hydrated, even if you don’t feel thirsty in the cold, and warm up with stretches to prevent injuries.

Winter offers plenty of opportunities to stay fit, so don’t let the chill hold you back. From adrenaline-pumping downhill runs to low-key snowshoe strolls, there’s a winter activity for everyone.

Israel embraces active lifestyles, even in cooler seasons, promoting outdoor adventures and wellness. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for more fitness tips.