Where to go snow tubing and sledding near Boston this winter

For a taste of winter sports without the extreme speeds, hit the gentle slopes of Boston Common once a few inches of snow have accumulated. It’s BYO sled, of course, but any old sliding apparatus will do. Otherwise, just take a good roll down a hill and then make snow angels. Tip: It’s also a good place for gentle, friendly snowball fights.

Jamaica Pond's Sugar Bowl is one of the safer and more popular places to sled in the city. It's an inverted hill, meaning you can drop in on one end and swing back on the other side without worrying about sliding into the street.

One of the world’s leading centers for plant study, as well as a lovely place to take a stroll, the Arboretum was established in 1872 and is administered by Harvard University. The 281-acre park is open to the public and, on its grounds, Peters Hill (at Walter and Bussey Streets) is the best spot for sledding.

Close to the city, Brookline offers three sled-friendly parks. Corey Hill Park, which boasts an excellent view of the city, offers several short, steep slopes, making it a popular spot with thrill-seeking teens. Larz Anderson Park often attracts the crowds and it's perhaps the most popular park in the area. On the smaller side, you'll find Amory Park, which has gentle training runs for the little ones to safely slide down.

Cambridge offers several places that are perfect for sledding. Located in Cambridge Common, the Alexander Kemp Playground is an excellent location for little ones. Danehy Park, built on a former landfill, is one of the highest points in the city, making it a popular go-to for locals looking to sled. Lastly, iconic Fresh Pond offers several gentle, spacious slopes for a day of winter fun.

Most folks probably flock to this 50-acre destination for skiing and snowboarding, thanks to its 240-foot vertical drop with 17 trails, nine lifts and two terrain parks—all of which are fully equipped for snowmaking. However, if you aren't too extreme when it comes to your winter sports and want to take it slow, this place also features the largest snow tubing slope in New England right next to its trails.

Boston is no Denver, but there are still a couple of mountains (hills, really) for us to enjoy. Just a few minutes outside of the city proper is a 7,000-acre reservation that's a popular outdoor spot any season of the year. Climb to the top of Great Blue Hill and enjoy an unmatched view of the city skyline, and take part in some stellar sledding and tubing nearby at the Ponkapoag Golf Course in Canton.

A popular destination for skiing in the winter, Wachusett Mountain—the tallest mountain near Boston tops out at around 2,000 feet—occasionally offers awesome tubing at the ski resort. The surrounding reservation includes the largest area of old growth forest in Massachusetts plus ponds, streams, a raised bog and 17 miles of hiking trails. 

Locals mostly know quiet Hopkinton as the starting point of the Boston Marathon, but Hopkinton State Park has a lot to offer, with several trails running through 1,500 acres of forest. There are trails of all levels—even ones used for horseback riding. In the winter, you can go sledding down the park's dam.

Titus Sparrow Park in the South End is another neighborhood park that has gentle slopes perfect for young kids.