Snowfall in St. Louis is unpredictable, so when the powder falls, you want to be ready. Please remember that sledding is permitted in all St. Louis County parks except Lone Elk, Veterans Memorial, and Kennedy.
Forest Park
Art Hill is the best known sledding hill in St. Louis, and it gives you a nice long ride from the statue of Saint Louis in front of the art museum down to the Grand Basin. We love this hill because it can handle a ton of thrill seekers, it’s easy to find, has nearby parking, and the city park department always blocks the Grand Basin with hay bales to keep sled riders safe. 1 Fine Arts.
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Suson Park
It’s not very steep, but Suson Park has a long, gentle hill near the playground that’s perfect for beginning sledders. 6073 Wells.
Sioux Passage Park
This county park in Florissant is a designated winter sports area where you can snowmobile, cross-country ski, and ride sleds. Check out “The Man Maker” hill, located south of the basketball court. 17930 Old Jamestown.
Deer Creek Park
Marshall Hill, the steep sledding hot spot in Webster Groves, is sure to please the more adventurous youngsters. Corner of Summit and Marshall.
Blanchette Park
Kids in St. Charles County say they have the best hill in the metro: Bum’s Hollow, a natural bowl shape collection of hills located at the rear of Blanchette Park. Each side of the bowl is a different level of difficulty—with all sledders racing to the middle. 1900 W. Randolph.
Glidden Park
Illinois might seem flat, but families have found an awesome hill in Glidden Park. The park allows sledding when there is more than two inches of snow on their super steep hill, but sleds made of wood or with metal runners are not permitted. Look for the hill by the Junior Service Pavilion. Intersection of Branch St. and Lebanon (Collinsville, Illinois).
Hidden Valley Ski Resort
Although it might be a departure from the free parks above, Hidden Valley is worth the trip and price of admission. If your little ones (or you) aren’t quite ready to ski or snowboard, then consider the Polar Plunge—the largest snow tubing hill in the state. Plus, you can warm up afterward at the café or by a bonfire. 17409 Hidden Valley, Eureka.
Denise Bertacchi is a mom on a mission to find all things fun for kids to do in St. Louis. Read more at stlmotherhood.com, or follow her at @stlmotherhood on Twitter and Instagram.
