Grab Your Sled and Check Out These Area Hills This Winter

There is no need to stay cooped up indoors as the snow starts to fall this winter.

McHenry County could see some flurries on Thursday and there is more snow in the forecast this weekend. With that in mind, we decided to round up a list of some area sledding hills that are favorites for area residents during the winter months. If we missed your favorite area snow hill, please let us know by e-mailing Amie at amie.schaenzer@patch.com.

Crystal Lake

• Veteran Acres Park, 431 Walkup Road (north of Route 176), has two hills. The "big" hill is located off Walkup Road by the main parking lot, playground and Babe Ruth baseball field. It is lighted. A smaller, but steep hill is located across the park by the Crystal Lake Park District Nature Center, 330 N. Main St., Crystal Lake. It is not lighted. There is also a warming center and ice skating pond at Veteran Acres Park. More information is available on the Crystal Lake Park District website.

• There are sledding areas to check out at Butternut Preserve, 540 Ballard Road, and also trails available for cross-country skiing.The sledding areas are not guarded.
• Four Colonies Park, 925 Sarasota Lane in Crystal Lake, offers a small sledding hill as well as an ice skating pond.
• Three Oaks Recreation Area, 5517 Route 14, Crystal Lake. Three Oaks has a sizable hill. Sledding is only permitted during park hours, 8 a.m. to sunset for the winter season. All vehicles entering the park without a valid city vehicle sticker will be charged a fee of $5 for parking per vehicle. Restrooms on site. Visit the Three Oaks Recreation website for more information.
• Indian Prairie Park, 600 Miller Road, (behind Indian Prairie School), Crystal Lake. The sledding hills is not staffed but is a very popular destination for residents of Crystal Lake and Lake in the Hills. The hill faces Miller Road just west of Randall Road. Kids sled there day and night. Only a few lights are in the area. Parking available by the baseball fields.

Cary

Sled from dawn to dusk at Lions Park, 1200 Silver Lake Road, north of Three Oaks Road, in Cary. Has on-site parking.

Algonquin

• Braewood Park, 1001 Gaslight Drive in Algonquin, is a popular hill.
• High Hill Park and Nature Preserve, 501 Kirkland, has nice vistas.
• Spella Park, 2610 Harnish Drive, has great views, a fast hill, lights and a warming element.

Huntley

Deicke Park, 11419 S. Route 47, Huntley, is the most popular sledding destination in town. More information is available from the Huntley Park District.

Wauconda

Lakewood Forest Preserve Winter Sports Area, at Fairfield and Ivanhoe roads, has a large, lighted hill.

Island Lake

Converse Park, Route 176, west of N. Darrell Rd., Island Lake. This park offers a high, lighted hill.

Ringwood

The sled hill at Glacial Park, 6313 Harts Road in Ringwood, is located by the Wiedrich Barn amphitheater and is open when there is 4 inches of snow or more. The Lost Valley Visitor Center is a great place to warm up. Check the McHenry County Conservation website on information on the whether the sled hill is open or closed.

Stephanie Price and Claudia Lenart contributed to this article

Photo credit: Patch filed photo