Weeeeeeeee. If you’ve been tobogganing or sledding before, you know how glorious it feels to zip down the hill after fresh snowfall. If you haven’t, what are you waiting for?! Whether you head out with friends or take your energized kiddos out for some fam jam fun, a day on the hill is guaranteed to remedy the winter blues (regardless of the tumbles and tantrums along the way). Fortunately, there are plenty of spots to go tobogganing in Toronto so I’ve rounded up a few of our favourites below.
Where To Go Tobogganing In Toronto
1. Tobogganing At Riverdale Park
I’ll kick things off with my favourite hill in the city: Riverdale Park. Beyond the epic sunsets and skyline views, this park has two big tobogganing hills. Divided by the DVP, there’s a steep hill on the east side of the park and a smaller hill on the west side. They’re connected via bridge so we like to make it a full day experience when we take our toddler. We usually kick things off on the east side (mama needs her coffee from Rooster Coffee House), slide our way down to the bridge, hit up the hill on the west side and end the day at Riverdale Farm (note: it’s currently closed during lockdown so check their website before making any promises to kiddos). There’s also a skating trail and hockey pad at Riverdale Park East if you want to book a slot ahead of time and add to the winter festivities.
2. Tobogganing At Trinity Bellwoods Park
Little Luka’s first tobogganing experience was in our old hood at Trinity Bellwoods Park. He loved every second of it. Or at least, we think he did — hard to tell when they’re so tiny and bundled up. The park has a few hills with varying slopes for tobogganers of all ages and is surrounded by some of the best coffee shops in Toronto which I highly recommend for an après tobogganing treat. My favourites: Nadège Patisserie, White Squirrel Coffee Shop, Jimmy’s Coffee Shop, Ella’s Uncle and The Tampered Press.
Is it legal to go tobogganing at Trinity Bellwoods? To be honest, I’m not quite sure. I don’t see the park listed on the city’s tobogganing locations website (I’ve shared the link at the bottom of this post), but I also haven’t spotted any signs on the hills we’ve been on so I’ll let you guys decide for yourselves!
3. Tobogganing At Christie Pits
There are few signs that ban tobogganing on the southern perimeter of Christie Pits, but most locals flock to the east side of the park for suitable runs. It’s not listed on the city’s tobogganing locations website so, again, I’ll leave it to you to make the call. Note: the north east corner is definitely NOT for the faint of heart — a steep and thrilling ride awaits.
4. Tobogganing At Monarch Park
Monarch Park is in our neighbourhood so you’ll often find us tobogganing just east of the ice rink. It’s a relatively small hill dominated by kids so it’s perfect for a family-friendly experience. Note: the hill is located in the dogs off-leash area so there may be a few extra obstacles to avoid when going down.
If you want to make a day of it, book a skating sesh or visit the playground after tobogganing. Note: Monarch Park isn’t listed on the city’s tobogganing website so if you’re looking for a nearby hill that is, head to Greenwood Park instead!
5. Tobogganing At Centennial Park
Located in northwest Toronto, Centennial Park was opened in 1967 to celebrate Canada’s 100th birthday (hence its name). What used to be a dairy farm is now a local community hub dotted with sports fields, baseball diamonds, playgrounds and hills that are perfect for tobogganing. This park made the city’s list so you can rest assured that it is legal to go tobogganing here.
Questions You May Have…
- Is tobogganing illegal in Toronto? Many aren’t aware, but the City of Toronto banned tobogganing in a dozen or so parks a while back. So we (sadly) won’t be re-creating this High Park scene anytime soon…
To find city-approved tobogganing locations, make sure to visit their tobogganing website before heading over. Most hills also have signs that explicitly prohibit tobogganing so keep your eyes peeled!
- Where can I buy toboggans/sleds? We’ve purchased ours from Canadian Tire and Walmart in the past. You can also try your luck on Kijiji. Don’t let the lack of equipment hold you back from having fun! You don’t really need a fancy/expensive toboggan — even a cheap snow carpet or a DIY sled will do (I’ve personally tried everything from trash bags and yoga mats to lids from plastic storage containers).
- Any tobogganing safety tips for first-timers? I think the most important is to scan the hill for obstacles and make sure there’s plenty of room at the bottom (away from roads/railroads/trees etc.) You’ll also want to avoid wearing loose scarves or anything that can get caught and cause injury on the way down. Oh, and make sure you climb up the sides of the hill — I’ve seen too many kids and adults get plowed down by accident!
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