When head lamps only allow a cone of visible light a few feet ahead, and the icy snow provides just enough traction to turn by leaning, with riders gaining speed to the point of barely touching the ground, is when sledding has matured from an innocent activity enjoyed by children into an extreme adventure that might leave participants sponsored by Red Bull.
Sledding is fun. Extreme sledding is better.
Sledding is one of the best things one can occupy themselves with in the winter months. A pastime for all the ski bums who don’t have skis or can’t afford lift tickets.
Salt Lake has a wide selection of sledding hills. Some locations are well-known, others are hidden gems well worth the effort. Once SLC is in the throes of winter, this is the definitive guide to the best sledding spots in the area.
The Classics
Sugarhouse Park
The first image that comes to mind for sledding in SLC for many is sugarhouse. Right next to Highland, Sugarhouse Park has all sorts of slopes for all different ages and skill levels. The primary sledding hill is the one adjacent to 1300 East. It is steep and relatively short, but you quickly gain velocity, so much so that the city places hay bales by the street to prevent sledders from entering into oncoming traffic.
Those wanting a dangerous twist can pile and pack snow at the bottom into a launching pad… but beware, the snow isn’t as soft as it looks so brace for impact. The downside of this location is that it can be very crowded. The 110.5-acre urban park isn’t a rare find but a reaffirmation of a classic.
Soldier Hollow
Even though Soldier Hollow, Midway is close to a 50-minute drive from Highland, it makes up for it with some of the best tubing in the area. Soldier Hollow Nordic Center was the Nordic skiing venue during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games. Repurposed, the tubing hill now has multiple 1,200 feet tubing lanes. Thanks to the marvels of modern convenience, you can sled down without having to walk back up by taking a carpet conveyor belt. Also, if tubing at night, they have bright stadium lights and a tendency to blast classic rock.
But it isn’t cheap. During December, due to demand, it can reach a high of $54 a person on Christmas day. Though throughout the season—ranging from December to March—it averages more in the range of $30 Despite the price, the well-groomed path allows you to fly down at incredible speeds. Providing an experience that no other sledding spots in the area have.
Mountain Dell
Just 14 minutes up Parley’s Canyon is the Mountain Dell golf course. Don’t let the fact it is a golf course deceive you. Mountain Dell golf course has prime real estate for sledding. With the course being just under 2,000 feet higher in elevation compared to SLC, it usually has more snow than its Salt Lake sledding counterparts. Perhaps most importantly, it can be used free of charge.
This is also a great place to build jumps, but limping back up the hill can take a long time because, unlike Sugarhouse Park, the hill is more gradual but much longer.
Hidden Gems
Porter Fork
Porter Fork is the most extreme, fast, and terrifying sledding route around. The Porter Fork turnoff is 4.2 miles up Millcreek Canyon. Reaching the turnoff, Porter Fork is a winding road up Pole Canyon in Yellow Jacket Gulch just south of Mount Raymond. It is lined with residential cabins, pine trees, and mountain peaks. The Porter Fork road is not plowed during winter, so you have to walk up.
The road—which doubles as the sledding route—is 1.25 miles long, having a fairly steep decline all the way down. This 1.25 miles gives you plenty of time to gain speed. If in need of a challenge, the unofficial speed record is 35 miles per hours. Although, while enjoying the beautiful scenery on your sled, try not to fall into the river running along the road.
Little Mountain Emigration Canyon
At the latter end of emigration canyon is Little Mountain summit. On the north side you can sled down all the way to the emigration canyon road below. The sled ride consists of around a mile of stunning scenery and, due to the fairly unknown status, fresh powder. The perks of this is that you can have a friend drive back down while you’re sledding to pick you up and bring you back to the top, although this may not be a perk for your friend! The sled ride is gradual, peppered with pine trees. The sledding isn’t the fastest but the scenery more than makes up for it.
During this festive season, there are many ways you can occupy your time. Caroling, baking Christmas cookies, bingeing Hallmark Christmas movies, etc. Though nothing compares to the fun of sledding. Whether barreling down Porter Fork or sledding in Sugarhouse with your younger siblings; sledding is the perfect activity for the holidays.
