As the winter weather continues, snow is in the forecast! As the flurries come down, when they stick that means a snow day for the children and a fun day of sledding! Living in the concrete jungle, finding the perfect hill or park to sled on can be a bit challenging, but not with our list.
Whether your child is hitting the hills for the first time or if they’re an aspiring winter daredevil, we’ve compiled a great list of sledding hills to keep the kids entertained all winter long.
So put on your winter gear, grab your sled, and head to one of the best sledding hills in your neighborhood! And on your way home, warm up with a cup of hot cocoa from your favorite cafés near you!
Where to Go Sledding in Manhattan
The New York City Parks mandate that over six inches of snow must be on the ground before anyone can sled down these hills. For more information about the parks, visit nycgovparks.org or call 212-639-9675.
Fort Tryon Park
Cabrini Boulevard and Fort Washington Avenue, Upper West Side
Hit the slopes at one of the city’s most beautiful outdoor spaces. Take in beautiful views of the Hudson River while gliding down the slippery slopes of Billings Lawn.
Carl Schurz Park
East End Avenue and 84th Street, Upper East Side
This naturally breathtaking sledding hotspot runs along the East River and welcomes children of all ages. The family pets can even join in on the fun as this park is home to two dog runs.
Morningside Park
Manhattan Avenue and 110th Street, Upper West Side
This park is known for its notoriously steep hill, perfect for daring sledders. Playgrounds can be found at the bottom of the hill for more snowy day fun!
Pilgrim Hill
Central Park at 72nd Street, Upper East Side
Most Central Park visitors believe this to be the best sledding spot in the city because of its perfectly steep slope found just below the Conservatory Water.
Central Park from 76th to 79th streets, Upper East Side
Cedar Hill offers plenty of room for long, adventurous sled rides. From the top, you can view the Glade Arch and the beautiful red cedars for which it is known.
Riverside Park
Riverside Drive and 90th Street, Upper West Side
As its name suggests, this park rests on our scenic western waterfront.
Sculptures, movies, artwork, and children’s shows may be found year-round, while the seasons call for an exchange of roller-blades for ice-skates and skateboards for sleds. The bicycle and scooter trail becomes a sledder’s dream in the winter months.
St. Nicholas Park
St. Nicholas Avenue and 127th Street, Hamilton Heights
Hills here are average in incline and should prove perfect for the beginner. Playgrounds are also found here in abundance.
Where to Go Sledding in Brooklyn
Fort Greene Park
Interior of the park at Willoughby Avenue, Fort Greene/Clinton Hill
The hill near the Prison Ship Martyrs monument is quite a wild ride. It surrounds all four sides of the monument so it never gets too crowded, but the steepest and least crowded area is at the top of the hill. The hill is easily accessible from the park’s Willoughby Avenue entrance.
Highland Park
Highland Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue, Cypress Hills
A very overlooked park, on the border between Brooklyn and Queens in Cypress Hills, is Highland Park. The park is in fact on a high plateau that seems to crease the middle of Long Island well beyond city limits. The views of the ocean are stunning enough, but the sledding is primo!
Hillside Park
Middagh and Vine streets, Brooklyn Heights
With a name like Hillside, you know you’re in for a few slopes. This park also boasts a dog run, so bring the family pooch along on your sledding adventure. The park is located in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Brooklyn Heights promenade.
Lincoln Terrace Park
Between Buffalo and Rochester avenues, adjacent to Eastern Parkway service road, Brownsville/Crown Heights
After a solid snowfall, this slope is as good as any in the city, and you might get the added bonus of smaller crowds than the bigger parks.
McKinley Park
Fort Hamilton Parkway and 73rd Street, Bay Ridge
Don’t let its size fool you—this park has a solid hill that’s perfect on a snowy afternoon. There’s also a playground, dog run, and year-round public bathroom.
Owl’s Head Park
Colonial Road and 68th Street, Sunset Park
On the border of Bay Ridge and Sunset Park, this park boasts not only an amazing skate park but a huge hill that seems to drop off into New York Harbor. It’s an exhilarating ride, indeed. Be aware that there are no public restrooms in Owl’s Head Park.
Prospect Park
Near the Tennis House at Prospect Park West and 9th Street
The hills here attract sledders from Flatbush, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Windsor Terrace, and beyond.
The most popular slope is near the old tennis house and the current picnic house (nearest entrance is on Prospect Park West and 9th Street), but if that’s too crowded, try the one in the meadow off Grand Army Plaza or the one behind the Picnic House, at the Third Street entrance.
Shore Road Park
Shore Road and 97th Street, Bay Ridge
The big hill here is hard to miss. It may be a bit steep for young kids and/or beginner sledders. The good news: There are three year-round bathrooms in the park.
Sunset Park
Interior of the park between 42nd and 43rd streets, Sunset Park
Here you’ll find one of the highest points on all of Long Island (meaning the entire fish-shaped glacial land mass from Brooklyn to Montauk Point).
Yes, this hill is a shredder’s paradise, and if it’s a clear day, Lady Liberty will be waving from the gorgeous vista of New York Harbor. Bathrooms are located in the Recreation Center.
Where to Go Sledding in Queens
Astoria Park
19th Street between Shore Boulevard (off Ditmars Boulevard), Astoria
With a panoramic view of the skyscrapers of midtown Manhattan in the south to the Hell Gate channel in the north, the scenery presents the diverse landscape of New York City. Enter at Ditmars Boulevard between 19th Street and Shore Boulevard.
If your little ones need a bathroom break during an afternoon of speeding down the slopes, head for the year-round restroom near the playground at Shore Boulevard (opposite 23rd Road).
Crocheron Park
35th Avenue (opposite Golden Pond), Bayside / Little Neck
There’s a sweet sledding hill on 35th Avenue near 216th Street. Bring the family dog along and enjoy the park’s dog run by the gazebos (west of 35th Avenue and Cross Island Parkway).
Lower Highland Park
Jamaica Avenue and Elton Street, Cypress Hills
Since this park is located on a high plateau that straddles Queens and Brooklyn, sledders are rewarded with stunning views of surrounding neighborhoods, the ocean, and nearby cemeteries. (Note that Highland is more easily accessible on the Brooklyn side.)
Kissena Park
Enter at Metcalf Avenue and 164th Street, East Flushing / Fresh Meadows
The hill is just east of Kissena Lake. There is a year-round bathroom located on the northeast edge of the park, near Oak Avenue. There’s also a playground nearby, at Rose and Oak avenues.
Bowne Park
Small hillside on the 155th Street side of the park, Flushing
Best for the little ones in your brood. A year-round bathroom is located in the park at 155th Street and 32nd Avenue
Forest Park
Mary Whelan Playground at 79th Street and Park Lane South, Kew Gardens / Forest Hills
Tots can tackle this hill easily. This park is also easily accessible from the Glendale, Richmond Hill, and Woodhaven neighborhoods.
The Mary Whelan Playground is 1 of 7 playgrounds in the park, which is also home to the Forest Park Carousel. There are also seven year-round bathrooms scattered throughout the park.
Juniper Valley Park
Juniper Boulevard North and South, near the Tennis Building at 75th Street, Middle Village
As one of Queens’ most popular parks, you might find a crowd here on a snowy weekend. A positive perk is the park’s two year-round bathrooms: one by the playground at 62nd Avenue and 80th Street and another in the park at Lutheran Avenue.
Where to Go Sledding in The Bronx
Shoelace Park
E 233rd St. & Bronx River Pkwy, Wakefield
This narrow park in the northern part of the Bronx is great for a walk, but also has some prime sledding spots. The best sledding is between 220th and 230th Streets, where there is a good hill for a long, hard ride! Owl’s Head Park is also nearby.
Van Cortlandt Park
Broadway & Van Cortlandt Park S, Kingsbridge
Van Cortlandt Park is the third largest park in NYC with a lot of history and natural beauty. It offers a bunch of gentle slopes for younger kids to enjoy. There is a golf course which you should avoid, however tempting it is!
Ewen Park
Riverdale Ave. & W 232nd St., Kingsbridge
Ewen Park is a smaller park, but its hill is for the adventurous! The hill is pretty steep and you have to bail out at the end but it is worth the adrenaline rush. Some also like to use the stairs as a hill, although that is not as safe.
Crotona Park
Charlotte St., Crotona Park
For those in the Bronx looking for snow day fun, Crotona Park is as beautiful and fun in winter as it is in every other season. Look for the slope behind Ballfield #3, you won’t regret it.
Claremont Park
Clay Ave &, 8016, E 170th St., Morrisania
Though more known for its pool than its sledding, Claremont Park is still a great local place to bring your kids and have a fantastic snow day.
Franz Sigel Park
Walton Ave. & Gerard Ave., West Concourse
Located right by Yankee Stadium, Franz Siegel Park offers a good stretch of open space for sledding. Head to 160th St between Grand Concourse and Walton Avenue for the best sledding spot in the park.
Where to Go Sledding in Staten Island
Clove Lakes Park
1150 Clove Road, Castleton Corners
Clove Lakes Park is the official spot in Staten Island for winter fun! It has plenty of recreation areas and ice skating to offer when your kids are done with sledding for the day. It is also quite beautiful as it is a protected Forever Wild site. Silver Lake Park is nearby.
Mount Loretto Unique Area
20 Kenny Rd., off of Hylan Boulevard
Mount Loretto is a nature lover’s paradise. Located on the South Shore, the natural area is home to more than 200 acres of forest, grasslands, wetlands and coastal shoreline. It also has lots of open, sprawling land that makes it a favorite locale for sledding in Staten Island after a snowstorm!
Conference House Park
298 Satterlee St.
Located at the southernmost point of New York State, Conference House Park has hills that aren’t too steep, so it’s a great place to introduce toddlers to sledding. Families can also enjoy scenic views of Raritan Bay and even see New Jersey across the water.
Victory Boulevard, Clove Road, Forest Avenue
The 209-acre Silver Lake Park is another one of Staten Island’s beautiful parks. Some of the hills here aren’t too steep, providing excellent sledding opportunities for kids of all ages and sledding experience. The park also has baseball fields, basketball courts, playgrounds, dog-friendly areas and more.
LaTourette Park & Golf Course
Forest Hill & London Rds, Rockland Ave
Technically, this is not an official NYC Parks sledding location, but the golf course’s hilly landscape draws in bundled-up crowds with sleds in tow after any significant snowfall hits Staten Island.
A version of this story first appeared on our sister publication newyorkfamily.com.
