Top 5 Tobogganing Hills in Etobicoke & West Toronto (2026–27)

By Jatin Dua · Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty · Updated 30 October 2026 · 8 min read — A guide to the five most westerly hills on the City of Toronto’s designated tobogganing list, what each park offers, and what the 2024 ban reversal means for sledding today.

How I chose these five

I only used hills on the City of Toronto’s designated tobogganing list. The City says it inspects those hills regularly through the winter and may close one if conditions are unsafe. It also warns that hills not on its list may be unsafe, with hazards such as trees, rocks and stumps, or runs that lead to rivers or roads.

The list currently names 28 parks with 30 hills, and most are in Scarborough, North York and the east end. Only one, Centennial Park, is in Etobicoke. I took the five designated sites furthest west on the City’s map, which means the last pick sits in North York rather than west Toronto. I would rather tell you that than add an unlisted hill.

A note on the rules, because this comes up every winter. In January 2024 the City posted no-tobogganing signs at 45 hills it considered unsafe. In February 2024 council voted 21–3 to lift that ban, remove the prohibition signs and put up warning signs instead. The City’s current page does not say tobogganing elsewhere is banned; it simply steers people to the inspected hills, and so do I.

1. Centennial Park (Etobicoke)

What it offers

Centennial Park is the only designated tobogganing hill in Etobicoke, with one hill listed at 165 Centennial Park Blvd. The City says the park opened in 1967 to mark Canada’s 100th birthday, on land that was once a dairy farm.

The park is far more than a hill. The City lists the Centennial Park Conservatory and the Centennial Park Pan Am BMX Centre among its features, along with playgrounds and sports fields, so a snow day can end indoors among tropical plants.

What it means for buyers and renters

For families in north and central Etobicoke, this is the realistic sledding hill. Living within a short drive of it means you can go on the first good snow day instead of planning a trip across the city.

It is also the hill most Etobicoke families will head for, so expect weekend crowds after a fresh snowfall. Homes on the streets closest to the park entrances will feel that parking pressure most.

Practical notes

• Address for the hill: 165 Centennial Park Blvd., as listed on the City’s tobogganing page.
• Number of designated hills: 1.
• Before you go: designated hills can close when conditions are unsafe; report hazards to 311.
• Park changes: the City notes that Centennial Park is undergoing improvements under its master plan, so check for construction notices before a visit.

2. Weston Lions Park

What it offers

Weston Lions Park is the closest designated hill for anyone in northeast Etobicoke. The City describes it as a 7.4-hectare park on the east bank of the Humber River at Lawrence Avenue and Weston Road, with one tobogganing hill on the designated list.

In summer the same park has two ball diamonds, a lit artificial turf field, four lit tennis courts, a skateboard area, a basketball court, a splash pad and a playground. The Weston Lions Park Outdoor Pool and Weston Arena are near the park entrance.

What it means for buyers and renters

For buyers weighing homes along the Humber, the river valley is the draw, and a designated hill is a bonus for families with young kids. It also means the arena next door gives you an indoor fallback if the hill is closed or the snow turns to slush.

When you view a home near the Humber, ask how far it sits from the valley edge and whether any part of the lot is in a regulated area. Valley lots can be lovely, but they carry extra rules about what you can build.

Practical notes

• Address: 2125 Lawrence Ave. W.
• Number of designated hills: 1.
• Nearby indoor option: Weston Arena, near the park entrance.

3. Bickford Park

What it offers

Bickford Park has more designated hills than any other site on the City’s list: three. The City describes it as a 2.8-hectare park near Grace Street, just south of Bloor Street West, with a ball diamond and a fenced dogs off-leash area.

Three hills in a small park spreads the crowd out, which helps on busy snow days. It is also one of the few designated hills you can reach on foot from a dense west-end neighbourhood.

What it means for buyers and renters

For buyers and renters looking at semi-detached and row houses in the Bloor and Grace area, a designated hill a few blocks away is a genuine winter perk. It is the closest designated option for the west end inside the old city.

Expect a busy park, because the surrounding neighbourhood is dense, and plan around peak times such as the first sunny afternoon after a snowfall. If you are buying nearby, walk the route with a sled in mind; a few blocks of side streets is very different from crossing a major arterial.

Practical notes

• Address: 400 Grace St.
• Number of designated hills: 3.
• Also in the park: a fenced dogs off-leash area that commercial dog walkers may use, so keep sledders clear of it.

4. Cedarvale Park

What it offers

Cedarvale Park pairs a designated hill with a winter rink. The City lists one tobogganing hill at 443 Arlington Ave., and its park description says the artificial ice rink operates from December through February, weather permitting, with the indoor Phil White Arena as a back-up.

The park also has four outdoor tennis courts, two sports fields, a ball diamond, a splash pad, a playground and paths that run through the park and ravine. The City places it north of Vaughan Road and west of Bathurst Street.

What it means for buyers and renters

For families, a hill, a rink and an indoor arena in one park cover almost every winter weekend. That kind of cluster is worth more than any single amenity on its own.

Cedarvale is a midtown-west pick rather than an Etobicoke one, so it suits buyers comparing the west end with neighbourhoods closer to the centre. If you are weighing both, map how far each home is from a designated hill and a rink.

Practical notes

• Address: 443 Arlington Ave.
• Number of designated hills: 1.
• Rink season: December to February, weather permitting, per the City.

5. Burnett Park

What it offers

Burnett Park is the fifth-most-westerly designated hill on the City’s list, and I include it with a caveat. The City places it at 352 Burnett Ave. in North York, in the Willowdale ward, so it is a north-central option rather than a west-end one.

It is a small park; the City’s facility listing shows a bike trail and a drinking fountain. You go for the designated hill, not for a day of other activities.

What it means for buyers and renters

For west-end and Etobicoke families, this pick mostly shows how thin the designated options are on the west side. If sledding on an inspected hill matters to you, that is worth knowing before you choose a neighbourhood.

Buyers who split time between the west end and North York, or who are deciding between the two, may find it useful. Otherwise, Centennial, Weston Lions, Bickford and Cedarvale are the practical west-side choices.

Practical notes

• Address: 352 Burnett Ave.
• Number of designated hills: 1.
• Location: North York (Willowdale ward), per the City.
• Why not a closer hill: the next designated hills on the City’s list are further east still, in North York, the old city and Scarborough, so there is no closer westerly option to substitute.

The five at a glance

What this means if you’re buying or selling in Etobicoke and the west end

The main takeaway is that designated tobogganing hills are scarce in the west. Etobicoke has one, at Centennial Park, so families in south Etobicoke will usually drive to a designated hill rather than walk.

If winter play is high on your list, look at homes within easy reach of Centennial Park, Weston Lions Park or, in the west end, Bickford Park. Then check the City’s tobogganing page each winter, because the list can change and the page I used was last modified on 2 April 2025.

For sellers near one of these parks, a designated hill is a fair point to mention, but describe it accurately. Say “near a City-designated tobogganing hill” only if the park is on the City’s list, and avoid suggesting an unlisted hill is approved.

Whatever hill you use, follow the City’s safety guidance: sit or kneel rather than lie head first, slide down the middle and climb up the sides, wear a helmet, and skip inner tubes and plastic discs, which the City says are hard to control. In an emergency call 911; report unsafe conditions to 311.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Tobogganing — City of Toronto
• Toronto council votes to lift tobogganing ban on 45 hills (7 Feb 2024) — Global News
• Centennial Park Conservatory — City of Toronto
• Centennial Park (Etobicoke) — City of Toronto
• Weston Lions Park — City of Toronto
• Bickford Park — City of Toronto
• Cedarvale Park — City of Toronto
• Burnett Park — City of Toronto

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