Ucon Pit
Idaho Falls, Idaho
| Address: | 3024 105th N, Ucon, Idaho |
| GPS: |
43°35'37.0"N 111°58'20.8"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Idaho |
Sled
The Ucon Pit is one of the best-loved free sledding hills in the Idaho Falls area, a set of big, obstacle-free slopes on the edge of the little town of Ucon, about 7.7 miles northeast of Idaho Falls in eastern Idaho. A former gravel pit reborn as a community snow-play spot, it has hills on nearly every side, which is its secret weapon: with so many slopes to spread across, it's almost impossible for the place to feel overcrowded even on a busy snow day.
The sledding itself is the draw, and it's genuinely good. The hills are big and, crucially, nearly free of obstacles, which makes for fast, open runs with room to slow down at the bottom, well suited to families and kids as well as anyone chasing a little speed. The bowl-like layout left by the old pit gives it natural, sled-friendly shape, and the variety of aspects means you can usually find a slope facing the right way for the snow conditions.
The Ucon Pit is also a real community gathering place. The town has used it for events, including a free New Year's Eve bash put on by the Ucon City Council with sledding, fireworks, a bonfire, music, raffles and treats, which tells you how central this humble sledding hill is to local winter life. It's the kind of spot where the whole town turns out after a good snow.
You'll find it at 3024 105th North in Ucon, an easy drive from Idaho Falls, Rigby and the surrounding communities. It's free, unsupervised and bring-your-own, with no rentals or attendants.
Standard sledding-hill caution applies. Speeds pick up quickly on packed or icy snow, and while the pit is unusually obstacle-free, the varied terrain means some slopes are steeper than others, so it's worth walking a hill and checking the runout before turning young kids loose, and an adult keeping watch is always wise. Helmets never hurt.
Winter depends entirely on the snow, with the best runs the morning after a fresh fall before the slopes get packed slick. Dress for the eastern Idaho cold in waterproof layers and good boots, bring your own sled or tube, and pack out everything you bring. For a free, roomy, genuinely uncrowded sledding hill with real community spirit just outside Idaho Falls, the Ucon Pit is a local winter institution.
More Information
Family Fun | idahofallsmagazine.com
Some of the best day trips can be found locally in Idaho Falls. Find something fun for the entire family or make a date night out of these outdoor activities. Either way, don’t forget to pack your coat and some gloves!
https://www.idahofallsmagazine.com/2021/02/family-funUcon community celebrates New Year’s Eve together with big party and fireworks - East Idaho News
All Ucon residents were invited to ring in the new year together last night with the goal of celebrating and giving back to the community. The Ucon City Council put on a free New Year’s Eve bash at the Ucon Pit, a steep sledding hill in town, with sledding, fireworks, raffles, a bonfire, […]
https://www.eastidahonews.com/2020/01/ucon-community-celebrates-new-years-eve-together-with-big-party-and-fireworks/
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Idaho Falls, Idaho
- Head northeast toward Poplar St (79 ft)
- Slight left onto S Blvd (407 ft)
- Turn left onto Birch St (0.2 mi)
- Turn right onto Yellowstone Ave (381 ft)
- Turn left onto E St (0.3 mi)
- At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Riverside Dr (0.6 mi)
- Continue onto Fremont Ave (0.2 mi)
- Slight right to merge onto US-20 E toward W Yellowstone (6.8 mi)
- Take exit 315 for ID-43 toward Ucon (0.3 mi)
- Turn left onto ID-43 N/105th NContinue to follow 105th NDestination will be on the left(0.2 mi)
The hill is just right off the highway. There's plenty of parking right at the top of the hill.
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