If you grew up with snow in the wintertime, chances are, you went sledding as a kid. The exhilaration of flying down a hill, the exertion of climbing back up, the fun of rolling around in the snow, the hot chocolate breaks — it all adds up to a great outdoor experience. Here are 13 splendid hills around the country that guarantee a winter rush for you and the grandchildren. Maybe one of them is in your own backyard.
Mount Shasta, Calif.
Youngsters will enjoy the sledding — and grandparents will enjoy the lack of fees — at Shastice Park in the town of Mount Shasta, Calif. The sledding hill is at the opposite end of the parking lot from the skating rink. It’s an easy walk to the top, with bathrooms available nearby. Older grandchildren may find Snowman’s Hill more challenging. This former ski jump is located on Highway 89 across from the Mt. Shasta Ski & Board Park.
Vail, Colo.
Groomed tubing runs make Meadow Mountain Tubing Hill a real rush. For a unique take on the typical ride, link up into a circle or a chain with the grandchildren and whoosh down as a group. Afterwards, relax with a cup of hot chocolate while watching the fun or gaze across the valley to spot elk and other wildlife. Meadow Mountain is located at I-70 and the Minturn exit (adjacent to the U.S. Forest Service office).
Forest Park, St. Louis, Mo.
Founded in 1876, Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country, serving as the site of the 1904 World’s Fair. In winter, sledders fly down Art Hill on the north side of the Art Museum — a St. Louis tradition. Bounded by I-64, Kingshighway, Lindell and Skinker, the park is west of downtown.
Bretton Woods, N.H.
The packed powder tubing run at Mount Washington Resort in New Hampshire’s White Mountains offers a thrill ride for kids of all ages. Tubes rent for $5 per hour; there’s hot cocoa brewing; and younger overnight guests can request the resort’s Elf Tuck-in, a personal story time at the bedside.
Central Park, N.Y.
Pilgrim Hill, located near 72nd Street in Central Park, on the East Side, is a favorite place for urban sledding. The slope is steep enough to work up some speed, but descends gently downward toward the Central Park Conservatory. If it's too crowded at Pilgrim Hill, head over to Cedar Hill, between 76th and 79th Streets.
Chestertown, N.Y.
Located in the Adirondacks in upstate New York, Chestertown is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Sledding hills abound, but one local favorite is Dynamite Hill, located on Route 8 near Landon Hill Road. Check out some of the wacky homemade sleds entered in the annual Krazy Downhill Derby competition.
Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland, Ohio
The 21,000-acre Metropark surrounding Cleveland has nine designated sledding areas, including Pawpaw Picnic Area in Mill Stream Run Reservation and Old River Farm Picnic Area in North Chagrin Reservation. The sledding hill off State Road in Hinckley is a little steeper and more popular with older sliders. All three have lights for evening coasting and burn-barrels to warm your hands.
Park City, Utah
Gorgoza Park is one winter wonderland that’s not for skiers. The park offers seven snow tubing tracks — three beginner and four advanced. Three lifts service the lanes, which are lit for night tubing. Gorgoza Park at Park City Mountain Resort is 35 minutes from Salt Lake International Airport. In Park City’s Pinebrook neighborhood, Ecker Hill, a former ski jumping hill, offers a steep angle that’s worth the short hike for daredevils.
The Wildflower Inn, Lyndonville, Vt.
Situated in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, The Wildflower Inn provides sleds for guests to use on its fantastic sledding hill that’s perfect for classic tobogganing. The hill is relatively steep, offering spectacular views. Plenty of other winter activities abound, including cross-country skiing and riding in the inn’s horse-drawn sleigh.
Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, Vt.
When the Trapp family, immortalized in “The Sound of Music,” immigrated to America, they settled in a Vermont mountain village that reminded them of their Austrian home. Guests sled nearby behind Stowe Elementary School at Marshall Hill, which is favored by locals and visitors alike. The resort arranges for sledding day trips, followed by hot cocoa, Austrian pastries, a warm fire and nightly sing-alongs.
Umatilla National Forest, Washington and Oregon
The Umatilla National Forest straddles the border between Washington and Oregon. Several Sno-Parks offer plenty of parking adjacent to sled hills, but you’ll need a parking permit. Rose Springs is located off Forest Road 46, 15 miles south of Pomeroy, Wash. Seven miles east of Tollgate, on Oregon 204, Andies Prairie is another popular site for families to slide.
Canaan Valley Resort, Davis, W.Va.
Voted by Washingtonian magazine as one of the "50 Great Places to Stay,” Canaan Valley Resort in the Allegheny Mountains features a tube park where guests grab specially designed, inflated rubber tubes for a cushy ride down 600-foot lanes. A handle tow pulls guests to the top of the hill — making this a fun pastime for all ages.
Snow King Resort, Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Located in the town of Jackson just outside of Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming, Snow King Resort is a family ski area that includes King Tubes, one of the largest tubing parks in the state. A lift brings you back up the hill to maximize sliding time.
Safety First
Sledding is only fun if nobody gets hurt. Here are a few tips from the National Safety Council and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh to assure that your sledding experience with the grandchildren is all cheers and no tears.
• Make sure that children wear a helmet when sledding.
• Sledders should sit or lay on their back on the sled, with feet pointing downhill. Never sled headfirst.
• A steerable wooden sled with flexible metal runners is recommended for children ages 6 to 12 years. Keep it in good condition.
• Dress warmly, including thick gloves or mittens and boots to protect against frostbite and injury.
• Sled in a safe environment. Look for gentle hills with a level finish to stop. Avoid icy surfaces, slopes with bare spots or obstacles, and hills located near streets or frozen ponds.
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