The right hill depends a lot on who is riding. The best sledding hills for kids near Cleveland run from gentle Metroparks slopes suited to young children up to long, fast hills with a long climb back to the top.
Below they are grouped by age, with the gentler hills first and the big runs after. For rinks, tubing and the rest of the winter spots, see every skating and sledding spot near Cleveland on the map.
Snow cover comes and goes, especially outside the snowbelt, so check conditions and any park notices before you load up the car. Most of the hills here are free, and the Chalet chutes are the one that needs a ticket.
From first runs to fast hills
Sledding hills by age
Strongsville
Pawpaw Picnic Area Sledding Hill
Best for: Young kids and first-time sledders
The sledding hill at the Pawpaw Picnic Area in the Mill Stream Run Reservation, near West 130th and Valley Parkway in Strongsville, is gentle and has been a pick for families with young kids for a long time. It is widely loved by the families who use it.
It is in the same reservation as the Chalet toboggan chutes, so older siblings can have their turn on the chutes on the same trip.
Fairview Park
Big Met Golf Course Sledding Area
Best for: Little kids and a warm-up by the fire
At Big Met Golf Course in the Rocky River Reservation in Fairview Park, sledders use the slope from the 11th tee. It is gentle enough for younger kids, and there are fireplaces nearby for warming up between runs.
The short walk in from parking keeps it less crowded than Edgewater, which helps when small kids are still learning to steer.
Brooklyn
Memphis Sledding Hill
Best for: West side families
Memphis Sledding Hill is in the Big Creek Reservation at Memphis Avenue and Tiedeman Road in Brooklyn, beside Memphis Kiddie Park. It has been a west side favorite for generations, and it is free.
It is a short drive for families in Old Brooklyn, Parma and the southwest suburbs.
Westlake
Westlake Civic Center hill
Best for: Families in the western suburbs
The hill on the Westlake civic center grounds sits by the recreation center on Hilliard Boulevard. It is free, family friendly and well liked by families in Westlake and the nearby west suburbs.
Watch for the boulder at the bottom, and point younger kids away from it before they push off.
Cleveland Heights
Cain Park Sledding Hill
Best for: East side kids close to home
After a snow, the sloped lawn at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights, around the amphitheater grounds, turns into an east side sledding hill. It is free and a short trip for families in the Heights, Shaker Heights and University Circle.
It is a sloped lawn more than a big hill, so it suits a short outing close to home for smaller kids.
Edgewater, Cleveland
Edgewater Park sledding slopes
Best for: A city hill with skyline views
The slopes at Edgewater Park on the west side lakefront come with views of the downtown skyline, and they draw the biggest crowds of any sledding spot in the area. Expect company on good snow days.
The frozen lake is off limits, so keep kids on the hill and away from the shore.
Chardon
Chardon Park sledding hill ("the Chateau")
Best for: Reliable snow for a weekend trip
Chardon’s city park sledding hill, known locally as the Chateau, sits across from Chardon High School. Chardon is in the Geauga County snowbelt, where snow tends to stick around after it has melted in the city.
It is free and very well liked, which makes it worth the drive on a weekend when the hills in Cuyahoga County are bare.
Hinckley
Hinckley Reservation Sledding Hill
Best for: Older kids and adults
The Hinckley Reservation hill, off State Road south of Bellus Road, is the big, fast one and the best-known sledding hill in the area. The climb back up is long.
A fence now shortens the steep start, and the hill still suits older kids and adults better than small children. Bring the teenagers here and take the little ones to Pawpaw or Big Met.
Strongsville
Chalet Toboggan Chutes at Mill Stream Run
Best for: Kids tall enough for the toboggan chutes
The Chalet in the Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville runs twin iced toboggan chutes, with wooden toboggans provided and a chain return that carries them back up the hill. Riders must be at least 42 inches tall and wear gloves.
Timed reservations are required, so book ahead. Measure younger kids before promising them a ride.
By age
Matching the hill to your kids
For toddlers and early grade schoolers, start with Pawpaw or Big Met. Both are gentle, and Big Met’s fireplaces help when small hands get cold. Memphis, Westlake and Cain Park are the closest free options for families in those parts of town.
Older kids and teens will want Hinckley or the Chateau in Chardon, and the Chalet chutes in Strongsville make a good ticketed outing once everyone clears the height minimum. Edgewater draws all ages, and the crowd is the main thing to plan around there.
If you are driving out for snow, plan the trip around two stops. Pawpaw and the Chalet share the Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville, so one outing covers the little kids and the big kids, and a Chardon run can fill a whole afternoon when the snowbelt has snow and the city does not.
Off the hill
Skating and tubing for kids
Mentor Ice Arena on Munson Road has a small studio rink where kids 8 and under can use walkers on weekends, which helps first-time skaters. Polar Blast Snow Tubing at Boston Mills Brandywine, inside Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Sagamore Hills, runs multi-lane tubing aimed at families; check session times with the resort before going.
Downtown, the skating rink at Public Square includes skate rental with admission. Weekdays are held for private rentals, so plan a weekend visit.
Good to know
Questions before you go.
Can we sled at Punderson State Park?
Yes. Punderson State Park in Newbury Township, also in the Geauga snowbelt, has a sledding hill with a tow rope and tubing chutes when snow allows.
Where can kids skate indoors?
Brunswick Auto Mart Arena in Strongsville, formerly OBM Arena, and The Pond near Chagrin Falls are indoor rinks with public skating and rentals.
All winter spots
See every rink and sledding hill near Cleveland
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