
Winnipeg sledding guide
No city makes the most out of a hill or snow-covered slope like Winnipeg, where a moderate incline makes for hours of family fun.
Toboggan Hills
Harbourview Recreation Complex (1867 Springfield Rd.) - First off, this setting is crispier than a corner piece of lasagna with its nifty winding lake and nice trees. The hill itself is a meaty affair, being plenty wide and quite a hike to the top, making it perfect if you are the GT slalom-type. The onsite recreation complex provides a place to get warm (it's located right on the lake) while this area can be found about 2.5 km east of Highway 59. No lighting.
Civic Park (901 Kimberley Ave.) - This one is a staple in the East Kildonan neighbourhood with its expansive slope that allows you to pick up plenty of speed. It's wide open too, which ensures you won't crash into people as they make their way back up the hill.
Victoria Jason Park (255 Redonda St.) - This one is essentially composed of two hills stacked on top of each other. With 360-degree access, there are numerous sledding lines to hit, with a number of them providing a fun little double bump. It also has views that overlook the skatepark.
Garbage Hill (Westview Park, 1 Midland St.) - Sliding on an icon. Simple as that. It's always a popular choice while the hill affords some pretty sweet sunset views too. You can also pick up craft beer right beside the hill at Oxus Brewery. Here's a map from the City of Winnipeg's site.
Slides built for speed
FortWhyte Alive (1961 McCreary Rd.) - The Richardson Rrrun (not a typo) toboggan slide is the granddaddy of wooden slides in the city. Located just a few steps past the Interpretive Centre, this puppy shoots you out onto frozen Lake Devonian after you pick up speed descending a luge that goes right overtop of the foot pathway and through a stand of trees. Slides are also located right at the Rrrun, so no need to bring your own too. It's both thrilling and naturally impressive, the ideal toboggan slide combo. FortWhyte's amenities are also second to none, with the onsite Buffalo Stone Café for meals and snacks and many other winter things to do like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice fishing.
St. Vital Park (190 River Rd.) - St. Vital Park houses the Instagram famous Manitoboggan slide, which was designed by Public City Architecture for the City of Winnipeg. This slide could easily appear in the pages of Western Living, it's that chic, flaunting two toboggan runs –– one that is universally accessible via a ramp that is nice and gradual on the way down, and a second steeper slide that begins under and angled roof. Both slides slip you between a stand of trees, with the icy track winding down gradually. The facility also has a lookout tower and a pretty jazzy shelter from the elements to sit and chill.
Bunn’s Creek (365 McIvor Ave.) - This simple wooden icy shoot will satisfy your need for speed. Once it shoots you out, you also get a nice little glide too.
Kildonan Park (2015 Main St.) - The two slides in KP run parallel and offer a nice little ride after a steep shoot down the icy slide. The red slides look cool, they are about 12 feet high, and there's plenty of parking right near them. It's also not a big walk to get back up the hill (a relief for all you parents pulling kids). While you're there, it' always a good call to go check out The Witches' Hut, which is just as enchanting in winter.
Crescent Drive Park (781 Crescent Dr.) - Another classic wooden Winnipeg slide serviced by stairs, Crescent Drive Park's slide guides you out like a bobsled course, seeing you zip though an icy trough until you reach a pad of even more ice. The park is also home to a gorgeous pavilion and mature trees.
Kings Park (198 Kings Dr.) - Like Crescent Drive above, Kings Park is located within an oxbow in the Red River, making it a natural beauty even if sliding isn't on your agenda. If it is, the toboggan slide is not too imposing, while the hill behind it is quite expansive, offering ample space for sliding.
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For comprehensive maps of all the city's sliding options, check out Mapping Winnipeg. The maps here allow you to filter winter activities in areas throughout the city.
And remember to practice safe sledding! Keep your head up for other outdoor enthusiasts when heading down the hill and walking back up. Some of the hills are run by the city, so make sure to check its website for conditions and to see which ones are open.