17 spots to go sledding in New York City

Sledding has long been a New York City pastime during the long winter months, thanks to the many hills and slopes found in parks across the five boroughs. With the first real snowstorm in two years upon us, it’s the perfect chance to escape your apartment and get some fresh air and winter fun. Ahead, find the best places to go sledding in every borough, from scenic Sunset Park in Brooklyn to the natural rolling hills of Manhattan’s Inwood Hill Park.

Photo of Bronx Park by Traci Lawson on Flickr

Bronx Park
Home to both the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx Park is one of the largest public parks in the city. In addition to those cultural institutions, the park has multiple ball fields, hiking trails, playgrounds, and scenic walking paths along the Bronx River. According to Bronx Mama, a hill at Lydig Avenue in Allerton is perfect for sledding with little ones.

Claremont Park
Conveniently located a block from the B and D trains at 170th Street, the 17-acre Claremont Park’s rolling hills are ideal for snow activities. According to NYC Parks, head inside the park at 172nd Street between Teller Avenue and Clay Avenue for the best sledding conditions.

Franz Sigel Park
In the South Bronx around the corner from Yankee Stadium, Franz Sigel Park offers a large leafy stretch of open space. After a snowstorm, check out 160th Street between Grand Concourse and Walton Avenue for the best sledding spot in the park.

Shoelace Park
Located within the 23-mile-long Bronx River Park, Shoelace Park has a number of hills made for sledding. NYC Parks recommends finding a spot anywhere between 220th and 230th Streets along Bronx Boulevard.

Owl’s Head
Bay Ridge’s Owl’s Head Park is one of the best places to ski, sled, and tube, with its long sloping hills and scenic skyline views. Enter the Brooklyn park at Colonial Road and 68th Street for prime snow fun.

Fort Greene Park
Originally the site of forts built for the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, Fort Greene Park now provides Brooklynites with a hilly oasis with lots of trees, tennis courts, a playground, and historic sites like the Prison Ship Martyrs Memorial. Head to the park’s entrance at Willougby Avenue to find its four different slopes.

Prospect Park
For winter activities, you can’t go wrong at Prospect Park, from ice skating and curling at LeFrak Center at Lakeside to scenic snowy walks at Lookout Hill, one of the highest points in Brooklyn. Full of steep slopes and rolling hills, the park is also perfect for sledding. According to the Prospect Park Alliance, sledders should check out Long Meadow (especially the incline at the Tennis House), Lookout Hill, Drummer’s Grove, and the short slope next to the restored Endale Arch.

Sunset Park
One of the most scenic parks in Brooklyn is Sunset Park, located in its neighborhood namesake. From its highest point, visitors can see Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and beyond to Staten Island and New Jersey. To go sledding with a view, enter the elevated park between 42nd and 43rd Streets.

Photo of Central Park sledders by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

Carl Schurz Park
The public park that is home to the Mayor’s official residence, Gracie Mansion, is also a great option for Upper East Siders looking to hit the slopes. Just north of Gracie Mansion, find a prime spot to sled at 89th Street and East End Avenue.

Central Park
There’s no doubt that Pilgrim Hill is the most popular spot for sledding in Central Park, with throngs of New Yorkers found sliding down its slopes any time there’s a snowstorm. Find the favorite sledding spot just north of the park’s 72nd Street entrance at 5th Avenue. Cedar Hill, located between 76th and 79th Streets on the east side, is another solid spot.

Morningside Park
The city’s Parks Department recommends visiting the Upper Manhattan park at 110th Street, 113th Street and Morningside Avenue, and 122nd Avenue and Morningside Avenue for the most fun places to sled. The neighborhood experts at West Side Rag suggest sledding at a hill below St. John the Divine near 114th Street for ” a really nice view of the Cathedral.”

Inwood Hill Park
Manhattan’s largest and last remaining natural forest/ salt marsh offers one of the most unique sledding experiences. The largely natural, non-landscaped park contains a number of steep hills and slopes made to enjoy for a full day. The serene views of the Hudson River don’t hurt the experience, either.

Photo of Astoria Park by Jason Eppink on Flickr

Astoria Park
While the 60-acre Astoria Park is known for being home to the city’s oldest and largest pool, during the winter months, the park offers a number of locations to go sledding. Situated along the East River and stretching between Astoria Park South and Ditmars Boulevard, the waterfront park offers views of Midtown, the Triborough Bridge, and Hell Gate Bridge. Enter at Ditmars Boulevard and head to the park’s South Hill for some winter fun.

Forest Park
Queens residents should check out nearby Forest Hills for great sledding. The borough’s third-largest park offers multiple hills from which to choose, but the Parks Department recommends the slopes by the Mary Whelan Playground at 79th Street and Park Lane.

Juniper Valley Park
Located at the center of the Middle Village neighborhood, Juniper Valley Park is a popular green space during every season. After a snowstorm, expect a crowd at the expansive hill near the Tennis Building at 75th Street.

Kissena Park
Just east of Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Kissena Park offers over 230 acres of outdoor fun and recreation and is home to the city’s only surviving cycling track. For optimal sledding conditions, enter at Metcalf Avenue and 164th Street, just east of Kissena Lake.

Clove Lakes Park
There’s no shortage of wide-open space on Staten Island, the city’s greenest borough. For snow day sledding, the city recommends checking out Clove Lakes Park, home to a number of lakes and ponds, recreation fields, and the borough’s largest living thing, a 107-foot-tall, 300-year-old tulip tree. Enter the park at Martling and Slosson Avenues to start your snow day adventure.

Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published on February 11, 2021, and has since been updated.