Winter activities include downhill skiing and snowboarding at Cascade Mountain, just five minutes from the city. Cross-country ski trails are within half an hour from Portage. Curling, a team sport with Scottish origins, attracts loyal fans to the curling club's indoor rink for weekly sessions. A hockey league provides opportunity for youth who play at outdoor rinks at the fairgrounds or at Pauquette Park, which also has a rink for figure skating. An assortment of golf courses are within minutes of Portage, and boating and fishing opportunities abound on the Wisconsin River or any of several nearby lakes.
Sportsmen also find abundant game in nearby woods and wetlands.
Swimming is a year-round activity for all ages, enjoyed outdoors at Silver Lake Beach in the summer, or indoors at the Llewellyn Breese Memorial Pool. There's also a seven-screen theatre, two bowling alleys, a health club, and tennis courts at several city parks. The Park and Recreation Department offers a wide range of team sports for adults year-round, and provides organized activity groups for children in the summer. Groups such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Elks and AAUW offer members the opportunity for service in the community. The Zona Gale Center hosts productions by both the local theater troupe and professional performers.