We know Pittsburghers have a unique way of speaking. Apparently, even when it comes to describing having fun in the snow, Pittsburghers are a bit unusual. While it’s perfectly normal for people to go “sled riding” here when we get a snowfall, it seems that most of the country goes “sledding.” Whether you call it sled riding or sledding, there’s no doubt about how much fun it is to speed down a slope, the sled shushing beneath you over the snow as the cold wind nips at your cheeks. If you’re looking for a sled-riding worthy hill, here’s the lowdown on sliding downhill in the Pittsburgh area.
Sled riding hills are a bit like neighborhood bars, each community has its favorite. Pittsburgh’s terrain is such that most every area has some large hill suitable for sled riding. If you are new to the area and don’t know where to head to sled ride, either ask around or the next time we get appreciable snow, watch for the bundled up teens and tots towing toboggans or sleds and follow along.
Quite a few municipalities in the area have designated sliding hills. Check with your local government to see if yours does. Below are several popular hills in some of the area’s municipalities and county parks.
There are three State Parks near Pittsburgh that are good for sled ridding.
If you want to take your sled riding to the next level, you might want to try snow tubing. There are two snow tubing places near Pittsburgh:
We all know people who have been injured while sled riding and who have gotten into trouble trespassing onto private property to sled ride. Always take the utmost care when sled riding such as avoiding areas that have trees, obstacles, ponds, traffic, and fences and make sure that you do not sled ride on slopes that end in the street or a parking lot. In addition, make sure that you are permitted to sled ride on the hill. You want to have fun, not end up with a citation and fine for trespassing.