By Robin Ruehlen
C & G Staff Writer

For anyone resolving to get more exercise or spend more time away from the TV, southeastern Michigan offers plenty of cold-weather activities and fun to tempt even the coziest couch potatoes.

Although the immensely popular Fridge toboggan run at Waterford Oaks county park is closed pending repairs for the 2009-2010 season, Oakland County Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Desiree Stanfield said plenty of visitors still flock to the parks for cross-country skiing, ice-skating, snowshoeing and hiking.

“Our parks do offer instruction clinics in snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, so you can get the background on how to do it the right way, and when you do it properly, you can better enjoy it,” she said.

Nordic Ski Patrol Director Jon O’Dell said Oakland County Parks and Recreation is still accepting volunteer skiers to help patrol the parks and trails.

“The ski patrol serves the public. Volunteer associate patrollers are the eyes and ears on the trails, helping lost or injured skiers and sometimes providing ski tips and techniques,” he said.

“Come on down — the more the merrier.”

Associate patrollers can also become certified Nordic Ski Patrollers under the National Ski Patrol Association, with additional emergency care, CPR and ski training. Volunteers are not required to be certified.

• Ice-skating is available at Orion Oaks, 2800 Watkins Lake Road in Waterford, and on Crooked Lake at Independence Oaks, 9501 Sashabaw Road in Clarkston. Independence Oaks also has 10 miles of marked, groomed trails, plus ski rentals and lessons. Ski and snowshoe rental is available 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends.

• Open skiing (no groomed trails or warming areas) is popular at Glen Oaks, Springfield Oaks and White Lake Oaks golf courses.

Dog owners can take their pets for a snowy romp at the Orion Oaks dog park, a 24-acre fenced park inside the 900-acre Orion Oaks Park, which features a dog area, two trails, a field area and restrooms.

Orion Oaks manager Mike Boyd said that despite the cold, the dog park area is one of the most popular destinations in the winter.

“The dogs are still pretty happy,” he said.

“We’ve just rolled the trails at Orion Oaks, and it’s still pretty mixed-use right now — there’s a lot of walkers.”

The 13 Huron-Clinton Metro-parks offer up to 60 miles of groomed ski trails, eight ice rinks and 12 hills for sledding, tobogganing and snowboarding.

• Stony Creek, 4300 Main Park Road in Shelby Township, consists of 13 miles of groomed cross-country trails for novice through advanced skiers. Ski rentals are available at the golf course clubhouse on weekends, and  ice fishing is available on the west side of the boat launch. The ice skating rink on Stony Creek Lake is in close proximity to a warming building and restrooms, and sledding/snowboarding/ toboggan hills are located at the Gladeview and West Branch picnic areas.

• Metro Beach, at 31300 Metro Parkway, is open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily and offers a family ice rink on the beach and a hockey rink on the West Playfield. Ice fishing for perch is popular in the canals, north boat basin and Lake St. Clair. The park also has 2.5 miles of cross-country skiing on marked, flat terrain.

• Kensington, at 2240 W. Buno Road in Milford, is known for more than 12 miles of groomed cross-country trails for novice-advanced skiers on scenic, hilly terrain. A ski touring center in the Golf Starter Building is open on weekends and holidays, and features restrooms, food and ski maps. Lighted ice-skating and hockey rinks are located on Kent Lake, near a warming building with a fireplace and food bar. Ice fishing is available on Kent and Wildwing lakes, and sledding hills in the Orchard picnic area are open. There are also two toboggan runs available 11 a.m.-dusk weekdays and 10 a.m.-dusk on weekends.

Those who want to take in winter fun and city lights can try the Rink at Campus Martius Park, 800 Woodward Ave. in Detroit.

Detroit 300 Conservancy President Robert Gregory said the park’s sixth season has been a hit so far.

“It’s been going really well — the number of skaters is up 10 to 15 percent over last year, which is great,” he said.

The Rink is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday. The park café, Au Bon Pain, is open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends.

For more information and a full list of winter activities, times and prices, visit www.destinationoakland.com, www.metroparks.com or www.campusmartiuspark.org.

You can reach Staff Writer Robin Ruehlen at rruehlen@candgnews.com or (586) 279-1105.