Here Are the 12 Best Places To Go Sled Riding In Idaho This Winter

Sledding is one of those quintessential winter activities that no winter season is complete without, and Idaho's hilly, mountain-y, and totally tubular landscape is made for this nostalgic pastime. While skiing and snowboarding tend to be a big deal at our resorts and mountain getaways, sledding makes for an equally fantastic family day out. Fortunately, the best sledding spots in Idaho can be found in every corner of the Gem State. You just have to get away from the main roads and explore a bit! We've already done the hard part of powder-testing these spots for you, so here are some of Idaho's top-rated places for sledding, tubing, and good old-fashioned winter fun.

1. Idaho X-Sports Adventure Park, Garden Valley

Whether you’re a wintertime daredevil with a need for speed or simply an onlooker hoping to appreciate the lovely scenery, Idaho X-Sports has you covered. Multiple tubing lanes for both large groups and individuals barrel riders down a 900-foot slope and out into the valley clearing. Bonus points for the tube tow-rope and added warming hut! Fees apply.

Editor's Note: Unfortunately, the X-Sports Adventure Park is no longer operational. While we haven't visited for ourselves, readers note that the Terrace Lakes Resort has a sledding hill as well. Garden Valley is beautifully bedecked with snow every winter, so feel free to explore the area and let us know what you find!

2. Gateway Park at Eagle Island State Park, Eagle

The Treasure Valley's first and longest official tubing hill is nestled alongside a bevy of other attractions at Eagle Island State Park. Located just outside of Boise, this snow park offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing for all ages. Tubes are available with your daily ride fee as well!

3. Pepsi Goldrush, Bogus Basin

A generic red disc or classic sled are both good options when it comes to sledding, but tubing is another delightful way to speed down Idaho's hilly terrain. This tube-only hill at one of the Boise valley's favorite snowy getaways offers an 800-foot slope with a paddle tow. Tubes included in the daily fee. Reservations required.

6. Cherry Hill Park, Coeur d'Alene

Cherry Hill Park in Coeur d'Alene is a local favorite when it comes to sledding, and for good reason. But if the crowds get a little too overwhelming, CDA typically opens Lost Avenue and Boyd Avenue to enthusiastic sledders as well.

5. Steamboat Gulch, Idaho City

Whether you're visiting Idaho City for a stay in one of the town's backcountry yurts, or whether you're there to explore and play, Steamboat Gulch is yet another local favorite that hearkens back to simpler times. No tow ropes, no boundaries - just climbing and sledding until your frozen toes need a break. A nominal fee applies.

6. McCall Activity Barn, McCall

Leisurely, 800-foot tubing lanes with a vertical drop of 85 feet, alongside a toasty warming hut make up this delightful daytrip -made even more awesome by the "people tow" line up the hill. The Activity Barn also has groomed Nordic ski trails, a rail park, and a beginner ski slope. Fees apply, but you can show your Brundage season pass to get a discount.

7. Hermit's Hollow - Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Sandpoint

While the lanes may be shorter, the view is fantastic and the air is uber fresh! At over 300 feet long, the tubing hill at Schweitzer includes a tow rope, tubes, and a warming hut stocked with drinks and snacks. Fees apply, and reservations are required.

8. Ammon Park and Bartz Field, Pocatello

Ammon Park is another sledding hill in Idaho that seems like it was built for sled enthusiasts. This Pocatello park sits in a small valley ravine with hills of various sizes rising on all sides, perfect for switching up your sledding style and speed. Bartz Field is a more popular spot for the college-aged ISU crowd, but safety precautions should be followed to avoid hitting trees and obstacles.

9. East Fork Mink Creek Nordic Center, Pocatello

Located about seven miles from Pocatello. the East Fork Mink Creek Nordic Center is operated by the City of Pocatello, along with the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and volunteers from the Pocatello Cross-Country Ski Foundation. Operated under a special use permit through the USFS, it hosts approximately 20km of groomed skate and classic ski trails, as well as separate snowshoe trails and a sledding hill. For sledders, it is also home to a wicked hill that’s approximately 60 yards long, with unique banked corners that provide an extra challenge. Plus, distant mountain views, few crowds, and a warming hut nearby! A nominal fee applies for parking.

10. Farragut State Park, Athol

Farragut State Park is a beautiful 4,000-acre outdoor recreation area on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille in North Idaho. Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding are all major activities at Farragut State Park once the snow falls - each with its own distinct area of the park - but conditions vary due to its low elevation. Be sure to stop and drink in the beautiful mountain and lake views, however! Regular park use fees apply.

11. Magic Mountain, Kimberly

Located just an hour south of Twin Falls in Southern Idaho, Magic Mountain has a full-fledged tubing lift, a snow bus shuttle, and multiple lanes for tubing. Of course, Magic Mountain is also a fantastic overlooked ski destination, so don't limit yourself if you could use a weekend to chill (literally) in more ways than one.

12. Penny Hill, Sun Valley

For those who don't want to dish out a fortune, a popular spot in Sun Valley is Penny Hill, conveniently located at the corner of Sun Valley Road and Saddle Road. The top rises up about 200 feet above street level with a lower false peak about half as high for amateurs. Be careful not to hit it when coming down from the top! The slope can get icy, but that just satisfies your need for speed, right?

It's easy to find the perfect sledding spot in Idaho - the real challenge is nabbing a hill before the crowds come! If that's the case, sledding's dangerous relatives include ice-blocking, hooky-bobbing, and ATV-pulling. Which is your favorite?

For more cold weather goodness, with or without snow, this national reserve gets particularly magical in winter.