I tried to get my husband to go sledding for years. Every time I brought it up, he scoffed and asked me, “why would I go sledding when I can go skiing?” My enthusiastic, yet unconvincing response was “because it’s fun!” It was never enough to get him on a sled. Finally, some friends came to visit with their little one and we all went sledding – of course – all in the name of the child.

The child was too scared to go first, and the other adults were too adult to go, so it was my turn. I couldn’t wait to slide uncontrollably down a steep hill on a cheap and unstable plastic sled. Ahhhhhhhh…Weeeeee…WooooHoooo…Thump…Hahahahahaha…Repeat.

Once everyone saw that I was having an absolute blast, and that I made it safe and sound down the hill, they all wanted to give it a go. All it takes is one wild ride and you’re hooked! What was at first one too many sleds, was now not enough sleds – the kid and all of the adults were anxiously awaiting their turn. My husband, the once naysayer, was furiously rummaging through the car for anything he could turn into a makeshift sled. (Just in case you’re wondering, a random small piece of semi-hard plastic isn’t enough.)

As the sun began to set, it was painfully obvious that we were all snow-covered, hungry, tired, and running on pure adrenaline. It was time to go home, but the adults put up as much of a fight as the child!

Sometimes the best way to truly enjoy yourself is to let go and act like a kid again!

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Ready to try it for yourself? Or are the kids begging to go sledding? Here are a few free, favorite sledding areas on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe:

Truckee:
Located on Donner Pass Road in between Tahoe Forest Hospital and the Old Town Truckee I-80 freeway entrance. Park on the side of the road.

Tahoe City:
On Hwy 89, south of the Tahoe City Y, park by the 64 Acres park and the two sledding hills are across the street.

Incline Village:
On Fairway Blvd., next to the Chateau Clubhouse.

Emigrant Gap:
Located off of I-80, exit Laing Road on the south side of the freeway. A good hill if you have to sled before you get to North Shore, or one last stop down the mountain.

These sledding hills are not monitored or operated by anyone and can become quite busy.  Please make sure that you are sledding in a safe area with enough room to slow down without hitting anyone or anything.

Just in case you’re looking for an exhilarating experience in tubing, sans hiking, join us at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort where tubes and riders are transported by tow lift to the top of the hill and tubers can slide down a groomed run one at a time or in daisy chains. Check out our video. Hey, a little self-promotion is a good thing…

– Leah S.