Toboggan Run at Pokagon State Park

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Toboggan Run

Photo courtesy of Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Toboggan Run at Pokagon State Park has been thrilling visitors for 75 years. Indiana’s only refrigerated toboggan slide, Toboggan Run’s side-by-side quarter-mile tracks each have a total vertical drop of 90 feet, producing speeds between 35-40 miles per hour during the exhilarating 30-second ride.

Each toboggan carries a maximum of four riders, and rental costs just $10 per hour. The number of rides taken depends only on how busy the hill is and how quickly riders can trek up the walkway and mount the stairs of the 30-foot tower where Toboggan Run begins. For those in need of a break, a cozy warming lodge at the base of the slide has restrooms and concessions.

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SEE ALSO: Indiana State Park Inns Promise Winter Fun

While the refrigerated track can operate without snow in temperatures above freezing, this winter attraction is even more fun when the snowflakes fall. Toboggan Run opens the Friday after Thanksgiving and operates on weekends through February, with extended weekday hours over the Christmas holidays. Visit www.tobogganrun.com for details.

8 Comments

  1. Marie Zeller

    October 6, 2014 at 6:43 pm

    Why is it so difficult to find out how much it costs to ride the Toboggan run at Pokagen State Park. I have checked both the DNR website and this one on the run….no where do you tell the fee except to tell us we can get 3 runs for the cost of 2 on Friday evenings.

    • Rachel Bertone

      October 7, 2014 at 8:16 am

      Hi Marie,

      Sorry you’re having trouble finding the pricing information. We did find this on the DNR site (http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/5059.htm, where it looks like a toboggan is $12 per hour to rent. I’m not sure if this includes the Toboggan run. We suggest calling the park directly to make sure. You can reach them at (260) 833-2012. Hope this helps!

      Rachel Bertone
      editor, My Indiana Home

    • Linda

      November 17, 2016 at 10:35 am

      Toboggan sled rental per hour: $13 (including tax). Toboggan Run gift certificates.
      Friday Special: Rent three toboggans in the same hour, the third one is free.
      Park entrance fees: $7 in-state vehicles, $9 out-of-state vehicles, $2 a person on a bus.
      During winter, fees are collected Friday nights and on weekends.
      Park closes at 11 p.m. Opens at 7 a.m.
      Driver’s license is required as deposit, rents up to four toboggans.
      Must use park’s sleds. Rented on first-come, first-served basis.
      Maximum of four people per toboggan (no exceptions).
      Cash, check and Visa/MasterCard accepted.
      No all-day rentals.
      No group reservations or group rates.
      There are no specific age or height restrictions, but children must be able to understand and abide by rules.
      No cameras or video equipment allowed on ride.
      Toboggan will close if temperature drops to 0 degrees F or below.
      Warming Center concession available (carry-in food prohibited).

  2. Brandy Beckstedt

    November 21, 2014 at 9:07 pm

    Looking for hours of operation for the slide.

    • Jessy Yancey

      November 24, 2014 at 8:40 am

      Hi Brandy,

      Judging from their website’s schedule (http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/files/sp-toboggan_schedule.pdf), Toboggan Run opens the Friday after Thanksgiving and operates on weekends through February, with extended weekday hours over the Christmas holidays. Their hours vary from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on most Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Please visit http://www.tobogganrun.com for details. We actually have no connection with them but just wrote an article about the attraction. Hope this helps!

      Jessy Yancey
      editor, My Indiana Home

  3. Barry

    December 2, 2014 at 3:32 pm

    Some Tips:

    – Get there when it opens
    – Get there early in the season, before Dec. 21. It is refrigerated so weather is no concern.
    – Plan a waiting activity. Even if you get there at 10, it doesn’t mean that there will be a long line ahead of you. If you don’t get there by ten then you will definitely be put on the waiting list.
    – As you check back to see if your number is up, get another number. Then if you miss your call then you will have a backup.
    – If you find yourself in a tough situation (i.e. four hundred of numbers ahead of you) then fan out and start looking pitiful. If you play your cards right you can find somebody with an extra number because they observed tip #3.
    – Dress Warmly (duh)

    General Information
    (these are DNR’s rules right off of the sheet I got from them)

    $10.00 per toboggan per hour (tax included) No Cameras or video equipment allowed on ride Sleds rented on first come first serve basis
    Maximum of 4 people per toboggan No group reservations Refrigerated Track (snow not needed to operate)
    Must use park’s Toboggans No Group Rates All park entrance fees apply
    Cash, check and Visa/MasterCard accepted Toboggan will close if temp drops to 0°F or below No all Day Rentals
    Children must be able to understand and abide by rules Warming Center Concession (carry-in food prohibited) A driver’s license is required as a deposit and rents up to 4 toboggans

    Hours of Operation of Toboggan Ride

    The toboggan run is open on weekends from Thanksgiving weekend through the end of February. Hours of operation are as follows:
    – Fridays 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
    – Sat. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    – Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    – Extended Holiday Hours

  4. Terry

    December 21, 2016 at 4:48 am

    Can my one year old go with me

  5. Darla Nelson

    November 8, 2017 at 6:19 pm

    LOOKING TO COME WITH A SMALL GROUP (20). WHERE WOULD THE BEST NEAR PLACE TO STAY AT BY THE TOBAGGAN SLEDS

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