Fort Harrison State Park Winter Sledding & Dogwood Trail

About this adventure

Known affectionately to local families as 'Fort Ben,' Fort Harrison State Park in northeastern Marion County preserves 1,700 acres of historic military grounds, mature forests, and winding Fall Creek tributaries. Once substantial snow blankets the landscape, the park becomes Central Indiana's undisputed sledding headquarters. The designated sledding hill located near the Reddick Shelter features a wide, gentle runoff area at the bottom and a long slope that provides fast, safe descents for traditional plastic sleds, foam sliders, and snow tubes. For families seeking a quieter winter adventure, the paved 1-mile Dogwood Trail and 2.5-mile Harrison Trace Trail offer scenic, plowed walking paths through peaceful snowy woods and across frozen creek bridges. The park's heated Visitor Center and historic Fort Harrison Inn offer cozy fireplaces and warm dining. Family Experience & Accessibility: • Stroller Accessibility: Paved multi-use trails (Harrison Trace Trail) are regularly plowed and easily navigated with standard or all-terrain strollers; sledding hill features unpaved snowy terrain. • Nursing & Rest Spots: Heated restrooms located near the sledding shelter, plus comfortable fireplace seating and dining at the Fort Harrison Inn and Visitor Center. • Age Suitability: All ages; the sledding hill accommodates toddlers riding with parents as well as older independent kids; winter hiking trails are family-friendly. • Sensory Tips: High energy and lively laughter on the sledding hill after fresh snow; forest trails offer tranquil silence broken only by the gentle trickling of Fall Creek.