Our guide to the best sledding hills in the Chicago
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Friday, November 18, 2011
Columbus thought the world was flat, and most Chicagoans feel the same way about their city. While Chicago is not known for its hilly landscape, there are a surprising number of vertical drops good enough for activating one of the best kids' winter activities: sledding.
Often, sledding and city are not hugely correlated. But children zooming down a man-made snowy hill with huge skyscrapers in the backdrop can be a part of Chicago winters.
For proof, we've compiled a comprehensive list of where to go and what to bring to sled in Chicago.
Erie Park
630 N. Kingsbury St.
Nestled on the east bank of the south branch of the Chicago River,
Erie Park turned from dumping grounds to a hilly paradise fit for
the little tot who's just learning what it means to "carry that
sled up the hill."
The river view at the end of the slide may help little ones focus
a bit more. Same with the promise of hot chocolate afterwards at
the nearby Caribou Coffee.
Oz Park
2021 N. Burling St.
What would Dorothy and her friends from Oz think if they knew that
the biggest attraction to their park in the winter was the small
but solid hill on the southwest corner of the park? On weekends,
find the hill at Oz Park packed with Lincoln Park families giving
their kids a taste of winter's best. Toto would approve.
Soldier Field
425 East McFetridge Drive
Long after the Bears have exhausted all possible playoff
opportunities for the season and outdoor Soldier Field shutters for
its winter hibernation, kids flock to the new, manmade sledding
grounds provided by the field. Think football is the only game in
town? Think again. With its 33-foot vertical drop, the hill at
Soldier Field never goes bare, even in a dry Chicago winter-manmade
snow machines are at the ready to make sure kids don't miss
football one bit.
Humboldt Park
1400 N. Sacramento Ave.
One of the city's little-known sledding gems, Humboldt Park offers
guests on the west side of the city the opportunity to get their
sled on. And when the little ones have tired of the up-and-down,
perhaps they can be coerced to take on the
flat-and-slippery-Humboldt Park also offers free ice skating to
those who still have the energy to move.
Montrose Harbor
601 W. Montrose Drive
This hill wasn't designated for sledding, but come winter, Cricket
Hill in Montrose Harbor is one of the city's premier destinations
for downhill fun. Situated with a million-dollar lakeshore view,
the hill proves the harbor is just as good in the winter as in the
summer.
Gompers Park
4222 W. Foster Ave.
A wetlands in the summer, Gompers Park covers nearly 39 acres in
the North Park neighborhood. Perfect for sledding novices, the park
has smaller hills for the snow cubs.
Horner Park
2741 W. Montrose Ave.
An anchor of the Irving Park neighborhood, Horner Park is mostly
known for its seasonal events. However, when the holiday
festivities are long gone, people flock to the hills in the park
for some downhill action.
Sara Fisher is a mother of two living in Roscoe Village. She also blogs at selfmademom.net.
See more of Sara's stories here.
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