Where can I go sledding near Seattle?
Last Updated on November 16, 2024
You might have heard that Seattle has some pretty depressing winters, lots of gray skies and rain! One of the best ways to combat winter blues is to get out and play in the snow. Somehow the snow is so much more fun and energizing than rain! If you’re looking to get out all winter, taking advantage of snow is key. One upside of Seattle winters is that you can drive to the snow within and hour or so! So, where can you play in the snow near Seattle?
Unfortunately, the opportunities for sledding near Seattle are fairly limited. This can be very frustrating but with a little research and patience you can find a fun place to play in the snow! It is extremely important not to park illegally or sled in areas that are near roads or where there are other hazards. In addition, all developed ski areas in Washington prohibit any sledding on or around ski areas and parking lots. I am only recommending places that officially allow sledding in this post, which means none of these options are completely free.
If you’re interested in getting started with snowshoeing, check out this post about getting started and this post about places to snowshoe near Seattle. If you want to try out cross country skiing, read more here for where to go!
Even though it’s not near Seattle, my favorite sledding in Washington State is in the far southeast corner of the state at Fields Spring State Park, consider a trip there for a truly epic sledding hill and often sunny weather!
The rest of this post will focus on sledding near Seattle.
Where can I go sledding near Seattle for free?
I don’t have a free place to recommend for sledding near Seattle, since there is a lot of dangerous and illegal sledding that happens. Don’t do that! Most of the options for sledding near Seattle are relatively low cost, though the cost varies and is included in the details below. At times in the past, the Stevens Pass Nordic Center has hosted a free sledding hill but it has been closed since 2020. I will update this if I get word that it has reopened, but for now there is NOT any free sledding at Stevens Pass!
Travel times listed below are typical without traffic and without winter driving conditions. Both of these things can make it a lot slower. I highly recommend using the WSDOT app to stay up to date on road conditions.
- Snoqualmie Pass (1 hour from Seattle)
- Lake Wenatchee (2 hours 30 minutes from Seattle)
- Leavenworth (2 hours 30 minutes from Seattle)
- Lake Chelan (3 hours 45 minutes from Seattle)
- Olympic National Park (3 hours 15 minutes from Seattle)
- Mt Rainier National Park (2 hours 45 minutes from Seattle)
- White Pass (3 hours from Seattle)
Sledding at Snoqualmie Pass
The closest place that usually has reliable snow in winter to Seattle is Snoqualmie Pass. There are two options for sledding here.
Hyak Sno Park Sledding Hill
- Location: Hyak Exit from I-90, just east of Snoqualmie Pass. This is a different location from the housing and ski area of Summit East.
- Cost: $25/day per car (or $70 for a season pass)
- Hours of Operation: Daily from 8am to 4:30pm
- Crowding and Reservations: No reservations but the crowd level here is extreme, with the parking area often filling before 9am on weekends.
- Sled and Tube availability: No rentals, you can bring your own sleds or tubes
- Restrooms: Heated, flush toilets, however there are only a few and the line is often long. Usually there are also port-a-potties
- Latest conditions: Call 509.656.2230 for a recording that will tell you if there is enough snow to open the sledding hill.
Summit at Snoqualmie Tubing Hill
This tubing opportunity is more structured but also includes a covered lift to whisk you and your tube back to the top of the hill! They also usually offer night sessions.
- Location: Part of the Summit at Snoqualmie Ski resort, in it’s own separate area
- Cost: $35/person age 7 and older for one session, $12 for child under 7 (with paying adult)
- Hours of Operation: Friday through Sunday plus holidays and school breaks
- Crowding and Reservations: Purchase online in advance, number of participants in limited in each session
- Sled and Tube availability: TUBES ONLY, must use their tube which is provided
- Restrooms: Yes
- Latest conditions: Read all about the latest on conditions, hours and reserve your spot here
Lake Wenatchee
Lake Wenatchee has an excellent sno play and and sledding hill on the South side of the park.
- Location: South side of Lake Wenatchee State Park, between Leavenworth and Stevens Pass (north side of the park does NOT have sno play, only cross country ski and snowshoe trails)
- Cost: $25/day per car (or $70 for a season pass)
- Hours of Operation: Daily 8am – dusk
- Crowding and Reservations: First come first serve, very crowded. Parking fills early on weekend mornings. Get there early!
- Sled and Tube availability: Bring your own sled or tube, none available on site
- Restrooms: Yes
- Latest conditions: Lake Wenatchee is at fairly low elevation and doesn’t always have a lot of snow. Get the latest here (it’s for ski conditions but will give you an idea of if there is snow here or not)
Leavenworth
There are a couple of different options for sledding and tubing in Leavenworth, depending on what kind of experience you’re looking for.
Leavenworth Sledding Hill (at the Golf Course)
- Location: The golf course on Icicle Road
- Cost: $9/person or $22 for a family of $4
- Hours of Operation: 9:30am – 4pm
- Crowding and Reservations: No reservations, generally not as crowded as downtown Leavenworth
- Sled and Tube availability: Bring your own sled (sleds may be available for purchase there) – no metal runners
- Restrooms: Yes
- Latest conditions: get the latest here
Lt Michael Adams Tubing Park
- Location: Leavenworth Ski hill, very close to downtown Leavenworth
- Cost: $25/person
- Hours of Operation: 9:30am – 4pm
- Crowding and Reservations: First come, first serve, check the webcam to see how busy it is
- Sled and Tube availability: Tubes only, you need to use their tubes (which are provided with your ticket)
- Restrooms: Yes
- Latest conditions: get the latest here
Echo Valley – Lake Chelan
This super chill and largely uncrowded ski area also offers tubing! Great place to go if you’re visiting Lake Chelan in winter.
- Location: Echo Valley Ski Area just north of Lake Chelan, near the community of Manson.
- Cost: $15/person for the day (includes tube)
- Hours of Operation: Weekends and holidays, 10-4
- Crowding and Reservations: Not crowded! Just show up and tube!
- Sled and Tube availability: Tubes only, no sleds and you must use their tubes
- Restrooms: Yes
- Latest conditions: Check the latest, including snow conditions and other details here
Hurricane Ridge – Olympic National Park
- Location: Hurricane Ridge Ski Area in Olympic National Park
- Cost: $30/vehicle Olympic National Park entrance fee + $14/hour for tubing for ages 9 and up
- Hours of Operation: Arrive by 8am at the entrance station to get a parking spot (otherwise you may be waiting for hours to enter the park). The Hurricane Ridge Road and tubing hill are open most Fridays-Sundays
- Crowding and Reservations: It gets very crowded here, no reservations so get here early to get parking!
- Sled and Tube availability: Tubes only, tubes are provided
- Restrooms: Yes
- Latest conditions: Here for the tubing hill, here for the park road
Paradise – Mt Rainier National Park
November 2022 note: Mt Rainier National Park announced that there will be no sledding during the winter of 2022-23 at Paradise.
Winter can be a wonderful time to visit Mt Rainier National Park! When I was growing up, we used to go to Paradise for winter sno play several times a winter. There is a designated sno play and sledding area near the Jackson Visitor Center. Be aware that it does not open until there is at least five feet of snow on the ground.
- Location: Behind the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise in Mt Rainier National Park
- Cost: $30/vehicle park entrance fee
- Hours of Operation: The road from Longmire up to Paradise opens at 9am and closes at 4, however storms may keep it closed all day at times in the winter.
- Crowding and Reservations: Can be crowded, but much less crowded than summer in Mt Rainier National Park. No reservations.
- Sled and Tube availability: Bring your own tube or soft sled (metal runners are not allowed). Sledding is not allowed anywhere else in Mt Rainier National Park.
- Restrooms: Yes
- Latest conditions: Learn the latest here. Following the park on Twitter (you don’t have to have a Twitter account to view, you can just google it) is a great way to get the latest on the road status that day.
White Pass
- Location: South of Mt Rainier National Park along US Highway 12 between Olympia and Yakima
- Cost: Two hour sessions – $13/session for ages 9 and up, $10/session ages 8 and under
- Hours of Operation: Friday through Sunday, 3 sessions per day
- Crowding and Reservations: First come first serve, busy but not extremely crowded
- Sled and Tube rules: TUBES ONLY – bring your own tube or rent for $5, sleds are not allowed
- Restrooms: Yes
- Latest conditions: Find the latest here
