Best sledding locations in Cd'A and Post Falls

COEUR d’ALENE — A sign at Coeur d’Alene’s Cherry Hill Park asks sledders to stick to the sides of the slope when heading back up the hill for another ride.

That sign was ignored by kids and adults alike Wednesday as dozens of sledders took advantage of a heavy layer of fresh snow covering the Coeur d’Alene area.

A girl in a pink snowsuit, barely 2 feet tall, stumbled up the middle of the hill as she tried to keep up with a slightly taller boy.

A grandmother stood under a tree at the bottom of the slope, trying to shelter herself as much as possible from the falling snow, as she watched her four grandchildren descend on colorful sleds.

Ashley Helling, 26, was waiting at the base of the hill for her two younger sisters, ages 11 and 17. It was their first time at the Cherry Hill sledding area and she said they seemed to be enjoying themselves.

“It’s nice because it’s not so steep that it is dangerous,” Helling said.

Bill Greenwood, superintendent of Coeur d’Alene Parks and Recreation, said while there are no specific rules for sledders, everyone needs to be safe and cautious, and they should heed the signs.

“People need to be aware that people are coming down, so they’ve got to keep an eye out,” Greenwood said. “Some people can get moving … you can take someone out if you’re not careful.”

There are three dedicated sledding hills in Coeur d’Alene: Cherry Hill Park, Boyd Avenue and Lost Avenue. In Post Falls, Black Bay Park is set aside for the slippery pastime.

Cherry Hill has been a staple of Coeur d’Alene sledding for more years than Greenwood could say. Coeur d’Alene Street Department Superintendent Tim Martin said people have been sledding there for as long as he could remember, at least 30 years.

Martin said the two streets that are dedicated sledding hills are noted in the city’s Snow Plan for this year. The one on Boyd Avenue is located between Ninth and 10th streets, and on Lost Avenue, the incline is situated between Dollar and 15th streets. Signs are posted to warn drivers there may be sledders on those streets.

“The neighborhoods just love them,” Martin said. “It kind of keeps a little bit of that Mayberry flavor.”

Like Greenwood, Martin said there are no specific rules, but he had one more suggestion for sledders on the street: “Wear helmets.”

While those are the exclusive sledding hills in Coeur d’Alene, Greenwood said he saw people sledding and snowboarding throughout the city — even on the slight incline at Landings Park and the small hills at McEuen Park.

Post Falls Parks and Recreation Director Dave Fair said Post Falls has only one long hill for sledding, because the city is fairly flat. He said the hill located at Black Bay Park on Third Avenue is fairly steep, with straw bales at the bottom for stopping.

Fair said some of the more shallow areas where people go sledding in Post Falls are Syringa Park, Polites Park and Seltice Elementary.

“The biggest thing we ask people is just to check what they are sledding into,” Fair said. “Obviously trees, but also signs, fire hydrants … look for all those things to make sure that it’s a safe area for the kids to be sledding in.”