Ask Chicagoist: Where Can I Go Sledding?
By Thales Exoo in Miscellaneous on Dec 5, 2007 10:32PM
Dear Chicagoist,
The first snow storm of this season led me to wonder — are there any places in the city where one could go sledding? I'm fishing for something to do during snow storms while I "work" from home.
Signed,
Who says snow days are only for grade schoolers?
Hi there!
Ah, sledding. Reminds us of childhood snowy days, getting all bundled up to go out into the cold, out-of-control sleds, flying face-first into bushes and brambles.... Coordination, our friends, has never been a key Chicagoist trait. The hot chocolate afterwards, now that we can get behind.
Soldier Field's renovation brought with it some new landscaping, including a sledding hill to the southeast of the stadium. It's 33 feet tall with a 220 foot slope, and apparently when it doesn't snow enough the Park District makes snow for it, so you can sled all winter long.
The Forest Preserve has a few locations in city limits (and many outside) that are designated sledding hills, where sledding is allowed from 8 a.m. to sunset when there's enough snow. There are hills at Dan Ryan Woods at 87th Street and Western, Indian Road Woods at Central Avenue and Caldwell Avenue, and Jensen Slides Area at Devon and Milwaukee.
There's a hill called Cricket Hill at Montrose Harbor, east of Lake Shore Drive. It's not actually meant for sledding, but it's used that way quite actively anyway. Other parks with sledding hills include Horner Park at 2741 W. Montrose, Warren Park at 6601 N. Western, Cornell Park at 5473 S. Cornell, Stout Park at 5446 S. Greenwood, and Robichaux Park at 9247 S. Eggleston.
Evanston has James Hill, otherwise known as Mount Trashmore, at Oakton and Dodge. It's about 200 feet long at a 45 degree slope.
We'll probably forgo the sledding for warmth, but where would you send our friend sledding?
Image via shekay.
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