A Sledding Day with Kids

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My son was convinced that it would snow on Christmas. He kept going on about it even after I explained many times that it was likely not going to snow since we didn’t live in an area where it snowed often. Luckily he was too preoccupied with gifts on Christmas to worry about it not snowing. But, the desire for snow still persisted.

With my younger son having just turned two, I figured this year could be the year we went out for a snow and sledding adventure. So we geared up to head to the mountains this winter.

Gear Up Before Going

We had to get some new gear before we headed to the snow. While sledding isn’t as hard core as skiing or snowboarding, you still want to be dry and warm.

What we got for our Kids

  • Snow bibs (pants work, too)

  • Snow jacket, long underwear (aka base layer)

  • Warm socks

  • Beanie/hat

  • Mittens/Gloves

  • Snow boots

Where can you get it all?

  • Playback Sports in Proctor has a lot of kids snow gear. Note: They have been low on adult snow stuff, but worth checking out.

  • Pop-up Kids and Sweet Peas on 6th both have some kids snow bibs, jackets, and boots

  • Costco had sleds, mittens, and base layers (although I am unsure if they are still in stock)

  • Target has most of the snow gear you need

  • Amazon for everything else. We got these base layers for Wesley and they worked well

  • Your local Buy Nothing FaceBook group (if you haven’t joined yours, you should!)

Ready, Set, Go!

I’m hardy an authority on where to go. In fact, this was our first time heading to snow since we’ve had kids and prior to kids we lived in Seattle and didn’t do the sledding scene. This is my experience from our first attempt last weekend. Plus, some tips I heard along the way.

Snoqualamie Pass

In Snoqualmie Pass just off I-90 there is the following sledding spots (official link here). NOTE: You'll need a Sno-Park day permit, as well as your Discover Pass.

  • Hyak - This is the closest and main place everyone wants to go sledding at.

  • Gold Creek - It’s just an exit away from Hyak and the website indicates sledding.

  • Crystal Springs - Just down an exit from Hyak, although I’m not 100% whether this is sledding available here as the website doesn’t indicate the sledding with the icon.

  • Kachess Lake - This isn’t a sledding area really - read our experience below. We saw a place or two (residents?) that were offering off-street parking. If you get stuck in a pickle like we did, then try this out. Otherwise, I think it’s technically just a place to play in the snow.

Other Options

  • The Summit at Snoqualmie - Here you can do some tubing at The Summit Tubing Park. I’ve heard this referred to as Apental as well. This is a tubing experience not sledding (but hey, close enough) . You have to get a ticket online in advance. Also, I believe only three years and older are allowed to tube. Sorry tots and babies!

  • Olympic National Park  - Hurricane Ridge Tube Run is open. Here they will provide the tubes and run on a first-come, first-served basis. The website indicates that the parking lot is full by 9 am. After 9 am there is usually about a 1 to 3 hour wait to get to the ski area!

  • Mount Rainier - Paradise Sledding Area is now open as well. (note: Sounds Fun Mom has an informative post on this as well)

  • Naches (Near Rainier) - White Pass Tubing Hill is located 12 miles Southeast of Mt. Rainier National Park at the summit of US HWY 12. No reservations are required as they are first come, first serve. Also, the site indicates they are open Wednesdays and Fridays for the 11:45 am and 2 pm sessions and then weekends for a 9:30 am and 11:45 am and 2 pm sessions.

Our Experience:

We started our drive to Hyak around 9:30am on Saturday. On our way, about 30 minutes from our arrival, we saw the signs indicating all sno-parks off I-90 were full. We winced but were so close we thought we’d give it a go anyway. We arrived around 11am (yes, in retrospect, terrible timing). We tried to go to Hyak, but there were cars lined up to the entrance with a closed off “full parking lot.” The employee managing traffic directed us to go down an exit to try Crystal Lake and Gold Creek, But we found the same results: full.

Cars were parked all along the roadway and even on the exit ramps. It was a madhouse of families trying to find parking and a place to play. Off exit 62 (one exit down from Hyak which is exit 54), we turned down Kachess Lake Road and decided to just try to find a place to play in the snow…we came this far we had to at least make a snowball. We found parking by Kachess Lake Road and Via Kachess. There were a lot of cars all parked along the road and it seems legit, so we unloaded the crew to seek out a place to play in the snow.

We ended up walking down Via Kachess Road and happened upon some snowshoers. They pointed out a small hill in the trees and that’s where we ended up. It was deep snow that hadn’t been groomed for sledding, but we managed to have great time (although sore the next day from tredging through all the deep snow…uphill…with a 2 year-old in arm).

Unfortunately, when we were done, we found we got a parking ticket on our car. Whomp whomp. Everyone on that road got a ticket. We apparently were parked in front of a sno-park…we didn’t see any signage, but apparently we were where we were. Sigh. The price for fun.

Let’s Sum it Up:

  • The best sledding will be at a designated son-park.

  • Get there early…they open at 8am, I believe.

  • Try to go on a weekday instead.

  • Buy your parking permit and discovery pass before leaving.

  • If needed, buy your ticket before you go.

  • My tip: Bring food and water, wipes, and a change of clothes. Oh, my boys loved having blankets for the drive home.

Share Your Experience.

We’re all just trying to find ways to have fun with our kids right now in the middle of a pandemic. Let’s be good humans and share what we know and give a helping hand.