Looking for a cold-day adventure that doesn’t involve I-70 traffic and expensive ski passes? When snow covers the Front Range, grab a sled, tube, or toboggan, and get after it on one of these metro-area hills.
Barnum Park
On the west side of Denver, this park has several small and medium-sized hills, plus a playground, bike park, and short hiking trail. Many of the hills are shallow, making Barnum Park well-suited for first-timer sledders and cautious kids. Warm up in the Barnum Recreation Center (closed Sundays). 360 W. Hooker St., Denver
Bonnie Brae Park
Located in Denver’s Bonnie Brae neighborhood, the tiny sledding hill in this no-frills green space is a destination for families with young children and sledders who aren’t looking for big thrills. Bonus: Bonnie Brae Park is less than 0.5 miles from Bonnie Brae Ice Cream. What’s so wrong about warming up with a double scoop of cookies and cream? 860 S. Ellipse Way, Denver
Central Park
With an established sledding hill and easy access from downtown, Denver’s third largest park appeals to sledding enthusiasts of all ages. The slope on the park’s main sledding hill rises about thirty feet, but the grade isn’t too steep, making is accessible for most kids. 8801 Martin Luther King Blvd., Denver
George Wallace Park
Accessible via Goldsmith Gulch Trail, this DTC gem has some excellent sledding hills abutting Goldsmith Gulch creek. Post-sled, there are plenty of yummy places to grab a bite along Belleview Avenue, in the mile-long strip between YaYas and Los Chingones. 8501 E. Belleview Ave., Denver
Harvard Gulch Park
Park your car on South Logan Street to access a wide bowl located across the street from the Rosedale Community Garden. Kiddos gain a surprising amount of speed as they drop a relatively short distance into the bank of this cute park’s namesake creek. Warm up a few blocks north on South Pearl Street with cocoa at Steam Espresso Bar or ice cream at Sweet Cow. 550 E. Iliff Ave., Denver
Jefferson Park
In the heart of downtown Denver, just a stone’s throw from the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, this modest neighborhood park has a fantastic three-sided hill that beckons sledders of all ages and ability levels. The hills end in a basin, so you won’t have to worry about kids sliding into a busy street. 2201 Clay St., Denver
Robinson Park
For Hilltop residents, Robinson Park is a can’t-miss sledding destination with a multitude of hills of varying steepness. Start on the south side of the park, and if your child gets bored, work your way to the east or west side slopes. 200 Fairfax St., Denver
Ruby Hill Rail Yard
Designed to bring winter snow sports directly to Denver-area youth, Ruby Hill Rail Yard is a free, one-of-a-kind terrain park for skiers and snowboarders. The Rail Yard is open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the terrain park lights stay on until 9 p.m. Other parts of the park are designated for sledding. 1200 W. Florida Ave., Denver
Ken Caryl Sledding Hill
In Littleton, the best place to make tracks is the undeveloped green space at the intersection of South Kipling Parkway and West Ken Caryl Avenue. Dropping toward a snowy bank, the park’s north facing hill is pretty thrilling, and benches are available nearby for parent chaperones. There is limited parking along Ken Caryl Avenue, so the city recommends parking in The Meadows Sanctuary. South Kipling Parkway and West Ken Caryl Avenue, Littleton
