Toboggan Hills in Ottawa: Where to Sled and How to Stay Safe

Last Updated: October 13, 2026

Ottawa's toboggan hills include Bruce Pit and Conroy Pit in the NCC Greenbelt, and more than 70 City-approved sledding hills in parks from Kanata to Orléans. The City of Ottawa's sledding hills page maps every approved location, and it is the list to trust: sledding on City property is only permitted at those hills.

Whether you're seeking gentle slopes for toddlers or steep hills for thrill-seekers, Ottawa's network of approved toboggan hills provides free winter fun throughout the season. Each approved hill has had a City risk assessment, with protective measures installed where needed. Some well-known slopes are not on the list: sledding is not permitted at Mooney's Bay, and the Central Experimental Farm (including the Arboretum) prohibits sliding and tobogganing.

Key Highlights

TL;DR: Ottawa has more than 70 City-approved toboggan hills across all neighbourhoods, plus the NCC's Greenbelt hills at Bruce Pit, Conroy Pit and Green's Creek, which the City maintains. Sled only at approved hills, wear a ski, snowboard or hockey helmet, sled in daylight or on a well-lit hill, and keep children with an adult.

Quick Facts	Details
📅 Season	December through March (snow dependent)
📍 Location	More than 70 approved hills across Ottawa (75 on the City's open data list in October 2026)
🎟️ Cost	Free; bring your own sled
⏰ Hours	Daylight recommended; at night only on a well-lit hill such as Conroy Pit

Understanding Ottawa's Toboggan Hill System

The City of Ottawa approves specific hills across the municipality for tobogganing and sledding: more than 70 in all, and 75 on the City's open data list as of October 2026. Sledding is only permitted on City property at those locations.

What Makes a City-Approved Hill:

According to the City, each approved hill has:

Had a risk assessment to confirm it meets an acceptable risk level for sledding
Had protective measures installed to reduce the risks found
Been identified as reasonably safe for sledding, which no other City hill has

Approval is not a guarantee: most hills on the City's list are approved on a conditional basis, and you are still expected to check the weather and the condition of the hill before you slide. Sledding is a high-risk activity, and the City does not accept responsibility for injuries.

Why Stick to Approved Hills:

Using designated hills ensures a safer experience for your family. Non-approved slopes may have hidden hazards, insufficient run-out zones, or proximity to dangerous areas. The city has done the safety assessment work for you. If you spot a dangerous condition on an approved hill, report it to the City's 24-hour line at 3-1-1.

Finding Your Local Hill:

The City of Ottawa maintains an interactive map and table of approved sledding hills. Search by park name, address, intersection or City facility to find the closest one, or download the list from the City's Open Data Catalogue.

Best Toboggan Hills by Skill Level

Beginner Hills: Perfect for Young Children

These gentle slopes are ideal for toddlers and children experiencing their first toboggan rides. The gradual inclines provide excitement without overwhelming young sledders.

Finding a Beginner Hill:

The City's list does not grade hills by difficulty, and some familiar neighbourhood slopes, such as those at Brewer Park, McNabb Park and Centrepointe Park, are not on it. Most approved hills are in neighbourhood parks, so start with the one closest to home, found in the area lists below or on the City's sledding hills map, look at it in daylight first, and pick a short run with plenty of flat space at the bottom.

Children tobogganing on gentle snowy hill Beginner hills provide safe, gentle slopes for young children's first sledding experiences.

Safety Tips for Beginner Hills:

Always stay at the bottom to catch young children
Use sleds with steering mechanisms for better control
Start with short runs to build confidence
Teach children to wait until the hill is clear before going
Consider using a rope to pull children back up steep sections

Intermediate Hills: Family-Friendly Fun

Intermediate hills offer more excitement while remaining manageable for most ages. These are perfect for families with mixed-age children or kids ready to progress beyond beginner slopes.

Top Intermediate Hill:

Leslie Park (Nepean)

Location: 21A Dayton Crescent
On the City's approved sledding hill list
A neighbourhood park hill, handy for families in the west end

Some popular parks are not approved sledding hills. Mooney's Bay, Britannia and Walter Baker are City parks where sledding is not permitted, and Vincent Massey Park is NCC land that is not one of the NCC's designated toboggan hills.

Advanced Hills: Thrill-Seekers Welcome

For older children, teens, and adults seeking maximum speed and excitement, these steep hills deliver adrenaline-pumping rides. Always exercise extra caution on advanced slopes.

Top Advanced Hills:

Bruce Pit (Nepean)

Location: 175 Cedarview Road
In the Stony Swamp section of the NCC Greenbelt; the hill is maintained by the City
Good for daytime sliding; it is not lit at night
Long runs with significant speed
Uneven terrain adds challenge
Watch for dogs on and near hills

Conroy Pit (Gloucester)

Location: 3136 Conroy Road
In the Pine Grove Forest section of the NCC Greenbelt; the hill is maintained by the City
The Greenbelt hill that is lit at night
Less crowded than more famous hills
Several run options
Worth the search for experienced sledders

The NCC closes its Greenbelt hills temporarily when conditions turn hazardous, posts signs on site and a notice online, and does not permit snowboarding or jumping off snow bumps. The Arboretum at the Central Experimental Farm and Andrew Haydon Park are not approved hills: the Farm prohibits sliding and tobogganing, and Andrew Haydon is a City park that is not on the City's list.

Families sledding on steep snowy hill Advanced hills provide thrilling, fast runs for experienced sledders seeking excitement.

Safety Warnings for Advanced Hills:

Only for confident sledders with good control
Helmets strongly recommended
Avoid toboggans with multiple riders (harder to control)
Scout the hill before your first run
Stop immediately if conditions seem unsafe
Watch for jumps or moguls created by previous sledders

Best Hills by Neighbourhood

Approved hills are spread across the whole city. Of the 75 on the City's open data list in October 2026, 18 have Gloucester addresses, 16 are in Nepean, 13 in Cumberland, 12 in the former City of Ottawa and six in Kanata, with a few more in Goulbourn, Rideau, Osgoode and West Carleton.

The lists below group those hills by area, using the park names and addresses on the City's list. The City does not grade hills by difficulty, so none is rated here. Most are approved on a conditional basis, and the list can change from one winter to the next, so confirm your hill on the City's sledding hills map before you go.

Downtown, Centretown and Central Ottawa

Lansdowne Park - 450 Queen Elizabeth Driveway (check that it has reopened; it was closed for construction last winter)
MacDonald Gardens Park - 99 Cobourg Street
Dutchie's Hole Park - 154 Mann Avenue
Robinson Field - 3 Hurdman Road
Windsor Park - 1B Windsor Avenue
Grasshopper Hill at Kilborn Park - 1609 Kilborn Avenue
Alda Burt Park - 1816 St-Laurent Boulevard
Marchand Park - 1157 Kenaston Street
Cedarcroft Park - 1200 Cedarcroft Crescent

West End and Nepean

Westboro Kiwanis Park - 411 Dovercourt Avenue
Carlington Park (Anne Heggtveit Hill) - 937 Clyde Avenue
Judge Park - 837 Grenon Avenue
Bayshore Park - 175 Woodridge Crescent
Mohawk Park - 90 Queensline Drive
Corkstown Park - 61 Corkstown Road
Brucelands Park - 2960 Baseline Road
Bruce Pit - 175 Cedarview Road (advanced)
Craig Henry Park - 135 Craig Henry Drive
Charing Park - 37 Chartwell Avenue
Donoghue Memorial Park - 29 Larkspur Drive
Leslie Park - 21A Dayton Crescent (intermediate)
Sledding hill - 70 Benlea Drive

Barrhaven

Clarke Fields Park - 93 Houlahan Street
Neill Nesbitt Park - 70 Foxfield Drive
Mulligan Park - 70 Mountshannon Drive
Utman Park - 280 Mountshannon Drive
Stonecrest Park - 220 Stoneway Drive
Half Moon Bay Park - 3525 Cambrian Road
Black Raven Community Park - 675 Dundonald Drive

Kanata and Stittsville

J.J. Clarke Park - 75 Bridlewood Drive
Juanita Snelgrove Park - 374 Kinghorn Crescent
Richardson Heritage Park - 34 Arkose Street
Rickey Place Park - 47 Rickey Place
Tony Graham Community Park - 100 Charlie Rogers Place
Meadowbreeze Park - 98 Meadowbreeze Drive
Proudmore Romina Park - 205 Romina Street
Bryanston Gate Park - 23 Alon Street

South Ottawa

Uplands Riverside Park (two hills) - 3860 Riverside Drive
Russell Boyd Park - 1735 St. Bernard Street
Conroy Pit - 3136 Conroy Road (advanced)
Dragonfly Park - 2920 Findlay Creek Drive
Tiger Lily Park - 211 Hillman Marsh Way
Four Seasons Park - 4386 Spratt Road

Orléans and Gloucester

Appleford Park - 1879 Appleford Street
Barnabé Park - 1797 Épinettes Avenue
Champagne Park - 1861 Markwell Crescent
Delorme Park - 6591 Delorme Avenue
Gérald Poulin Park - 1899 Du Clairvaux Road
Elmridge Park - 1841 Elmridge Drive
Greens Creek Sliding Hill - 1046 St. Joseph Boulevard
Loyola Park - 956 Loyola Avenue
Roy Park - 6210 Meadowglen Drive
Ski Hill Park - 1995 Naskapi Drive
Michael Budd Park - 2359 Orient Park Drive
August Park - 544 Ponthieu Circle

Orléans and Cumberland

Apollo Crater Park - 600 Apollo Way
Fallingbrook Park - 681 Deancourt Crescent
Gardenway Park - 2001 Gardenway Drive
Glandriel Park - 2130 Valin Street
Kinsella Park - 1600 Prestwick Drive
Marcel Lalande Park - 2157 Northlands Drive
Provence Park - 2095 Provence Avenue
Queenswood Heights Centennial Park and Community Centre - 1485 Duford Drive
Queenswood Ridge Park - 346 Kennedy Lane East
Roy G. Hobbs Community Centre and Park - 109 Larch Crescent
Watters Park - 841 Clearcrest Crescent
Wilfred Murray Park / R.J. Kennedy Community Hall and Arena - 1115 Dunning Road
Sledding hill - 551 Princess Louise Drive

Rural Villages: Vars, North Gower, Osgoode, Richmond and Carp

Alcide Trudeau Park (Vars) - 5715 Rockdale Road
Alfred Taylor Recreation Facility (North Gower) - 2300 Community Way
Centennial Park - 5572 Doctor Leach Drive
Chanonhouse Park - 28 Chanonhouse Drive
McKendry Park (Osgoode) - 2567 Dow Street
Sledding hill at the Ottawa Public Library Carp Branch - 3911 Carp Road

Essential Gear and What to Bring

Sleds and Toboggans

Types of Sleds:

Foam sleds: Inexpensive, slower speeds, ideal for young children
Traditional toboggans: Classic wooden or plastic, hold multiple riders, harder to steer
Steering sleds: With handles and steering mechanism, best control, worth the investment

The City of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health advise choosing a sled that is easy to control and avoiding crazy carpets, saucers, plastic discs, inner tubes and other inflatables.

What to Avoid:

Saucers, discs, crazy carpets, snow tubes and other inflatables
Sleds with sharp edges or metal components
Homemade sleds that haven't been safety-tested
Anything too small for the rider's size

Clothing and Safety Gear

Dress in Layers:

Moisture-wicking base layer (avoid cotton)
Insulating mid-layer (fleece or wool)
Waterproof outer layer (snow pants and jacket)
Extra mittens (they will get wet)
Warm hat covering ears
Neck warmer or scarf
Waterproof boots with good traction

Safety Equipment:

Helmet: a ski, snowboard or hockey helmet with the recommended safety certification, as the City advises
Sunglasses or goggles for bright days
Sunscreen (sun reflects off snow)
First aid kit in your car
Fully charged phone

What Else to Pack

Thermos with hot chocolate or warm drinks
Snacks for energy
Extra clothes in your car
Towel for drying off
Hand and foot warmers
Rope for pulling sleds uphill
Plastic bag for wet items
Small shovel if conditions are icy

Safety Guidelines for Ottawa Toboggan Hills

Before You Go

Check conditions: Recent ice rain can make hills dangerously fast
Inspect your sled: Ensure no cracks, sharp edges, or damage
Review rules with children: Wait for clear hill, feet-first only, exit quickly
Tell someone your plans: Share location and expected return time
Check weather forecast: Avoid tobogganing in storms or extreme cold

At the Hill

General Rules:

Only use City-approved toboggan hills
One person per sled (unless designed for multiple riders)
Sit or kneel, facing forward; never go down head-first or on your back
Keep hands, arms and legs inside the sled
Wait at the top until the hill is clear, and keep 15 metres from the sled ahead of you
Exit the run-out area immediately after your run
Walk up the sides of the hill, never in the middle, and don't leave sleds on the hill
Shout a warning if you see another slider headed for danger
Don't build snow jumps; the City does not permit them
Stop immediately if someone is injured, and call 9-1-1 in an emergency

Supervision Requirements:

Children should be accompanied by a parent or guardian, as the City advises
Never leave young children alone at the top
Position yourself to intervene if needed
Watch for signs of hypothermia or frostbite
Take regular warming breaks every 30-45 minutes

Warning Signs to Leave:

Icy conditions making the hill too fast
Overcrowding creating dangerous situations
Signs of frostbite (white patches on skin, numbness)
Hypothermia symptoms (shivering, confusion, fatigue)
Equipment failure or damage
Children becoming reckless or unsafe

Common Injuries and Prevention

Most Common Toboggan Injuries:

Sprains and fractures (wrists, ankles, legs)
Concussions from collisions
Cuts and bruises
Hypothermia and frostbite

Prevention Strategies:

Use appropriate hills for skill level
Maintain control and reasonable speeds
Avoid overcrowded hills during peak times
Steer around jumps and bumps that form on popular runs, and report hazards to 3-1-1
Take breaks to prevent fatigue-related accidents
Never tie sleds together
Sled during daylight; at night, only on a well-lit hill

Best Times to Visit

By Day of Week

Weekday Mornings (Mon-Fri before noon):

Nearly empty hills
Fresh snow conditions
Easy parking
Peaceful experience
Ideal for young children or first-timers

Weekday Afternoons (Mon-Fri 3-6 PM):

After-school crowds
Energetic atmosphere
Hills can become rutted quickly
Parking may be challenging at popular spots

Weekend Mornings (Sat-Sun 9 AM-12 PM):

Moderate crowds
Good snow conditions
Families with young children
Parking fills by 10 AM at popular hills

Weekend Afternoons (Sat-Sun 12-4 PM):

Peak crowding
Wait times for popular runs
Rutted and icy conditions possible
Most social and energetic atmosphere

By Season

Early Season (December-Early January):

Fresh enthusiasm for winter activities
Holiday visitors increase crowds
Snow conditions variable
Some hills may not have sufficient snow base

Mid-Season (Mid-January-Early March):

Best snow conditions
Packed snow creates fastest runs
Cold temperatures may limit time outside
Most consistent hill availability

Late Season (March):

Slushy, heavy snow
Milder temperatures more comfortable
Hills may be muddy or patchy
Shorter wait times as interest wanes

Weather Considerations

Best Conditions:

Fresh snowfall of 5-10 cm
Temperatures between -5°C and -15°C
Sunny with minimal wind
Packed snow base with powder on top

Conditions to Avoid:

Ice rain or freezing rain (dangerously fast and hard)
Extreme cold below -25°C (frostbite risk)
High winds (wind chill danger)
Active snowstorms (visibility issues)

Combining Activities: Multi-Activity Winter Days

Toboggan + Skating

Some Ottawa parks offer both a toboggan hill and skating for all-day winter fun:

Lansdowne Park: An approved sledding hill near the skating court; the City closed the hill for construction last winter, so check its status on the sledding hills map before you go

Compare the City's sledding hills map with our guide to skating rinks in Ottawa to find a neighbourhood park that has both.

Toboggan + Cross-Country Skiing

Combine sledding with Nordic skiing at:

Greenbelt locations: Bruce Pit and Conroy Pit sit in the NCC Greenbelt, with several hills near ski trails
Gatineau Park: Pair a morning on the Gatineau Park trails with an afternoon at a hill on the way home

Toboggan + Winter Festivals

Plan your sledding around Ottawa's winter events:

Winterlude activities (early February)
Christmas Market visits (December)
Community winter carnivals throughout the season

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Ottawa's toboggan hills maintained by the city?

The City of Ottawa approves more than 70 sledding hills after a risk assessment and installs protective measures where needed, and it also maintains the NCC's Greenbelt hills at Bruce Pit, Conroy Pit and Green's Creek. The hills are not groomed like ski slopes: natural snow and use shape the sledding surface, so check conditions yourself. Report any dangerous condition to 3-1-1.

Do I need to bring my own toboggan or are there rentals?

You must bring your own sled or toboggan. There are no rental facilities at Ottawa's public toboggan hills. Sleds are available at Canadian Tire, Walmart, sporting goods stores, and many local retailers throughout winter, from basic foam sleds to steering sleds. Consider borrowing from neighbours or checking secondhand stores.

What age is appropriate for tobogganing?

Children as young as 2-3 years can enjoy gentle beginner hills with direct parental supervision. Start with very short, gentle slopes and adults riding with young children on larger sleds. Children typically develop independent sledding skills around age 5-6. For steep advanced hills, children should be at least 10-12 years old with demonstrated sliding skills and good judgment.

Can adults use Ottawa's toboggan hills?

Absolutely! Ottawa's toboggan hills welcome sledders of all ages. Advanced Greenbelt hills like Bruce Pit and Conroy Pit suit teens and adults seeking speed and thrills. Just match your hill choice to your skill level and physical abilities. Remember that falls can cause more serious injuries in adults than children, so exercise appropriate caution.

Are toboggan hills free to use in Ottawa?

Yes, the City-approved toboggan hills are in public parks and the Greenbelt, and there are no fees, passes, or tickets required. Simply arrive with your equipment, a helmet and an adult for every young child. Check the posted signs if you drive, since parking rules vary from park to park.

What if there isn't enough snow at my local hill?

Ottawa's toboggan hills require natural snowfall and are completely dependent on winter weather. If your local hill lacks sufficient snow, check the interactive map for alternatives. Hills with northern exposures or in areas that receive more snow may be ready earlier. You can also visit indoor winter activities when outdoor conditions aren't cooperating.

Final Thoughts

Ottawa's more than 70 City-approved toboggan hills offer something for every family, from neighbourhood park slopes for first-time sledders to fast Greenbelt runs at Bruce Pit and Conroy Pit. The City's risk assessments mean families can enjoy this classic Canadian winter activity with fewer surprises, as long as they stick to the approved list.

Whether you choose a neighbourhood hill within walking distance or make a special trip out to the Greenbelt, tobogganing creates lasting winter memories. Bundle up, grab your sled and a helmet, review the safety guidelines, and experience the pure joy of flying down a snow-covered hill with cold air in your face and laughter all around.

Winter in Ottawa is meant to be embraced, not endured. With approved hills in every part of the city, there's never been a better time to rediscover the simple pleasure of tobogganing.

Sources: City of Ottawa - Sledding hills, City of Ottawa Open Data - Sledding Hills, NCC - Tobogganing in the Greenbelt, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Central Experimental Farm visitor guidelines