Area's best sledding spots

In anticipation of some REAL snow around here, we've got some info for you on the best sledding spots in town.

First of all, know that any city park is fair game. Even if a park isn’t posted for sledding, feel free to slide down any slippery slope.

Tops on the list for city park spots are Cottonwood Creek on the city’s northeast side, near Dublin Boulevard and Rangewood Drive just south of Woodmen Road, and Quail Lake on the city’s southwest side on East Cheyenne Mountain Boulevard, west of the World Arena.

But there are others with good, long runs free of obstructions.

-Kathleen Marriage Park on the far north

-Broadmoor Bluffs and Van Diest parks on the south.

There are good hills in Mountain Shadows and Woodstone parks to the west and at Village Green and Madison parks to the east. And Wasson Park in the center of the city rates a mention.

Based on a survey of Gazette employees, there are plenty of good sledding hills beyond the city’s list.

Several suggested going downtown to Monument Valley Park, where Fontanero Street ends, and sledding into Boddington Field. Others prefer the hill west of the Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale St., off Cache La Poudre Street.

East of downtown, Middle Shooks Run near El Paso Street and Willamette Avenue received kudos and warnings: great hill, but you can end up in the creek if you aren’t careful.

On the west side, the nod went to Howbert Elementary School at 30th and Water streets, as well as Bear Creek Regional Park, off 21st Street and Argus Road.

North-siders recommend a hill behind Jenkins Middle School on Austin Bluffs Parkway near Dublin Boulevard, as well as Timberview Middle School on Squirreltail Road, north of Research Parkway near Powers Boulevard.

In Manitou Springs, locals point to a hill behind the Iron Springs Chateau, off Ruxton Avenue.

In Monument, take exit 161 off Interstate 25 and drive east on State Highway 105 a couple miles until you see the cars near Fairplay Drive. Another Tri-Lakes hot spot is on Deer Creek Road, east of Woodmoor Drive.

In Woodland Park, try Meadow Wood Park on the west side. From U.S. Highway 24, go north on Highway 67 about a half mile to County Road. Turn west, and look for the hill.

For more aggressive sledders, try the steep bowl off Rampart Range Road. Get there from Highway 24 by turning on Baldwin Street — at the McDonald’s restaurant — and driving through town to Rampart Range Road. Follow it until you see the bowl on your right, several miles up.

And watch out for the trees.