I’m a college student, so I’m constantly stressed.
I’d give just about anything to go back to a time when I had no obligations or reservations. But, short of inventing a time machine, there’s really no better way to take advantage of your youthfulness than to participate in the nostalgic tradition of sledding: It’s easy and free.
If, on the off-chance you feel bad about forgoing adult responsibilities to play on a big hill of snow, count it as your exercise for the day. But don’t head out the door without first reading my round-up of the three best places to sled in Utah.
1. Sugarhouse Park
This place is considered a “crown jewel,” according to its website — and they’re not wrong. Sugarhouse Park is beautiful year-round, but it really seems to sparkle after a fresh snow. People always have and always will love to sled at Sugarhouse Park for the same reason they love vanilla ice cream: It’s a classic. The hills are easily accessible and a good length.
With Sugarhouse Coffee right down the street and countless restaurants in the area, there are plenty of options to help you warm up after a long day of tearing it up on your toboggan.
Sugarhouse Park is usually busy, but strangers are just friends you haven’t made yet, right? Plus a rowdy bunch can sometimes add excitement to the sport.
2. Mountain Dell
It’s a bit out of the way for some, but the Mountain Dell Golf Course is definitely worth the trip. This spot is situated about 20 minutes away from downtown Salt Lake City by way of Parley’s Canyon up I-80. Mountain Dell is one of the first and foremost family-friendly slopes; however, keep in mind that it is a reservoir area, so no dogs are allowed.
While it can be jam-packed on the weekends, Mountain Dell is free and the long runs will make you forget about the hordes of people (or worse, trying to find a parking spot). As you’re cruising down the slope, you might feel as though it will never end.
3. University Village
This slope makes the list for nostalgia’s sake. The U’s family housing, for students who are married or single parents, has three locations: the medical plaza towers, East Village and West Village. Growing up in West Village, I became familiar with the topography, and one of the first things I discovered was “the bowl.”
In reality “the bowl” was nothing more than a steep grassy hill between two courts of the apartment complex, but all you need is vision. The bowl is fairly steep in the middle, tapering off on either side. This shape is perfect, as it gives a wide array of steepness (including a gradual decline for the less adventurous). If you’re lucky, some brave and proactive souls will have already constructed a sweet make-shift jump before you get there.
@kamrynlinda