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There are 21 parks in Monroe County, N.Y., covering 12,000 acres. ▶ monroecounty. gov/parks

Hills and Thrills

Black Creek Park

DEBI BOWER/DAYTRIPPINGROC.COM

Five places to sled in Rochester

By Sean Lahman

OTHING SCREAMS WINTER LIKE hurling yourself down

Na steep hill while riding a sled. Children and adults will get a thrill out of the cold, the speed and the crashes.

If you plan on sledding in the Rochester, N.Y., area this year, make sure you’re doing so on a hill that welcomes sliders. Try one of these five specially designated sledding hills found at Monroe County parks . Here’s a handy guide to these snowy fun spots:

USATODAYSPECIALEDITION

BLACK CREEK PARK Black Creek Park has one designated sledding hill, located on the northern end of the park behind the Woodside Lodge. The park can be found at the intersection of Union Street and Chili Avenue, and it covers more than 1,500 acres. There are five hiking trails if you want to bring your cross-country skis or snowshoes along as well. WEBSTER PARK This park sits on the shore of Lake Ontario and spans 550 acres. There is one sledding hill next to the Parkview Lodge. The hill is at the north end of the park, near Holt Road and East Lake Road. There are also five groomed trails for crosscountry skiing or snowshoeing. MENDON PONDS PARK There are two sledding hills in Mendon Ponds — the largest park in Monroe County, with a total of 2,500 acres. One of the hills is situated across from the Cavalry House Lodge on Douglas Road, and the second is next to the East and West lodges on Canfield Road. There are more than 20 miles of marked, groomed trails for other winter activities as well.

ELLISON PARK Off Landing Road, by Ellison Park’s disc golf course, are two designated sledding hills to explore. The park also boasts an ice skating rink and five trails. Playground equipment, a baseball diamond, tennis courts, a dog park and creek access are also available for mild winter days, as well as lodges/shelters. NORTHAMPTON PARK This park covers 973 acres and includes five hiking/nongroomed cross-country trails as well as a ski hill with a rope tow. The park’s sledding hill is located on Hubble Road across from the Ski Lodge. Soccer fields, a model airplane flying field and Springdale Farm — an agricultural education facility open to the public — are also onsite. — Sean Lahman writes for the (Rochester, N.Y.)Democrat and Chronicle.