Do your kids love sledding, but wish the hills were bigger… or that the sled went faster? These little thrill-seekers are sure to love snow tubing and tobogganing, so we’ve rounded up all the local places to try these snowy activities. We’ve also found a few destination hills and winter adventure parks.
If you haven’t tried tobogganing before, it differs from sledding in that it has no, or only low, runners or skis on the underside. The bottom of a toboggan rides directly on the snow and typically allows for multiple people to ride at once, which makes it one of the best winter activities with friends.
Most of the local hills on our list require a natural snowfall, while many of the destination hills at winter resorts make their own snow. Pricing varies widely, so we’ve included some below to give you an idea of what you’ll spend at various locations; prices are subject to change. See you on the hills!
Local Tubing Hills
Villa Olivia
1401 W Lake Street
Bartlett, IL 60103
(630) 540-4199
Villa Olivia takes online reservations for snow tubing. Guests can book a 2-hour visit. Admission starts at $32 per guest ages 6 and over. They also have night tubing available for $28. Children 4 and 5 years old are allowed to ride share. There is a slight discount for night tickets, as well as for Bartlett residents. Multi-visit passes can also be reserved.
Their 2024 opening is December 20th. Please check their website for more updates.
Mount Hoy at Blackwell Forest Preserve – Closed for the 2024-25 Season
Enter off Butterfield Road between Batavia Road and Winfield Road
Warrenville, IL 60555
Unfortunately, Mount Hoy will not open for tubing this year due to preventative maintenance on the site. Check out Annie’s insider’s guide to Mount Hoy to get an idea of what tubing here is like for future years!
Plum Creek Nature Center/Goodenow Grove
27064 S. Dutton Road
Crete Township near Beecher, IL 60401
Guests can rent snow tubes at Plum Creek Nature Center for $2 per tube. Rentals begin when weather conditions allow after December 1. The nature center usually opens at 10am Tuesday through Saturdays, 1pm on Sundays, and is closed on Mondays; tube rentals end at 3pm and tubes must be returned by 4pm.
Check the website for updates to the hours and call (708) 946-2216 for current tubing conditions.
Local Sledding Hills
If you own your own snow tubes, try taking them to one of the sledding hills on our list! It’s a fun and different experience than using a sled.
Destination Tubing Hills
Snow Park at Alpine Hills
4402 Larson Avenue
Rockford, IL 61108
(815) 966-8737
Tube rental is generally $13, but reduced to $10 on Thursdays and for guests who are 36-42 inches tall and must use a red mini tube; other guests will use blue tubes. Open Thursday – Sunday. Please check the website for hours. Reservations are available online and are encouraged, as spots fill up quickly.
Wilmot Mountain
11931 Fox River Road
Wilmot, WI 53192
(262) 862-2301
Tubing is available starting December 21, 2024. They encourage you to check their website or download the My Epic app for more updates. Featuring 22 lanes of tubing over 1,000 feet long, plus conveyor lifts to head back to the top.
Tickets are usually $59 for a two-hour slot and should be purchased online in advance; the “window rate” more than the online rate.
Cascade Mountain
W10441 Cascade Mountain Road
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-5588
“Tube Town” at Cascade Mountain opens in mid December. Check their website for specific opening date to be announced soon. It has a ski and snowboard resort which features a 900-foot chute and a lift back to the top. Admission must be purchased online in advance and ranges from $15 to $42 per time slot, depending on age and time. Please note, they are a cashless facility.
Sunburst Winter Sports Park
8355 Prospect Drive
Kewaskum, WI 53040
(262) 626-8404
Experience the world’s largest tubing hill at Sunburst! Tickets are generally between $25 – $35 for a day-of visit, but vary based on day; check the website for full pricing, as well as restrictions and guidelines before driving up, such as the minimum height recommendation of 42″. First tickets available online begin the first weekend in December of 2024.
Snowstar Winter Park
9500 126th Street West
Andalusia, IL 61232
(309) 798-2673
Snowstar is a winter adventure park with snow tubing, skiing, and snowboarding. Check in advance of your visit, as they sometimes close to make more snow. Visitors can reserve their 2-hour or 4-hour tubing session online or over the phone; tubing starts at $28/person. All riders must be able to ride independently on their own tube, with no one under the age of 3 allowed.
The Rock Snow Park
7011 S Ballpark Drive
Franklin, WI 53132
(414) 235-8818
Weeknight tickets start at $18 per person from 4:00 – 8:00pm. Two-hour weekend tickets (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays) are available for guests starting at $27. Special glow night tickets start at $35 for the online rate on select Saturdays in January from 9:15pm – 11:00pm.
Tickets are significantly more expensive at the window, so be sure to purchase online before your trip.
Toboggan Runs in the Midwest
Pokagon State Park
450 Lane 100 Lake James
Angola, IN 46703
(260) 833-2012
Open November 29, 2024 until February 23, 2025. With a 30-foot tower and over 90-feet total vertical drop, this refrigerated toboggan run is a must-see for winter thrill seekers. Toboggans may be rented on weekends for a fee of $20 per hour. There is also a parking fee of $7 for in-state vehicles and $9 out-of-state vehicles.
Echo Valley
8495 E. H Ave
Kalamazoo, MI
(269) 349-3017
If you have a need for speed, this is for you! These toboggan runs are equipped with an all-season sledding surface called Everslide. Daily passes include unlimited access to tubing, tobogganing, and the warming lodge. The Daily Combo (tobogganing and tubing) is $20 and an Individual Season Pass (unlimited tobogganing and tubing) is $50. Heads up: they no longer accept credit cards.
Find current hours on their homepage, or call (269) 349-3017 to confirm that they are open. They recommend checking before you go as they are still weather-dependent.
Lutherdale
N7891 US Hwy 12
Elkhorn, WI 53121
(262) 742-2352
The campus of this religious camp and conference center includes 1.5 miles of trails, two toboggan runs, indoor and outdoor campfire locations, and wooded areas to make snow sculptures and explore. The sledding and toboggan hills can be rented for a group, or they typically host a family fun day at the end of January you can sign up for. Check their Facebook for more updates or call them to reserve your rental.
Looking for other new ideas? Check out our full guide of more outdoor activities, or all of our winter activity ideas.
