5 fun sledding and tubing hills reachable from Seattle this winter

When snow begins to fall in Washington, the state becomes a winter wonderland. 

Between the imminent holidays and winter breaks, not to mention the stresses that come with this busy, much-anticipated season, many are looking forward to their next snow day. And there’s nothing like the simple, childlike joy of barreling downhill on a sled, the wind whipping past, the cold biting your face. 

Sledding presents the lowest barrier to entry in snow sports; you don’t need training, just gravity, snow and a sled (or tube). While there is always the chance to go take a run down Kite Hill at Gas Works Park in Seattle, there are many options for elevated snowy sledding and tubing days beyond the city. 

All are dependent on weather conditions (check parks.wa.gov for the most up-to-date information), but these are five fun snow areas reachable from Seattle, should you desire to go speeding downhill on a sled or tube this winter. 

1. Summit Tubing Park 

1001 Highway 906, Snoqualmie Pass; summitatsnoqualmie.com/snow-tubing 

A snowy hop, skip and a jump away from Seattle at Snoqualmie Pass is this tubing park with all the bells and whistles at the Summit at Snoqualmie ski area, should you wish to skip the old-school sledding experience for the ski-hill alternative. Tickets must be bought online in advance; child tickets run $18 and adults pay $45. Each session runs 105 minutes and the ski area recommends that tubers arrive up to an hour before their reservation. Tubes are provided. The park opens from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and will open on weekdays the last week of December. 

2. Lake Wenatchee Sno-Park 

21588 Highway 207, Leavenworth (outside Plain); 509-763-310; parks.wa.gov

This family-friendly Sno-Park is a bit more of a trek, and will take you about three hours driving from Seattle. But a visit in the winter will display why it’s worth the journey. The popular year-round destination is north of Leavenworth; to get there, you’ll take Highway 2 to Highway 207. Turning at Cole’s Corner North, you’ll make your way to the south section of the park, where you’ll find the tubing hill and a designated snow play area. There is also an area for camping, should you wish to overnight, but that will require an extra permit. You will need a Sno-Park Permit or a Seasonal Sno-Park Permit plus a Special Groomed Trails Permit sticker to access the Sno-Park, which can be bought in advance online; see st.news/Sno-Park-permits.

3. Hyak Sno-Park 

Highway 906, Snoqualmie Pass; 509-656-2230; parks.wa.gov

Hyak Sno-Park is one of the most popular snow play spots on the Interstate 90 corridor. That’s in part because Hyak is one of the closest Sno-Parks to Seattle at about an hour away, at Snoqualmie Pass. You are going to want to leave early, as, sledding or not, the park is likely to get crowded this time of year. Available parking spots fill quickly. The Sno-Park is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and, like at Lake Wenatchee, you’ll need a Sno-Park Permit; head to st.news/Sno-Park-permits. 

4. Tubing Park at the Leavenworth Winter Sports Club Ski Hill 

10701 Ski Hill Drive, Leavenworth; skileavenworth.com

For those comfortable with a longer drive (make it a Leavenworth lights trip!), the tubing park at the ski hill maintained by Leavenworth Winter Sports Club is worth checking out. As always, be sure to check Washington State Department of Transportation information about Highway 2 conditions before you go. Once in Leavenworth, there is a 100-foot hill where you get six runs with a tube included for $30 that can only be purchased at the ticket booth once you get there. If you need to warm up, there is a nearby lodge that has food and beverages for purchase. 

5. Hurricane Ridge

Hurricane Ridge Road, Port Angeles; 360-565-3131; hurricaneridge.com/tubing/ 

Last but definitely not least is Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, which has a tubing park (in addition to a ski hill) that is about a three-hour drive from Seattle. Located 17 miles south of Port Angeles on Hurricane Ridge Road, this spot is all-ages and costs $20 for 10 runs with tubes provided. Tickets can only be bought on location. In the event you don’t use all your runs, they will remain valid for 30 days after purchase. Parking is limited to 175 spaces, so it’s worth getting there early.