Winter is in Full Swing – Sledding Hills Here We Come!
The holidays are over, school is back in session, and there is still a loooong stretch of winter weather to go. This is great news for us sledding and tubing lovers! There is SO much to look forward to these next couple of months when it comes to winter fun!
We in the Lansing area are lucky to have a ton of sledding hills and tubing hills offering fun for everyone, from the tiniest tots to the thrill-seeking teens, all the way up to the young-at-heart grandparent!
Top Sledding & Tubing Hills
Tubing or sledding is the absolute best way to spend a snowy, winter day. Check out these top favorites, with a few extra tips you may not know about each one!
Hawk Island Park
| 1601 E Cavanaugh Rd, Lansing MI 48910 (517) 676-2233 |
Hawk Island is a Top Tubing Destination, with so much more – it’s a winter destination for people near and far.
From the beautiful snowy trails to the incredible snow tubing, you can spend an entire day here. The hill is fantastic; 500-600 feet long with a drop of 50-60 feet, with 16 ft wide snow lanes.
The “magic carpet” (mechanical hill lift) makes it easy for little legs to get back to the top, again and again, saving energy for all the fun parts! For anyone needing a break from the cold, the warming shack is stocked with snacks, hot chocolate, and s’more supplies. Grab some to enjoy around the bonfires around the hill.
No snow? No problem! Hawk Island makes its own, so if all you see is grass (or that fun winter mud) in your backyard, you can always head over to Hawk Island for a winter wonderland.
Tip: If you have a party of 25 or more, the entire hill can be reserved at only a slightly higher price per person than a public entry. This would make for a memorable family reunion or private party spot!
2022 Covid Details: They are open this year by reservation. Tickets are currently sold out for the season; call to check for cancellations.
Cost: $10 per person for two hours or $8 per person with groups of four or more (there is also a vehicle entrance fee of $3 for residents and $5 for non-residents)
For more info, check out their website.
Burchfield Park
| 881 Grovenburg Rd, Holt, MI 48842 (517) 676-2233 |
Burchfield Park in Holt has great tubing, and it’s cheap!
These two hills are perfect for the entire family – with one hill for the little kids and one for the adventure seeker, there’s something for everyone. Snow tubes are available for rental Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – only $3 for two hours.
Or, bring your own tubes or sleds for a day of entirely FREE fun!
Tip #1: Moonlight ski is on Saturday evenings if there is enough snow to groom the trails.
Tip #2: If you’re planning on checking out both Hawk Island and Burchfield, consider getting an annual park pass instead of paying the daily entrance fee. This annual pass is only $32 for residents ($42 for non-residents) and is especially worthwhile if you plan to visit these (or any other Ingham county parks) more than a few times year-round! Both are amazing summer parks, and the pass will also get you free parking at the Potter Park Zoo.
Cost: Ski rental: $10 per hour for adults, $5 for kids 12 and under. $3 for two-hour tube rental (with an entrance fee of $3 resident, $5 non-resident)
Granger Meadows Park
| 1275 Granger Meadows Ln, Lansing, MI 48906 (517) 668-0270 |
Granger Meadows Park means fun with a view – plus it’s FREE!
Another area favorite for sledding is Granger Meadows Park. This hill is worth checking out just for the view from the top. At 70 feet high with three varying slopes, it’s great for all ages.
You’ll also find a natural ice-skating pond, warming room, walking/hiking trails, dog park, and playground here, making for plenty to do outside.
Tip: Contrary to rumors about sledding down “Trash Hill,” Granger Meadows Park was not built on a landfill! While Granger (the area’s trash and recycling service) was the one who donated land for this park, it was actually farmland that had never been used as landfill space. The park is now owned and managed not by Granger, but by DeWitt township. Find out more fun facts here.
Cost: Free
More Top Lansing Area Sledding Hills
Each town has some local favorite spots, all easily accessible to the public, and ENTIRELY FREE! Check out these and other area parks for more outdoor winter fun.
DeWitt
| DeWitt High School (by the football stadium) 13601 Panther Dr, Dewitt, MI 48820 |
East Lansing
| Ehinger Park 315 Chesterfield Pkwy, East Lansing, MI 48823 |
| McDonald Middle School 1601 Burcham Dr, East Lansing, MI 48823 This hill is behind the middle school by the baseball fields, known to locals (though no one’s sure why!) as “Mickey Mouse Hill.” |
Grand Ledge
| Fitzgerald Park 133 Fitzgerald Park Dr, Grand Ledge, Michigan 48837 |
Holt
| John Taylor Memorial Park 4221 Charlar Dr, Holt, MI 48842 Long known in the area as “Deadman’s Hill,” this hill is just south of the Edru Roller Skating Rink in Holt. The name was just recently changed to John Taylor Memorial Park. As of 2020 they have now installed safety lights. Tip: The name change is significant. Check out why here. |
Lansing
| Grand Woods Park 4500 W Willow Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917 |
| Poxson Park 600 N Dexter Dr, Lansing, MI 48910 |
| Waverly Hill 3419 W Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48917 |
| Delta Mills Park 7001 Old River Trail, Lansing, MI 48917 |
Mason
| Hayes Park 851 W Columbia St, Mason, Michigan |
Okemos
| Hiawatha Elementary 1900 Jolly Rd, Okemos, MI 48864 |
| North Meridian Road Park 5191 Meridian Rd, Okemos, Michigan 48840 |
Williamston
| Williamston High School (by the football field) 3939 Vanneter Rd, Williamston, MI 48895 |
Have a favorite hill we didn’t mention? Please share any we missed in the comments below! Happy sledding!
Angel Hill
The Burchfield information is a bit wrong. Tubes are $3 per two hours. Moonlight ski is cancelled for just this year. Annual passes are $32 for resident. And I think the ski prices went up about .50 cents. See their website for accurate information.
There use to be a sliding hill near Cavanaugh Elementary, back in the 60’s.