A good sledding hill will have you laughing ’til your cheeks hurt. The following slopes have just the right steepness, snow cover, and vibe to guarantee fun. Warm up with some of the country’s best sledding-specific areas that cater well to the traditional take on the family-friendly activity. Then, level up the gravity-fed goods with a nearby adventure sledding option.
As the name suggests, adventure sledding involves hiking up long, snow-covered trails with a sled strapped to your pack. At the top, you detach your steed, transition to a seated position, holler something heroic like “For Sparta!” or “Geronimo!” and then rocket downhill back to your starting point. Think of it like regular sledding, but for grownups. You get all the best bits of winter: gorgeous scenery, backcountry solitude, and the opportunity to slide down snowy slopes at ridiculous speeds. But, unlike with skiing or snowshoeing, you never have to deal with expensive gear, long lift lines, or not being able to find friends to do stuff with you. Plus, the hiking part is great exercise—as is extracting your friends from snowdrifts post-wipeout.
And don’t forget the best part of adventure sledding: It’s a perfect antidote to the seriousness that plagues all too many winter sports. As an adventure sledder, you’ll never have to worry about taking yourself too seriously. Especially if you come in costume.
Aside from a sense of humor, you’ll want to consider packing some traction devices to help on the hike. And stick to safe backcountry travel principles, from warming strategies (less layers on high-output ascents; more insulation for the freewheeling descent) to avalanche precautions and helmet use as you increase the exposure and speed. You can always start small by scratching your sledding itch at one of these premier local sledding hill options.
Table Mountain, Oregon
Oregon is famous for its snow-play parks, and is a local favorite. The hill is maintained with sleds and snow tubes in mind. A warming hut at the bottom makes it easy to dry damp mittens between runs.
Level Up: Want to try your hand at adventure sledding? Pack snowshoes and head directly south from the winter play area. You’ll cross a drainage, then climb about 200 feet up the hill on the other side. Point your sled north or east to descend through gentle glades.
Donner Summit, California
This slope, just northwest of Lake Tahoe, is one of the best public sledding hills in the area. Unlike many of the nearby resorts, it’s free to all day with just the cost of a parking pass. The plentiful snow is ideal for building ramps and kickers, and the gentle grade is family-friendly.
Level Up: For a more adventurous option, sled nearby Andesite Peak. Start at the snowmobile parking area off Castle Peak Road. At the trail’s first fork, turn left (west) to follow the relatively mellow snowmobiling trail, or go straight to take the skier’s trail north (avalanche savvy required). After about a mile, you’ll see open, sleddable slopes on the shoulders of Andesite Peak.
Snow King Ski Area, Wyoming
Jackson, Wyoming, is an epicenter for all winter sports—sledding included. For a full day of slope sliding, head to Snow King. , a magic carpet ride, and onsite rentals make this ski resort one of the best sledding destinations in the West.
Level Up: Grab your sled plus a pair of snowshoes and head to Telemark Bowl or Shivers Ridge up on Teton Pass. You’ll reach the top of each run after a short hike. Enjoy the ride, then hike back up toward the road for seconds.
Firecracker Hill, Colorado
Reliable snow, a consistent grade, and an unbeatable setting make Telluride’s Firecracker Hill (pictured above) famous among sledders statewide. Bring your own sled, or from the nearby Nordic Center.
Level Up: For a more backcountry experience, head to Trout Lake, just south of town. The lake’s north and east sides play host to a number of mellow, open slopes. You’ll also find wild but accessible hills just west of the Black Bear Pass Trailhead off the Million Dollar Highway.
Beech Mountain, North Carolina
Not only is it free to , but the town maintains (and makes) snow as needed, ensuring reliable coverage throughout the winter. Bring your own plastic sled or rent one from the Beech Meadows Ski Shop.
Level Up: Head to the Tanawha Trail parking area off Holloway Mountain Road. Go either direction on the trail to access open, rolling meadows. (Eastbound leads to a slightly longer hill after about a mile of forested trail.)
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