When the snow falls in the Twin Cities, it sticks around for a while. Rather than just sitting around, watching Netflix, and dreaming of spring, why not get outside and enjoy the what winter has to offer!
There’s no better way to enjoy winter than by going sledding. No need to fret! I have narrowed your options down to twelve sledding spots in and around the St. Paul area that you will want to try this winter.
1. Baker Park
Location
209 W. Page St. Saint Paul, MN 55107
Baker Park (not to be confused with Baker Park Reserve) is located in the St. Paul area and is only 10 minutes south of downtown. You will find the park and hill right across from Cherokee Height Elementary.
Hours
Call 651-266-6400 for specific hours.
More Info
Baker Park is a hidden gem amongst sledding hills. The park itself is rather small, but the designated sledding hill is nice and steep. This hill is sure to give you a fast and exhilarating ride. That being said, Baker Park may not be the best sledding spot for the little ones due to its steepness.
Additional Things to Know
This park is managed by St. Paul Public Schools and also has many other options for activities. It offers a good size baseball field, a basketball court, a playground, and much more. When you go sledding here, be sure to dress warm and don’t forget to bring snacks and water.
2. Battle Creek Recreation Center
Location
75 S. Winthrop St. Saint Paul, MN 55119
This sledding spot is located even closer to downtown St. Paul than Baker Park is. Within just an 8-minute drive from downtown, you will find the Battle Creek Recreation Center and its park close to the Highwood Hills Elementary.
Hours
Daily from 6 am to 11 pm.
More Info
There is a lot of debate amongst those who live in the Twin Cities about which sledding hill is the best. Many consider Battle Creek to be one of the best hills in St. Paul.
This sledding hill is very steep and gives a long and enjoyable ride to the bottom. You can even stay late into the evening and sled. There are lights that illuminate the hill until 9 pm every night and make for an unforgettable sledding experience.
Additional Things to Know
Sledding isn’t the only winter activity that people enjoy here. Battle Creek also has many cross country skiing trails that you can explore. In addition to that, you won’t have to worry about competing for parking. The parking lot at this sledding hill is huge.
3. Como Golf Course
Location
1431 Lexington Pkwy N, St Paul, MN 55103
Como Ski Center and Golf Course is located 20 minutes east of St. Paul in the city of Lexington.
Hours
Daily from 6 am to 9 pm.
More Info
In the summer you are likely to see people teeing up and trying to hit a hole in one on this beautiful golf course. However, in the winter this golf course turns into a winter wonderland that attracts sledders of all ages.
This course offers tons of hills to choose from! The hills here differ in size, height, and steepness, which makes it a great place for sledders of all ages. It is not unlikely that you will have a sledding hill all to yourself if you choose to visit. Como Golf Course is a must do when it comes to sledding.
Additional Things to Know
If you get bored of sledding (which is almost impossible at this place), Como also offers a Ski and Snowboard Center. This center includes 15 skiable acres with a 150-foot vertical drop. In addition to that, there are over 5 kilometers of groomed cross country trails.
Ski and snowboard rentals are available and day pass range from $12 to $15.
4. Elm Creek Park Reserve
Location
12400 James Deane Pkwy, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Elm Creek sledding area is a little ways off the beaten path. It is located 40-45 minutes northwest of St. Paul in Maple Grove.
Hours
Open Wednesday-Friday from 4 pm to 9 pm and Saturday-Sunday from 10 am to 9 pm.
Hours also change depending on holidays. For more detailed information visit their official website.
More Info
If you want to have an extremely fun tubing experience, Elm Creek is the place to take your family. It may not be the traditional sledding that you are used to, but it is absolutely worth it.
This tubing park comes with groomed tubing runs and freshly made snow.
The tubing hill is split up into multiple lanes that shoot you down the 10-story ride until you reach the bottom. The best part about this tubing park is that you don’t have to worry about walking back up the hill.
There is a moving sidewalk that carts you and your tube back up to the top. This allows you to slide down the hill as many times as you want!
Additional Things to Know
Elm Creek also offers downhill skiing, snowboarding, and cross country skiing. Ticket/rental prices and hours are available on their website.
Elm Creek is very large and also offers many other activities that are more suitable for the warmer months. Some of the activities include archery, disc golf, swimming, and there are multiple trails and nature areas.
5. Highland Park Community Center
“It was so fun!! Even though you can get tired of walking up and down the hill, it is really worth it!“
Cardinal Slimez
Location
1546 W Highland Pkwy, St Paul, MN 55116
This sledding spot is a 10-15 minute drive from downtown St. Paul. The sledding hill is located under two water towers that are near the community center.
Hours
N/A
More Info
Highland Park “water tower hill” is a favorite sledding spot among St. Paul locals. The hill is reasonably steep and offers a fast and thrilling ride that is sure to put a smile on you and your kids’ faces. This place is perfect for both adults and children.
The slope is perfect because it is wide open, has no obstacles, and offers a perfect length of flat ground at the bottom of the hill to stop.
Additional Things to Know
As mentioned earlier, this sledding spot is a local favorite and therefore can get pretty crowded (especially on the weekends). I recommend getting their early to beat the crowds. Also, don’t forget to dress warm and be safe!
6. Staring Lake Park
Location
14800 Pioneer Trail Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Staring Lake Park is 30 minutes southeast of St. Paul in the town of Eden Prairie. The park is right across from Flying Cloud Airport.
Hours
Daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The warming house hours are Monday-Friday from 4 pm to 8 pm, Saturday from 1 pm to 8 pm, and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm.
More Info
This sledding spot is located in a beautiful, scenic area that features lots of trees and even a lake.
The Staring Lake sledding hill is a 700-foot hill that is perfect for sledding because it provides a fast and fun ride. In addition to that, there is also a warming house located in the park. This is such a great place to relax and thaw out your frozen fingers and toes after a long sledding session.
Additional Things to Know
Staring Lake is not only a great place to sled, but it is also a great place to go skiing and cross country skiing. In fact, the local high school often uses Staring Lake as a place for their Nordic Ski Team to practice.
I highly suggest checking the Staring Lake website out for more information.
7. Frost Lake Park
Location
1518 E. Idaho Ave. Saint Paul, MN 55106
Frost Lake park is a 12-minute drive north of downtown St. Paul. The park is located in the Hillcrest neighborhood right by Frost Lake Elementary School.
Hours
N/A
More Info
Frost Lake park is the perfect place to go sledding if you have little kids. The hills in this park are very gentle but are still big enough for your kids to have a great time and make memories. So load the sleds in the car and head on over to this sledding spot today!
This is not the best location for those who are seeking big thrills, but it is still a great place to go if you don’t want to travel too far out of town.
Additional Things to Know
If your kids get tired of sledding, Frost Lake has a playground and various fields that are great for other snow play activities. There is plenty of room to do things like build a snowman or have a spontaneous snowball fight.
8. McMurray Athletic Fields
Location
1155 Jessamine Ave. W. Saint Paul, MN 55103
This sledding spot is a 10-15 minute drive from downtown St. Paul. The hills can be found in the southeast corner of Como Regional Park.
Hours
Daily from 8 am to 4 pm.
More Info
Apart from being a great place to play baseball, softball, and soccer, McMurray Athletic Fields is also an awesome area to catch some major speed while sledding. The hill in this area is steep and fairly tall. It is a wonderful hill for adults and older kids but could be a little too much for younger children.
Additional Thing to Know
McMurray Athletic Fields is a popular place to play broomball or boot hockey. It has a rink that is worth checking out after you have gotten your fill of sledding.
9. Hyland Park
Location
10145 Bush Lake Rd. Bloomington, MN 55438
This park is located 25-30 minutes southwest of St. Paul in the town of Bloomington. Parking for the park is located on the southern end near the Hyland Greens Golf Course. There is a sledding hill located by the Richardson Nature Center.
Hours
Daily from 5 am to 10 pm.
More Info
Hyland Park is massive! It is a part of the Three Rivers Park District System and offers a slew of hills that all differ in size and steepness.
The best sledding hill is near the big play area that is often referred to as chutes and ladders. This hill is the steepest one but there are many others to choose from. You may have to hike a little bit to find some good hills to slide down but the long walk is well worth it!
Additional Things to Know
Because Hyland Park is so big, I would suggest going online and looking at a map of the park before you go. It is very easy to get lost. Plus, you might just discover that Hyland Park offers an activity that you’ve been dying to do.
10. Adams Hill Park
Location
7200 Washburn Ave South Richfield, MN 55423
Located near the Southdale YMCA in Richfield is Adams Hill Park. It is about 20 minutes southeast of St. Paul off of Penn Ave S.
Hours
Open daily from 5 am to 10 pm.
More Info
Adams Hill Park is one of those hidden gems that many people pass over. Geographically, this park is a large bowl-shaped plot of land that was once a marshy stormwater holding area. Once it was drained and turned into a park, it became one of the most perfect areas for sledding.
There are multiple hills with varying steepness and is an awesome place for all age groups to go sledding.
Additional Things to Know
Remember to dress warm and bring lots of water. If the kiddos need to use the bathroom or need to warm up their little fingers you can try taking them to the YMCA that is located just south of the park.
Also, this sledding spot is located close to many restaurants (Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, McDonald’s, etc.) that you can swing by after you are done sliding down the hills.
11. Waconia Sledding Hill
Location
8170 Paradise Ln, Waconia, MN 55387
Waconia Sledding Hill is 45-55 minutes east of St. Paul in the town of Waconia. It is also a mile or two down the road from Carver Park Reserve.
Hours
Daily from 9 am to Sunset.
More Info
If you are willing to go the extra mile (literally) and make a longer drive, Waconia Sledding Hills is the place to go. The hill is gigantic and clocks in at 80 feet in length.
You will have your choice of two runs to go down; one is smooth and straight, while the other shakes things up a bit by being more rugged and bumpy.
This sledding hill requires you to bring your own sled in order to enjoy the runs. I would suggest buying a tube for this hill. Tubes provide the fastest and most comfortable ride. Also, the hill does not have a tow rope or lift of any kind, so be ready to get some exercise in as you walk up the hill.
Additional Things to Know
This hill is not supervised, so be sure to practice safe sledding. In addition to that, snowboards, skis, toboggans, or sleds with metal runners are not allowed.
12. Marthaler Park
Location
1625 Humboldt Ave West St. Paul, MN 55118
Marthaler Park is super close to downtown St. Paul. It just an 8-10 minute drive south of the city area.
Hours
Daily from 8 am to 10 pm.
More Info
This 34-acre park offers a stupendous sledding hill that is located close to the parking area. The park itself is very beautiful and is quite enjoyable to look at while sledding. This is a great place to enjoy the outdoors with your family this winter.
Additional Things to Know
If you want to take a break from sledding, Marthaler Park offers numerous picnic shelters and even has a playground that your kids can play on.