Best Places to Go Sledding and Tubing for Seattle-Area Kids and Families

About a three-hour drive from Seattle, Leavenworth’s Ski Hill is a small ski area with two alpine runs (serviced by rope tows), 26 kilometers of cross-country skiing and snowshoe trails, and a tubing hill. The tubing hill is named for Lt. Michael Adams, a West Point graduate who was killed in Iraq in 2004. The tube lift was purchased in large part with donations made by Lt. Adams’ family and friends. Leavenworth tends to have more snow and earlier snow than The Summit, but not always. On the tubing hill, all tubers must ride independently. The recommended age is 8 and older, though kids as young as 4 have tubed. Always check the daily status before heading out. 

Fee: $34 for six runs with inner tube provided. $54 will get you a "Play all day" ticket which will get you six tubing runs, alpine and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking and sledding at the golf course (equipment rental is not included in the the "Play all Day" ticket price). 

Status: The Ski Hill will reopen Jan. 12 for tubing. Daily open status will be condition-dependent, alongside the open status of rope tows, the lodge, Nordic trails and other facilities. Be sure to confirm what you’re after is open by checking the website before heading out.

Hours: Once open, the tubing hill is generally open 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Warm up: Food, beverages and warmth are available at the historic Ski Hill Lodge. Or drive 2 miles away to Leavenworth to enjoy cafés, Bavarian-style dining, microbrews, candy shops and lights.

Note: People sometimes sled in the town park, located in the center of downtown Leavenworth, despite the ubiquitous "No sledding" signs. 

Next up: Hurricane Ridge