Swallow Cliff Woods: 100-Foot Bluff Sled Hill & Winter Stair Challenge

About this adventure

Swallow Cliff Woods in Palos Park is home to the most iconic and dramatic sledding hill in Cook County. Created by glaciers thousands of years ago, the preserve's towering 100-foot bluff once held famous CCC wooden toboggan runs. Today, it serves as a sprawling, fast-paced sled hill equipped with powerful floodlights for evening sledding under the stars. Next to the sled slope, the historic 125 limestone steps built in 1930 provide a legendary winter workout for active parents and teens. Sledding is completely free (bring your own plastic sled or saucer; metal runners and tubes are prohibited). The stone pavilion shelter at the base offers heated restrooms and a cozy place to catch your breath after conquering the bluff.