For those looking to get the blood flowing when those colder months arrive, the public transit system can be a gateway to winter recreational fun in the Vancouver area.

Although it can be tempting to slip into hibernation mode when the days get shorter and the mercury drops, snowshoeing, kayaking, and ice skating are within reach of adventurous bus and SkyTrain riders who crave brisk exercise.

Once the snow has piled up enough and the ski season starts, slap on some snowshoes and trudge through the wintery landscape on the North Shore’s Grouse Mountain. Toby Barrett, the mountain’s snow-school director, says snowshoeing is a fast-growing activity that appeals to people who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and explore the wilderness.

“On Grouse, we have about 10 kilometres of snowshoe trails available throughout the winter season, ranging from very beginner trails, nice and flat, to more advanced trails where you’re hiking up and down [the] mountain and stuff,” Barrett told the Straight.

He said it’s up to those snowshoeing to decide whether they feel up to an intense workout or just want to take a leisurely stroll, and he advises people to dress in weather-appropriate clothing and check mountain conditions online before heading up.

Snowshoes can be rented on the mountain for $15 for two hours or $20 for all day. Access to the trails and use of the Skyride are included in the cost of general admission, which is $39.95 for adults.

To get to Grouse by bus, catch the No. 236 from Lonsdale Quay or the No. 232 from Phibbs Exchange.

If an upper-body workout has more appeal, hop in a rental kayak from Ecomarine Ocean Kayak Centre on Granville Island and paddle around False Creek or out into English Bay.

“In the wintertime, it’s really nice paddling,” Ecomarine owner Chris Ladner told the Straight. “There’s lots of birds out and a lot less boat traffic. But the water is cold and the outside temperature is cold, so people need to dress appropriately.”

Ladner said kayakers often follow a route along the False Creek shoreline to check out Science World and works of art installed along the water. At an easy pace, he said, that trip takes about two hours to complete.

Ocean kayaks are available for rent year-round from Ecomarine’s Duranleau Street location, with the standard rates for two hours of use starting at $36 for a single-person vessel and $49 for a two-person craft. On Fridays, the two-hour rate drops to $20 for a single kayak and $30 for a double.

To get within walking distance of Granville Island by bus, catch the No. 50, which runs across the Granville Street Bridge from downtown, and get off at the stop at West 2nd Avenue and Anderson Street. Other bus routes connect at the interchange near the south end of the bridge at West 5th Avenue.

For those who want to keep the purse strings a bit tighter, ice skating provides a more budget-friendly way to get active in the spirit of the season.

In Vancouver, there are rinks offering public skating sessions throughout the week that are walking distance from high-use public transit routes.

Located several blocks from Commercial-Broadway Station, Trout Lake Rink in East Vancouver is open seven days a week.

In the Main Street area, there are Riley Park Rink, a few blocks west of the street on East 30th Avenue, and Sunset Rink, a few blocks east of the street on East 51st Avenue. Catch the No. 3 bus, which runs from Main Street Science World Station.

Costs at these Vancouver park board rinks are $5.10 for adults, $3.75 for youths and seniors, and $2.52 for children. Skate rentals are $2.57.