Best Sledding Hills in Montgomery County

SILVER SPRING, MD — Once the first big snow has stopped falling, there’s no reason not to enjoy it. And the park system has also launched a snowman-making contest.

Montgomery Parks has released its list of the best sledding hills for kids and adults to try.

Approved locations for sledding in Montgomery Parks include:

• Agricultural History Farm (hill is by Bluebird Garden at the lower parking lot near the Activity Center)
• Avenel Local Park
• Ayrlawn Local Park
• Damascus Recreational Park (hillside near tennis court parking lot on Kings Valley Road)
• Hillmead Neighborhood Park
• Long Branch-Wayne Local Park (off of University Blvd.)
• Norwood Local Park
• Pilgrim Hills Local Park
• Pinecrest Local Park
• Sligo Creek Golf Course
• South Germantown Recreational Park (hill behind Field F and hillside between Mooseum and TennisPlex)
• Stratton Local Park
• Tilden Woods Local Park
• Woodacres Local Park

​”We want to make sure that our parks are available for recreation no matter what the weather is like,” said Casey Anderson, chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board, the governing body for county parks. “If we’re going to get hit with a big snowstorm, at least the kids should be able to take advantage of the opportunity for some great sledding. I also encourage everyone to get out and make some snow men (and snow women), snow angels, and even snowballs - as long as they are thrown responsibly, of course.”

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Montgomery Parks is also launching a snowman-making contest via social media. To enter participants simply build a snowman, take a photo and share it on Facebook or Twitter with the #MoCoSnowman hashtag. Deadline for entries is Monday, Jan. 25, at noon.

Prizes include four-pack of “Come Play in the Parks” passes (which provide discounted and/or free entry to many of Montgomery Parks’ facilities). The grand prize winner will receive two passes to the Go Ape ropes course located in Rock Creek Regional Park (Go Ape opens in March).

A panel of parks staff will judge the entries and announce the winners on Tuesday morning, Jan. 26.

Montgomery Parks Winter Weather Operating Procedures and Delay /Closure Announcements

Montgomery Parks snow command team is preparing for this week’s anticipated storm; staff are readying snow plows to clear parkways, sidewalks and parking lots. Information on conditions will be posted at www.MontgomeryParks.org/weather.

Staff also clear a portion of the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT) managed by Montgomery Parks from the corner of Bethesda Avenue to the six-mile marker on the trail. Updates on CCT trail conditions will be posted on the Montgomery Parks weather page as well as Facebook and Twitter via #CCTsnow.

»Patch snow photo by Greg Hambrick