Ottawa Start - News and events in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Arts & Entertainment

Business

Community

Kids & Families

Homes & Living

News

Shopping & Services

Sports & Healthy Living

Tourism & Attractions

Partner Links

Tobogganing at the Experimental Farm. Photo by Juliette Giannesini.
Tobogganing at the Arboretum in the Experimental Farm. Photo by Juliette Giannesini.

Ottawa Toboggan Guide / Gatineau Toboggan Guide

This is the ultimate guide to toboganning in Ottawa and Gatineau. Also known as sledding or sliding or tubing, it's one of winter's most fun and least expensive sports. All you need is some warm clothes and something to slide on. Tobogganning has been a favourite sport in Ottawa for over a century. Happy sliding!

Map of Ottawa and Gatineau toboggan hills

Click on any marker for information about each hill.
Compiled from data from the City of Ottawa, Ville de Gatineau and N.C.C.
Additions/corrections/comments: please contact us.

Is your favourite hill listed?

We need your help to tell us about your favourite toboggan hills in Ottawa -- big ones, little ones, hidden ones, etc. Click here to send us your suggestions.

Toboggan safety tips

Choose a hill with a gentle slope, free of protruding objects such as ice, rocks, and tree stumps. Also, be sure that the hill is not too icy - you want to be able to stop if you need to.
Sled in daylight so that you can see any potential dangers. If you choose to sled at night, make sure that the hill is very well lit.
Children should wear a helmet at all times while sledding to help protect their heads and to decrease their risks of head injuries.
Tuck in any scarves, strings, or long hats that could potentially catch on a rock or tree and cause strangulation or other serious injuries. Use a neckwarmer instead of a scarf
Wait until the path is clear before starting down the hill. This could help prevent you from running into another person on your way down.
Always position yourself on your sled or toboggan so that you are kneeling or facing forward. Never lie down on a sled or toboggan while going down a hill.
Children who are five years old or younger should have an adult accompany them on a sled or toboggan.
Climb back up the hill on the side to keep out of the way of others who are sledding down.
Wear bright coloured clothing so that you will be easy to spot from far away on the hill. This will give others time to turn or stop before they get close enough to hit you.
Choose a sled that is sturdy and easy to control. Magic carpets, flying saucers, garbage bags, and cardboard boxes are not good options, as they are light and flimsy and can easily fly out of control.
Have only the recommended number of passengers on a sled or toboggan at one time.
Racing down the hill might seem fun, but sleds can often be more difficult to control at higher speeds. Try to maintain safe speeds that will allow you to have the control to stop if you need to.
Keep children warm. Dress your children in layers. Make sure their heads and necks are covered by a hat and a neck warmer. Watch for frostbite! On sunny days, put sunscreen on their skin.

Sources:
Health Canada
http://www.healthunit.org/

The biggest & best hills around

Bruce Pit (Nepean)
Cedarview across from Bell High School in Bell's Corners, an official NCC toboggan hill and a favourite.
Conroy Pit (Ottawa)
Conroy Road south of Hunt Club, an official NCC toboggan hill
Watler Baker Park (Kanata)
On Terry Fox Drive near Hazeldean. Large city-wide man-made hill in highly visual location. Has lights, directional containment fencing, moderate slope to the hill, very long runs, parking available at Kanata Recreation Complex. Caution: light standards are wrapped.
Mooney's Bay Park (Ottawa)
2960 Riverside Drive. Large city-wide man-made hill in a visible location. Gradual to semi-steep slop, wide vision lines, long run offs, unlit, parking is provided at Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Caution: Trees and lampposts in area are wrapped with padding. Sledders are cautioned that the chain-link fence to the north side of the hill is a potential collision hazard.
Carlington Park (aka Carlington Ski Hill) (Ottawa)
937 Clyde Avenue
Very large hill with long gradual runs, parking provided a J. Alph Dulude Arena. Caution restricted use: East side of the hill has playing field fencing. Sledding is not permitted on the east side of the hill by the staircase. Possibly the steepest toboggan hill in Ottawa, it used to be a ski hill.
Arboretum / Experimental Farm (Ottawa)
Next to Dow's Lake along the Rideau Canal, access from Queen Elizabeth Drive, part of the Experimental Farm. Great views and a steep, exciting hill.
Parc Lemoyne (Gatineau)
Rue Hillside - advanced hills.

Private Hills / Admission Required

Calabogie Peaks Resort
Tubing is available during scheduled times, weather permitting. Call first to confirm. Features one run and a magic carpet lift.
Mont Tremblant
Features 8 trails for tubing and 2 rope tows to bring you up to the top.
Logos Land
Snow tubing hill is perfectly designed for family outings. It's big enough to give the kids an exhilarating ride but not to big to frighten mom or dad from going down. Even grandparents go down and thoroughly enjoy it.
Mount Pakenham
The Tube Park is located on a gentler slope. Spectator area with campfire circle available when you need a rest or warm-up.
Edelweiss
Edelweiss has 8 runs for tube sliding and a lift to take you up to the top.
Le Domaine de L'Ange-Gardien
This privately run hill has 8 different runs and a lift to bring you back up to the top.