It's a winter thrill that's fast, easy and doesn't require any expensive equipment. Snow tubing in Wisconsin is an exciting winter activity the entire family will enjoy.
We're not talking about a leisurely jaunt down a hill on a sled. We're talking about tubing in style. This is the 100-foot-drop, multiple-chute, lift-to-the-top-of-the-hill kind of tubing. And nearby, you’ll find warm facilities like cozy chalets that serve delicious food and hot chocolate.
Here's a look at five of Wisconsin's top snow tubing hills that will thrill the family this season.
Cascade Mountain – Portage
Cascade Mountain is a hi-tech snow tubing operation with plenty of snow-making capability. They offer 900-foot chutes that drop 90 feet, and a surface lift to take tubers effortlessly to the top of the hill. The chalet snack bar is a great place for the family to warm up together while enjoying sandwiches and soda.
The snow tubing season generally runs from mid-December through early March and provides snowy fun for the children and adults alike. Cascade also offers downhill skiing on 34 runs and a full-facility terrain park for snowboarders.
Sylvan Hill Park – Wausau
Sylvan Hill Park encourages kids of all ages to "Sit down, Hold on, Push off, Scream, Repeat!" Six chutes carve a path down a pair of hills with 133 feet and 120 feet of elevation, and two wire tows return everyone quickly to the top. The chalet snack bar serves pizza, nachos, soft pretzels and pre-packaged foods, plus hot and cold beverages.
The lighted hills operate mid-December through early March, Friday and Saturday evenings, plus Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Riders must be 42" or taller in order to tube. There’s also a 4.7 km cross country ski trail system (single track and a skating lane) and a 1.3 km snowshoe trail system within Sylvan Hill Park for added winter fun.
Sunburst – Kewaskum
Sunburst is designed for maximum snow tubing excitement with 42, 1300-foot lanes that rocket riders of all ages down the 10 story drops at speeds of up to 30mph. And the hill's two 540-foot "Magic Carpet" lifts take you and your tube back to the top of the hill with ease. This park is also home to the world’s largest tubing hill, so you can be sure you and your crew are in for some serious fun.
Concessions are available at the Sunburst chalet, and their snow-making capabilities ensure perfect snow conditions from mid-December through early March. Sunburst also offers downhill skiing on 11 runs and snowboarding in three terrain parks.
Badlands Sno-Park - Hudson
Badlands Sno-Park is a family operation that caters to snow tubers. Their seven runs offer something for everyone in the family: a "bunny" run for beginners; a long, curving "Monkey Tail"; the "Big Hill" for those that want a wilder ride; and "Turbo-tubing" on a run off the north side of the hill. High-speed rope tows whisk you back to the top of the hill, and tubers of all ages are welcome.
The chalet is the perfect place to warm up and grab a snack. Badlands make and groom their own snow to ensure the magic never stops from mid-December to early March.
Ariens Hill – Green Bay
Ariens Hill is a recent addition to Titletown, adjacent to the famous Lambeau Field in Green Bay. In the summer months the hill serves as a unique city park, but when temperatures drop, the slope is transformed (with the help of snow-making machines) into a thrilling tubing hill perfect for coasting down with friends and family. Two lanes stretch 300 feet, so hold onto your hats. Take the stairs or elevators back to the top while your tube rides up its own lift. Each ticket gets you an unforgettable ride and a bird’s-eye view of Titletown.
If you're looking for more winter downhill thrills for the family, check out these 5 Unique Wisconsin Sledding Hills.
Ready for refreshing winter fun? Check trail conditions and know before you go with the Wisconsin Snow Report.
