There’s no better way to spend a snow day than racing down a neighborhood hill on a sled. Here are some of the best sledding hills in Denver and beyond, thanks to exhaustive research (thanks, Google!) and many reader reviews.
Is your favorite sledding hill missing? Tell us!
Ruby Hill Park
Where: The intersection of Platte River Drive and Jewell Avenue, Denver
Cost: Free
A partnership between the city of Denver and Winter Park Resort and others created the first free terrain park in the U.S., according to Winter Park’s website. The park was created to attract urban children to enjoy winter sports. Workers make snow for the park starting in January in the hopes it will last the rest of the season. Lights operate until 9 p.m. for skiing and snowboarding, and other parts of the park are designated for sledding. For more information: winterparkresort.com/the-mountain/seven-territories/terrain-park/ruby-hill
Edora Park
Where: 1420 E. Stuart St., Fort Collins
Cost: Free
The sledding hill is along the north side of the EPIC parking lot, according to a website owned by The Group Inc., a real estate company. But it’s also a huge Frisbee golf course. The site says this hill and one at the Aggile Greens Disc Golf Course boasts the best hills. Who knew that flying disc courses would be great places to sled? For more information: fcgov.com/parks/park-finder.php?id=4
Sledding Hill Park
Where: S. Kipling Parkway and Ken Caryl Avenue, Littleton
Cost: Free
Well, duh. How could we forget this hill with a name like that? This park is a good example of why cities buy open space. Littleton didn’t have to do much other than preserve it to keep a good sledding hill. The park remains undeveloped except for a few park benches on the top of the hill. There is limited parking on Ken Caryl, so the city suggests parking at Eagle Meadows or Sanctuary Park. For more information: ifoothills.org/sledding-hill-park
Scott Carpenter Park
Where: 1505 30th St., Boulder
Cost: Free
This park offers many fun hills to sled down for all ages, as it has for many years, according to Denise White, who handles communications for the city’s parks and recreation department. The city likes to promote sledding at that park and at Foothills Community Park, 800 Cherry Ave. However, the city also discourages sledding at another popular hill: Tantra Lake Park, at Hanover Avenue and South 46th Street. Some reviewers called Tantra the best hill in Boulder, but it’s dangerous, White said, and though the city doesn’t prohibit sledding on the steep hill, it does discourage it because of the trees and private property nearby. “We would prefer they use the other places,” White said.
Kroh Park
Where: 5200 N. Garfield Ave., Loveland
Cost: Free
This park has all the amenities you’d expect from one of the largest parks in a mid-sized city, including softball and soccer fields, a playground and a fishing pond, and it also boasts the most popular sledding hill in Loveland. For more information: cityofloveland.org/departments/parks-recreation/parks-facilities/parks-reservable-spaces/kroh-park
Robinson Park
Where: 200 Fairfax St., Denver
Cost: Free
Some folks on Google reviews — because there are actually people who get on Google to rate a neighborhood park as if it was an all-inclusive resort — raved about the sledding hill there. “This mid-sized neighborhood park includes one of the best sledding hills in the area,” one reviewer said. Indeed, the entire south side and some of the east and west all have hills of varying steepness. If you don’t believe us, ask Google (or Yelp). For more information: denvergov.org/parks
Colorado Adventure Park and Fraser Tubing Hill
Where: 566 CR 72 (Colorado Adventure Park) and 455 CR 72 (Fraser Tubing Hill), Fraser
Cost: Varies
We put both of these together because of the intense competition between the two hills. I prefer the Fraser Tubing Hill for nostalgic reasons, but both hills are great and offer a good experience. The cost may surprise you — $24 for one hour on the Fraser Tubing Hill — but you’ll probably be ready to stop after an hour or two, especially at night when it gets really cold. Lifts take you back up the hill. Wear a face mask — in fact, wear all your ski clothes — as you’ll go much faster than you think. For more information: http://coloradoadventurepark.com and frasertubinghill.com
University of Northern Colorado’s Nottingham Field
Where: 17th Avenue and Reservoir Road, Greeley
Cost: Free
This is a reliable hill after a good snowfall. It’s terrific for many days in below-freezing temperatures and after a snowfall of 8 or more inches. This hill usually has a couple of homemade jumps for the older kids (and adults) and many other calmer runs for the little ones (and adults). This is the best place to sled in Greeley and offers a surprisingly long run.
Hidden Valley sledding
Where: Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park
Cost: A one-day automobile pass costs $25, and a seven-day pass costs $35. An annual pass costs $70.
Hidden Valley is the only place where sledding is allowed in the national park, but it’s a good spot. It’s a gentle but long, satisfying run that was the bottom of the bunny slope of the former Hidden Valley Ski Area. A restroom with running water is at the bottom of the hill, and a warming room is usually available. Conditions vary, with strong winds, icy snow and thin cover always a possibility, but it can be terrific on a calm day during a snowfall or just after one. Sleds with metal runners are not allowed. For more information and conditions, go to nps.gov/romo/index.htm or call 970-586-1206.
Chautauqua Meadow
Where: Chautauqua Park, Baseline Road and 9th St., Boulder. The park can be accessed off Baseline Road, and you can find the hill itself just west of the Meadow Trail. Parking is always an issue there, so try to get there earlier in the morning.
Cost: Free
This hill is popular after a good snowfall, which makes sense, given that it’s in one of Boulder’s most beautiful areas. The city doesn’t recommend it, but that’s because it’s longer, steeper and even more dangerous than Tantra Lake. One site rates it a “black diamond” sledding hill. There’s a small hike getting to it, and the terrain is unpredictable. Still, it’s a common, popular hill that was established decades ago. It even had a rope tow in the early ’50s and ’60s. Just be careful, and think about taking the little ones to Scott Carpenter Park instead. For more information: bouldercolorado.gov/parks-rec/chautauqua-park
