Winter Activities

COMLARA Park Winter Activities

COMLARA Park - Evergreen Lake is open year round and provides many winter activities intended to entertain McLean County residents, including ice fishing and cross-country skiing. Camping at COMLARA Park is open all year.

Cross-Country Skiing

The winter activity of cross-county skiing is provided at Comlara Park when weather conditions permit. The McLean County Department of Parks and Recreation regularly grooms the ski trails when snowfall is appropriate. Learn more about using condition reports to plan your trips.

Ice Fishing

No need to stay inside during the long winter months waiting for the sun to come out and dreaming about open water and summer fun. Be adventurous, bundle up, get outside, and try fishing in a whole new way - through the ice! Check out helpful tips to stay safe while on the ice.

Setting the Scene

Imagine this: you and a friend bundle up and walk out onto a frozen lake on a clear and crisp winter day with your sled full of fishing gear and the fishing license in your pocket. Once you find the perfect fishing spot, you drill a large hole completely through the ice until you can see open water. Now, you unpack your sled and find your special lures, jigging rods, or tip-ups to catch the fish.

You will probably want to get out your portable seat to sit on so that you can look down the hole to see what's happening. Then, you grab the skimmer to keep the hole clear of the ice and slush that forms during the day. Once your line is set, you'll need to keep a close eye on it or watch for the flag on the tip-up to see if you've caught a fish. When your hands get cold, you grab for the thermos of hot chocolate you brought along - mmmm, just what you need to warm up. What a great day of fishing!