I Don’t Ski, but the Snow Tubing in South Dakota Is Incredible

It’s snowy out there in South Dakota, y’all. For some, winter means hiding under blankets, pretending cocoa counts as exercise, and scrolling through Instagram feeds full of snow-covered wonderlands. For others, winter is an open invitation to strap on boots, breathe in crisp, icy air, and find joy sliding across white hills at full speed. Snowmobiling, skiing, ice skating—they all have their charm—but my personal obsession? Snow tubing.

And there’s one place that makes it impossible to resist: Great Bear Ski Valley in Sioux Falls. Nestled just a few minutes from downtown, Great Bear sprawls across 220 acres of hills, valleys, and winding trails. The crown jewel, Kirby Family Tubing Park, serves up lanes that streak straight down the hill, each run leaving you whooping, laughing, and maybe questioning your life choices... all in the best way possible. If skiing is a test, snow tubing is recess, homework tossed aside, adrenaline included.

The park isn’t small-scale fun either. Lanes are meticulously maintained for smooth, fast rides, and multiple sessions run daily: morning from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., afternoon from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online, ensuring you don’t waste precious minutes waiting in line. Only one rider per tube keeps things safe and chaos-free, while helmets are available for anyone nervous about catching an unexpected face-plant. Nighttime brings Lazer Tubing, a glow-in-the-dark, music-pumping experience with neon lights dancing across the snow. It’s like a winter rave on a hill... and yes, you can take your bragging rights home in photos.

Sioux Falls adds a touch of flavor to a winter adventure. Walk through Falls Park, where the Big Sioux River freezes into sparkling icy patterns around rugged quartzite cliffs. Stop for a warming coffee at Queen City Bakery, or head to The Smoked Culture for a plate of sausage and pretzels that could fuel a full day of sledding. Art lovers should wander the SculptureWalk, where metal and stone figures punctuate snowy sidewalks, while history buffs can spend an hour at the Old Courthouse Museum, imagining 19th-century life in the city. All of this sits within 15 minutes of Great Bear, making it easy to mix sightseeing with tubing.

Beyond the tubes, Great Bear’s winter trails offer something slower, quieter, and equally scenic. Ralph and Doris Wallin Nature Trail loops nearly four miles through wooded hills, open fields, and gentle valleys. Snow clings to tree branches like sugar frosting, the silence broken only by your boots crunching through fresh powder. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails provide opportunities to explore the terrain at your own pace, offering a full sensory picture of South Dakota’s winter beauty.

Visiting South Dakota isn’t just about seeing snow... it’s about experiencing it. Plan a weekend in Sioux Falls: explore Falls Park’s frozen waterfalls, grab a hearty lunch downtown, then strap into a tube at Great Bear Ski Valley. The hill takes over from there, propelling you downhill with joy, laughter, and that brief, brilliant sense of flying. By the end, you’ll be exhilarated, maybe a little tired, but completely alive.

So grab a coat, snag your tickets online, and let Great Bear Ski Valley show you why snow tubing in South Dakota is so addictive. After all, it’s snowy out there in South Dakota, y’all—and if you haven’t felt the thrill of sliding down a hill at full speed, you’re missing part of what winter here is all about. If you don't want to miss out on other unique South Dakota adventures, give our new Travel Planner a try!