UPDATED FEB 2024
Embrace the winter wonderland of Nova Scotia! With plenty of snow to share, it’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy some winter fun. Sledding is one of the cheapest, easiest ways to enjoy the snow — all you need is a piece of plastic and lots of energy!
Luckily, Halifax and surrounding areas provides a generous handful of sledding options for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. And unlike some other provinces that have by-laws in place to deter sledding in undesignated areas, Halifax is pretty much open for exploring.
And, when these hills are coated in a fresh heaping of snow, it’s time to gear up and get your sled on. It is so much fun hearing the laughter of kids as they speed down the hills. We were recently walking our dog at Shubie Park and the freshly snow covered hill was busy with children and their parents having the best time. Those days are precious! It will be even more popular now we have a significant amount of snow to enjoy.
From a few hidden gems to some of the most popular runs, here are Halifax’s most entertaining sledding hills followed by a map of many of the city’s favourite hills.
- Halifax downtown: Citadel Hill – Without a doubt, one of the most popular sledding hills in Halifax, with easy parking and local cafes to enjoy a treat after your energetic workout.
- West End Halifax: Old Ashburn Golf Course -Another popular Halifax sledding spot, with the occasional snowboarder practising skills.
- West End Halifax: Flynn Park – This small park has lots of twists and turns and tends to be more suitable for teenage riders.
- South End Halifax: Gorsebrook Junior High School – Suitable for all ages with lots of varying inclines. One of the most popular sledding spots for all the family to enjoy.
- North End Halifax: Merv Sullivan Park aka The Pit. (Located at 3791 Novalea Drive, Halifax) is THE monster hill for the fearless sledding enthusiast and is considered the best run in Halifax. The only downfall is that the hill itself is almost bowl-shaped so no matter where your child starts their run, there is potential for collision near the bottom. Helmets recommended.
- North End Halifax: Fort Needham Park: This Halifax Park is popular with families with young children as the hill is small and the climb back up to the top is relatively easy.
- Clayton Park Halifax: The Mother Hill (behind Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax). This grand hill offers a long run and a gradual incline and is one of the most popular spots in the City.
- Cole Harbour – Ritchley Cresent Hill: Located on a cul de sac with wide open spaces. Lots of parking in the church car park at the top of the hill. Suitable for all ages.
- Dartmouth – Brightwood Golf Course: As you’d expect from a golf course, the setting is pretty picturesque. There’s several hills to choose from for all skill levels. It’s a popular spot on a snowy day.
- Dartmouth – Dartmouth Commons: Head towards the gazebo as you first enter the park and you’ll find yourself a decent hill that’s popular with locals.
- Dartmouth – Shubie Park: If you access the park where the camp ground is located, you’ll find yourself a nice steep hill. This used to be one of our favourite spots when the children were little before moving onto the high octane runs 😉
- Timberlea – Brunello Links: In between tee 3 and 4 is a great spot for toboganning. It’s also worth checking out the ski and snow trails as well as the outdoor skating rink. More information can be found here
- Bedford- De Wolfe Park: A popular spot for young families with a nice long hill and a gradual incline.
- Oakfield Park – Depending on where you are coming from in Halifax, Oakfield may be a little far to travel but for us it’s right on our doorstep and we’ve sled here many times. It can be a bit of trek from the car park in winter but the hills are pretty fun.
- Fall River – New Ashburn Golf Course: Several hills to choose from in a beautiful setting. It’s a popular spot but plenty of space for everyone to enjoy. The walk back up the hill is quite the workout.
So, if you are looking for a perfect spot to earn that hot chocolate, check out the excellent interactive Google map which lists all the sled runs so you can choose one in your neighbourhood that suits you and your family members’ excitement level and ability 😉
I hope this gives you an idea of what’s available for a day/few hours of sledding in your area. There’s plenty more hills to check out that I haven’t listed. These mentioned above tend to be the most well known and popular in the City. I’m sure there’s some “secret” hills in your area if you search for them.
So now you know what’s available, all that’s left to do is to wrap up, get outside and have fun! It’s the only way to truly enjoy our Nova Scotia winter.
And don’t forget to check out the interactive map here ——->https://goo.gl/BCsAUd
As always, please reach out if I can answer any of your questions about life in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I’m always happy to help.