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Where to Go Sledding in the NYC Area

Where to Go Sledding in the NYC Area

Find out where to sled with your kids in your neighborhood, then grab your Flexible Flyer and head out for an afternoon of downhill fun!


Kids take their snowstorms very seriously, because snow means sledding! 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 favorite cafés in near you! Just make sure to stay safe when sledding/ And if your kids want more of a thrill, check out our favorite nearby snow tubing destinations.

Where to Go Sledding in Manhattan

The New York City Parks mandate that 4-6 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.

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. 

Cedar Hill
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.

RELATED: Indoor and Outdoor Ice-Skating Rinks in the New York Area

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 75th 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
If the snow decides to come down—really come down—the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation will host a Snow Day sleigh-riding fest here (Jamaica Avenue and Elton Street) featuring sleds, music, and free hot chocolate. When it snows, check nycgovparks.org for a Snow Day announcement.

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 Westchester County

Croton Gorge Park
Route 129, Cortlandt
In the winter, the park boasts open areas for cross-country skiing, plus it’s a favorite spot for kids to go sledding.

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
Route 35 and 121 South, Cross River
The largest park in Westchester County, this is the only location that requires a parking fee on weekends in the winter: $5 with Park Pass, $10 without Park Pass. 

Dunwoodie
Wasylenko Lane, Yonkers
Housed at the top of Dunwoodie Heights, this golf course features steep slopes, which are perfect for sledding. Sledding is permitted only when the golf course is closed for the season. 

Mohansic Golf Course 
Baldwin Road, Yorktown Heights
The rolling hills and steep slopes that make this a challenging golf course are also what makes it a prime sledding spot! Sledding is permitted only when the golf course is closed for the season.

Saxon Woods
Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale
Sledding is permitted only when the golf course is closed for the season. 

Where to Go Sledding in Rockland County

Veterans Memorial Park
81 Hunt Road, Orangeburg
This park has a great sledding hill, with two slopes that end in the soccer fields, so it’s a safe option for kids. Plus, the park has good parking.

Bear Mountain State Park
Route 9W North, Bear Mountain
The hill just beyond the skating rink is a prime spot for sledding, plus you can get hot cocoa to go from the Hiker Café to warm up on your way home.

Where to Go Sledding in Nassau County

Bethpage State Park
Bethpage Parkway, Farmingdale
This hill is located on one of the park’s famously designed golf courses, which was home to a PGA Championship golf tournament. No inflatable sleds or tubes allowed.

Cedar Creek Park
Merrick Road, Seaford
Sledding hills are open in January and February, weather permitting.

Where to Go Sledding in Suffolk County

Bald Hill
Near Ocean Avenue, Farmingville
Bald Hill, formerly a small skiing area, is one of the highest points on Long Island, behind Jayne's Hill in Huntington and nearby Telescope Hill.

Heckscher State Park
Heckscher Parkway, Field 1, East Islip
This park as many sledding spots to enjoy!

Hoyt Farm Town Park
200 New Highway, Commack
The park is open 8am to dusk. Non-residents may only park in the lot when they are the guest of a permit-holding resident and will be charged a $12 parking fee. A permit can be purchased at the Smithtown Parks Department.  

Islip Grange Park
10 Broadway Ave., Sayville
This favorite sledding spot features a gentle hill that’s great for all ages and abilities, whether your kid's a speedster or just starting out.

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