Sledding is one winter activity that is perfect for those who live in Massachusetts. There are endless sledding and tubing hills to choose from! This article has narrowed it down to thirteen sledding and tubing locations that you don’t want to miss out on trying this winter! So instead of hibernating this winter, round up the family and try one of these enjoyable sledding spots today.
1. Mount Hood Golf Course
Location
100 Slayton Rd, Melrose, MA 02176
Mount Hood Golf Course is located in northeastern Massachusetts by the town of Melrose. If you are coming from Boston you will head north on Highway 1 for about 10 miles until you hit Essex Street.
Hours
Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Cost
Free.
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This sledding spot is a beautiful green golf course in the summer, but once the snow covers the grass knolls in the winter, this place turns into a sledders paradise. In fact, this Mount Hood Golf Course has routinely been voted one of the best places to sled in Massachusetts.
The secret to its greatness lies in its history. Mount Hood used to be a ski resort and was operated from 1952 until 1971. It was eventually shut down and was converted into a park and golf course. The legacy of snow sports still lives on as it attracts sledders from all over Massachusetts to its large hills and thrilling slopes.
Things to Know
Mount Hood is a favorite for many sledders and can get quite busy. A word to the wise; if you want to beat the crowds, I suggest arriving earlier in the morning or later on in the evening.
Mount Hood Golf Course is also a great place to go cross country skiing and can be great for other snow activities. Many people like to build snow forts and snowmen, depending on how much snow is available.
2. Hospital Hill
Location
155 West St, Northampton, MA 01060
Hospital Hill is near the town of Northampton in the western part of Massachusetts. It is a two-hour drive from Boston and a one hour drive from Pittsfield.
Hours
Open 24 hours.
Cost
Free.
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Locals have been sledding Hospital Hill since the 1950s. It is a beloved and well-know sledding spot that some consider to be the best in western Massachusetts. In fact, back in the day, the Smith College Ski Team used to operate a tow rope that sledders could use. Sadly, the tow rope is gone, but the fun sledding hill is still alive and well.
The sledding hill provides a good-sized slope that is steep, but not so steep that it is dangerous or scary. It is literally the perfect hill. This is what makes it the most popular hill in the area.
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You can find this awesome sledding hill on the grounds of the former state hospital which is located just above Smith Colleges’ equestrian center. As mentioned earlier, this is a popular sledding hill and therefore can attract a crowd.
There is no need to worry though, there is plenty of parking and the hill is large enough to accommodate the many sledders that frequent this hill.
3. Forest Park
Location
200 Trafton Rd, Springfield, MA 01108
This sledding spot is located in the city of Springfield which is in south-central Massachusetts. You can find the 735-acre park to the east of I-91.
Hours
Daily from 8 am to 7:30 pm.
Cost
Free.
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This is one of the best sledding spots that Springfield has to offer. There are two main sledding areas that are located near the Barney Estate area (also near the park’s amphitheater). This spot will not disappoint!
Its hills are family-friendly and offer quite the ride. They aren’t extremely large and can by no means be considered small either. You will thoroughly enjoy hitting the slopes and one hill even has stairs to help you climb back up for another sledding run.
Things to Know
Forest Park is a good-sized park! Within its 735-acres of land, you can find beautiful natural features such as forests, ponds, streams, and beautiful views. You will definitely want to bring your camera so that you can capture the beauty of this park.
In addition to the scenery, there is also a zoo and education center. This is a perfect place that you can stop by after you are done sledding.
4. Boston Common
Location
139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111
Boston Common is located in the heart of Boston. When I say in the heart of Boston, I really mean it! IT is just down the road from the Old State House and the Paul Revere House.
Hours
Open 24 hours.
Cost
Free.
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This ornate and historic park once hosted the British Troops during the American Revolution but now it hosts thrill-seeking sledders. The most popular hill is located next to the Soldier and Sailors Monument. Their also multiple other sledding hills in the park that are worth checking out.
Things to Know
This park is loaded with things to see. It is actually the oldest city park in the United States, dating back to 1634. The grounds are very ornate and beautiful. If you are into American History, this is the place to be! There are tons of old structures and memorials that have placards with historical information to read.
I highly recommend walking the grounds of this park after you are done sledding. Who knows, it may even be a great learning opportunity for the little sledders out there.
5. Sheriff’s Meadow
Location
57 David Ave, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
If you happen to be in the Martha’s Vineyard area, Sheriff’s Meadow sledding area is located on the northern part of the island.
Hours
N/A
Cost
Free.
More Info
Anyone who’s visited the Martha’s Vineyard area knows that it is a lovely place. Sheriff’s Meadow does not disappoint! The sledding spot is absolutely gorgeous and features many rolling hills that offer a relaxing day of sledding.
There are various different hills to choose from that provide there perfect ride for anyone, regardless of their age. Once the meadow fills with snow, this area becomes a must-visit for every sledder.
Things to Know
This sledding area is part of the Sheriff’s Meadows Foundation which conserves the natural landscape and beauty of the Martha’s Vineyard. When you are sledding, be respectful to the land and clean up after yourself.
6. Prospect Hill Park
Location
322 Totten Pond Road, Waltham
Prospect Hill Park is west of Boston in the city of Waltham. You can find the park off of Totten Pond Road right by the Veterans Memorial Skating Rink.
Hours
N/A
Cost
Free.
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If you are looking for a steeper kind of sledding experience, this is your spot. The park is essentially located on a hillside and therefore features some potentially steep sledding spots. In fact, some of the best hills in this area are on a cliff-top ridge that provides a good view of Waltham, Watertown, and the whole Boston Basin.
Things to Know
As mentioned before, this area is steep, so be sure to sled safely and choose your hill wisely. After you are done sledding, you can go ice skating at the nearby Veterans Memorial Skating Rink or you can warm up at the local Starbucks (which is located off of Border Road).
7. Pete’s Hill
Location
14 Depot St, Sharon, MA 02067
This sledding hill is located in the southwest part of Massachusetts in a town called Sharon. You can find the hill by Sharon Center on Route 27.
Hours
N/A
Cost
Free.
More Info
Pete’s Hill (also known as Peter’s Hill), is a great place to take your kids sledding. The hill is wide open and offers plenty of room to slide down, free of obstacles. This sledding spot is perfect for the kiddos because it offers a long ride at a minimal grade.
Be sure to bundle up warm and bring some snacks and drinks.
Things to Know
Pete’s Hill is located in a neighborhood area, so parking can get a little dicey (depending on how many people show up to sled). If you and your family get cold while sledding or need to use the bathroom, I suggest stopping by the CVS just up the road off of S Main St.
8. President’s Lawn at Tufts University
Location
55 Professors Row Medford, MA 02155
President’s Lawn is located on the campus of Tufts University in Medford. Medford is located northeast of Boston near Cambridge and Somerville.
Hours
N/A
Cost
Free.
More Info
You don’t have to be Tufts University student to enjoy this sledding hill. Both students and families love this plot of land because of the steep hill and high speeds that you can reach. It is quite steep but the University has your safety in mind. They have been nice enough to set up haystack around the trees and fences to minimize the risk of running into them.
That being said, this hill may not bee 100% suitable for little kids because of how steep it is.
Things to Know
Like most universities in the Boston area, Tufts University has a beautiful campus. It is fun to just walk around campus and explore some of the different areas.
9. Cable Hill
Location
Cable Hill can be found off of County Road in Ipswich. The hill itself is by the Messelaar Bulb Co. plant nursery and the local First Presbyterian Church. There is no official address for this sledding spot, however, there is a pin on google that shows where it is.
Hours
This is not an official park, so there are no set hours.
Cost
Free.
More Info
Many Ipswich locals can tell you that this is one of the best sledding hills in the area. If you’re looking for a variety of hills to choose from, this is the place you should go. There is a good mix of both steep spots and gentler spots. This is a very family-friendly place to go sledding, so be sure to bring the kiddos along.
Things to Know
Cable Hill can be a little tricky to find. I highly suggest following the pin on google maps to find out where the hill is. Also, keep in mind that there are lots of trails near the sledding hill that you might want to check out.
10. Nashoba Valley Tubing Park
Location
179 Great Rd, Littleton, MA 01460
Nashoba Valley Tubing Park is located in the northwestern region of the state, near the town of Littleton. You can find the tubing park off of I-495; close to the Nashoba Valley Ski Area.
Hours
Hours change from season to season. For most recent hours visit the Nashoba Valley Ski Area website.
Cost
Individual tickets are $35 per person and $165 for groups of six. Reservations can be made online.
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Nashoba Valley is a great place to go if you want to have a fun tubing experience. You will thoroughly enjoy cruising down the slopes of the tubing park while gazing at the beautiful scenery.
Noshoba Valley is the largest tubing park in the New England area! It boasts 18 groomed tubing lanes and four lifts. These hills are exhilarating and will get your adrenaline pumping. You will want to get as many runs in as possible in your two-hour tubing session.
Things to Know
Nashoba Valley’s tubing area also has an onsite lodge that you can kick back and relax in after a long day of sledding. There is even a full-service bar, TVs, and a snack bar.
If you are bored of tubing, I suggest you check out the Nashoba Valley Ski Area which is right down the road from the tubing park. This ski area is loads of fun and even offers a terrain park, ski/snowboard lessons, and much more.
For information on ticket prices, hours, etc. visit the Nashoba website.
11. Berkshire East Tubing Park
Location
66 Thunder Mountain Rd, Charlemont, MA 01339
Berkshire East is located in the beautiful northwest corner of the state. The mountain resort is in Charlemont near the Savoy Mountain State Forest.
Hours
Open weekends from 10 am to 4 pm.
Cost
Tickets are $22 for tubers 13+ and $17 for tubers 12 years old and under.
More Info
This tubing park offers three lanes and a 450-foot hill that is sure to give you a thrill. This tubing park has great “non-corporate atmosphere” that is present throughout the whole resort. It is a wonderful place to unwind from the stresses of life and enjoy valuable time with your loved ones.
Things to Know
This prime tubing spot is right next to the Berkshire East Ski Area which is a great spot to catch some great downhill fun on your skis or snowboard.
Berkshire East is a very interesting resort, in that, it is the only resort/ski area to generate 100% of its electricity from onsite renewable energy. That is quite a remarkable feature.
12. Ski Butternut Tubing Center
Location
380 State Rd, Great Barrington, MA 01230
Ski Butternut is located in the southwest corner of Massachusetts, just south of Pittsfield and Stockbridge. The tubing and ski area can be found between East Mountain State Forest and Beartown State Forest. The tubing center is on the far-left side of the main parking lot.
Hours
Hours of operation are provided during the winter season on the tubing center’s website.
Cost
Tickets are $10 for a 3-hour session on Friday nights and $25 for a 2-hour session on weekends and holiday. Season passes are sold for $99.
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This 8 lane tubing park will have you grinning from ear to ear as you are fly down the slopes. The best part about this park is that you don’t have to drag the tubes back up the hill. There is a magic carpet lift that shoots you and your tube back up the hill. This allows you to get tons of runs in, no matter how long your session is.
The runs at Butternut are nice and smooth due to the snow-making and grooming that the park uses.
Things to Know
Ski Butternut has 100-acres of terrain that is perfect for skiing and snowboarding. They have a total of 11 lifts and all the trails are equipped with snowmaking machines. You don’t ever have to worry about there being a bad snow day at Butternut. I highly recommend going skiing or snowboarding here.
13. Ski Ward Tubing Area
Location
1000 Main St, Shrewsbury, MA 01545
Ski Ward Tubing Area is located in the eastern part of the state near the town of Shrewsbury. The tubing area is only 15 minutes away from Worcester near Dean and Eaton Pond Park.
Hours
Open weekdays from 4 pm to 8 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
Cost
Weekday tickets are $15 for a 1-hour session and $20 for a 2-hour session. Weekend, Holiday, and School Vacation tickets for a two-hour session are $30.
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Ski Ward Tubing features 10 tubing lanes, 2 lifts, and over 200 tubes! The hill at this tubing place is steep enough to entertain everyone. At Ski Ward, you can enjoy tubing even when the weather gets warm.
They offer summer tubing by using a special material that replicates the texture of winter snow.
Things to Know
Ski Ward is obviously a great place to go skiing and snowboarding as well. Its 45-acre park includes 9 ski slopes with 4 lifts. In addition to that, there is a restaurant near the skiing and tubing area that you can stop by if you get hungry.