By Anna Berend
Before I had kids who are Minnesota born, this Texas girl had never known the thrill of whipping down a steep, slippery, snowy hill on a flimsy piece of molded plastic. It’s cold; it’s exhilarating; it’s addicting; and it’s a pain to trudge back up the tall hill as frigid air nips at your face all the while pulling the sled behind, but the ride down is so enchanting that you will do it over and over and over again.

The conditions and skill levels of the hills vary, just as ski slopes do, from easy greens to death trap black diamonds. However, you won’t find the degree of difficulty posted anywhere in these verdant city and district parks turned white and smooth with thick blankets of snow, masking the true nature of the landscape below.

These hills are unlit and unmanaged, unless otherwise noted so glide, spin and bumpity-bump down these icy runs at your own risk, but based on word-of-mouth, these are the best hills around. There are hundreds of terrific sledding hills in the Twin Cities. Think of this as a starting place and please leave a comment, adding your favorite sledding hill to the list.

Comstock

Staring Lake

14800 Pioneer Trail
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
952-949-8300
Hours: Mon–Fri: 4 p.m.–8 p.m.; Sat: 1p.m.–8 p.m.; Sun: 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
Call for Holiday Hours
Website

This 700-foot hill opens in December at the start of school winter break and remains open until mid-February. There is a supervised warming house available for warming up in between icy cold trips down the hill.

Thinkstock

Neill Park

13501 Upton Ave
Burnsville, MN 55337
952-895-4521
Hours: Mon-Sun: 5 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Website

Between the sports fields, you’ll find a great sledding hill in this Burnsville Park. Drawing from the many lovely, hilly neighborhoods in the area, this hill is not as large as some, but is highly suggested by those who know it.

Design Pics/Michael Interisano

Marthaler Park

1625 Humboldt Ave
West St. Paul, MN 55118
651-552-4100
Website

This large park offers a grand hill for sledding. This hill comes highly recommended. There is a parking lot conveniently located nearby, as well. Call for hours.

Thinkstock

Como Park Golf Course

Corner of N. Chelsea and W. Arlington Ave.
St. Paul, MN
651-488-9673
Website

This golf course turned sledding dream is located in Como Park. There are long hills, drops and bowl –shaped slides, which means fun for all ages. Call for hours and reservations.

Steve Mason

South Valley Park

2810 70th St. (70th St. & Cahill)
Inver Grove Heights, MN
651-554-3440
Website

As the name of the park implies, there’s a valley, which means there must be hills too. Once the snow arrives, this park is home to a large sledding hill, popular with those nearby. Call for hours.

Thinkstock

Adams Hill Park

7200 Washburn Ave South
Richfield, MN 55423
612-861-9385
Hours: Mon-Sun: 5 a.m.–10 p.m.

This large bowl shaped park has hills of varying angles for every age. Once a marshy storm water holding area, this park is now a perfect spot for sledding. Conveniently located on the borders of Richfield and Edina it’s often missed by those passing by. It’s located directly behind the Southdale YMCA.

Thinkstock

Hyland Park

10145 Bush Lake Rd.
Bloomington, MN 55438
763-694-7687
Hours: Mon–Sun: 5 a.m.–10 p.m.
Website

Hyland is a huge park in the Three Rivers Park District system with lots of hills of different sizes. It’s a bit more of a hike from the parking area to the hills, but well worth it. The steepest and best hill is near Chutes and Ladders play area.

Thinkstock

Lyndale Farmstead Park

3900 Bryant Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55409
612-370-4948
Hours: Mon–Sun: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Website

This park located on the side of a hill has an excellent sledding hill, called King’s Hill in reference to the original owner William S. King. King’s Hill is located directly behind the Theodore Wirth House and is a popular sledding location in this South Minneapolis neighborhood.