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Hills that cater to families who love to go sledding
There are lots of great hills in and around the island so grab your toboggan, dress the kids warmly and head for the hills!
Bois de Liesse Nature Park
9432 Gouin Blvd. W., Pierrefonds
(Pitfield Visitor Centre), (514) 280-6729
3555 Douglas B.Floreani St., St. Laurent (Des Champs Visitor Centre), (514) 280-6678
You’ll find two hills here dedicated to tobogganing. When you’ve finished sledding, warm up in front of the fire at one of the park’s reception centres.
Services: Toboggan and crazy carpet rental or bring your own sled
Food/drink: Vending machines (snacks and drinks)
Chalet: Yes, they have two
Other activities: Environmental science activities
Beaconsfield Golf Club
49 Golf Ave, Pointe Claire
There are several hills here where people go sledding and snowboarding, but it is at your own risk — there are no facilities here.
Services: Bring your own sled
Food/drink: Not available
Chalet: No
Other activities: Snowboarding, etc.
Île de la Visitation Nature Park
2425 Gouin Blvd. E., Montreal, (514) 280-6733
After a fun afternoon of sledding, check out their restaurant Bistro des Moulins.
Services: Rent or bring your own sled
Food/drink: Yes
Chalet: Yes
Other activities: snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, etc.
Mount Royal Park - Beaver Lake Pavillon
2000 Remembrance Rd., Montreal, (514) 843-8240 • www.lemontroyal.qc.ca
Tobogganing and snow tubing on dedicated lanes are just two of several winter activities offered at one of the city’s most beloved parks.
Services: Rent or bring your own sled
Food/drink: Yes
Chalet: Yes (there’s a pavilion)
Other activities: Snowshoeing, skating, cross-country ski lesson, Nordic kick-sledding, guided snowshoe walks with an environmental educator.
Oka Park
2020 Chemin d’Oka, Oka, (450) 479-8365 • www.sepaq.com/pq/oka
For the outdoor enthusiast family, Oka Park offers excellent sledding as well as other outdoor activities.
Services: Rent or bring your own sled
Food/drink: Yes
Chalet: Yes
Other activities: Kick-sledding, snowshoeing, skiing, etc.
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park
6975 Mackle Rd., Cote St. Luc, (514) 485-6806 (Rentals), (514) 485-6824 (Chalet) • www.cotesaintluc.org/TrudeauPark
Enjoy the beautiful surrounding of this neighbourhood park while the kids zip down the hill on a sled.
Services: Rent or bring your own sled
Food/drink: Hot chocolate on weekends
Chalet: Yes (on weekends)
Other activities: Skating on a covered rink
Pointe aux Prairies Nature Park
14905 Sherbrooke St. E., Montreal, (514) 280-6691
You’ll not only find great sledding in this park but also lots of wildlife and more than 180 species of birds.
Services: Rent or bring your own sled
Food/drink: Vending machines
Chalet: Yes
Other activities: snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, etc.
Safety guidelines for tobogganing
It may be a child’s favourite winter pastime, but sledding and tobogganing can also be hazardous. So here are some safety tips from the Canadian Pediatric Society:
- Children under 5 should never go down a hill alone — an adult should accompany them.
- Kids should always wear a ski or hockey helmet — not a bicycle helmet — while sledding. Bicycle helmets are only tested up to -10ºC (14ºF) and need to be replaced after one crash. If you use a hockey helmet, make sure it meets the criteria of the Canadian Standards Association.
- Never use a sled with sharp or jagged edges. Inspect sleds at the beginning of every winter to make sure they are in good condition with secure handholds.
- Never sled on or near roadways. Look for shallow slopes that are free of trees, fences or any other obstacles.
- Always sit up or kneel on a sled — lying down can increase the risk of injury to the head, spine and even stomach.
- Use a sled that you can steer rather than a snow disc or inner tube — it’s safer and will provide much better control. (To improve safety, some hills in Montreal offer special, roped off tracks just for inner tube use).
- Avoid sledding on crowded slopes.
- Sled during the day. If you do bring your family sledding at night, make sure the hill is well lit.
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Slide down the middle of the hill and climb up along the sides. Remember to watch for other sledders and move quickly out of the way once you reach the bottom of the hill.
