Toboggan Trip
By Naperville Magazine
Appears in the February 2025 issue.
By Jeff Banowetz
Indiana’s Pokagon State Park is home to one of the area’s most thrilling winter rides

Those who’ve lived through many winters may remember the toboggan runs that were once a favorite activity in the Cook County Forest Preserves. Six different areas were built, dating back to the 1930s. But over time, they were each shuttered due to cost and liability issues. Swallow Cliff Woods in Palos Township was the last to be dismantled in 2007.
But those looking to revive those old memories—or, more likely, help the younger generation create new ones—can find one of the Midwest’s remaining toboggan runs at Pokagon State Park in Angola, Indiana. Located about 190 miles from Naperville in eastern Indiana near the Michigan border, Pokagon State Park features a dual-track, refrigerated toboggan run, which means it can be operated regardless of the weather conditions. It draws about 90,000 riders a season to enjoy the excitement of a 90-foot vertical drop over the course of its quarter-mile run. Its record speed is 42 mph, and the full ride lasts about 30 seconds.
“It’s a big draw for the park,” says Aimee Wentworth, a naturalist at Pokagon. “It provides a lot of thrills for people.”
Much like those Cook County Forest Preserve runs, the facility at Pokagon dates back to the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The park was largely built by the corps, and members created a wooden toboggan run for their own use in 1935. They improved it and built a second one in 1940. The track was updated and refrigerated in 1971, and additional renovations to modernize the structures and surrounding facilities were done in the 1980s and 1990s.
Riders must use the sleds designed for the track—rented for $20 per hour—and each sled holds four people. “They’re not made of wood, but out of some kind of high-density plastic,” Wentworth says. “They have a cushion and strapping on the sides for handles. There’s a radar sign toward the end that tells you how fast you’re going, and most people typically reach between 30 and 35 mph.”

In addition to the tobogganing, the park also has nearly 14 miles of trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, with rentals available for both. (Skis, boots, and poles are $5 an hour for ages 15 and under, $8 an hour for adults. Snowshoes are $10 an hour.) You can ice fish on the two lakes in the park, and when you need to warm up indoors, the newly renovated nature center features several live-animal exhibits.
Those staying for the weekend can take advantage of the 138-room Potawatomi Inn Resort and Conference Center nearby, and downtown Angola offers several restaurant options. (A warming center in the park provides snacks and hot drinks.)
The toboggan run is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekends through Feb. 23. A driver’s license or state ID is required for rental, and sleds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. While snowy weather typically draws the largest crowds, there generally isn’t too long a line for a ride. “If there is a wait, they’ll let you know at the entrance to the park, but it tends to move along quickly,” Wentworth adds.
The park entrance fee is $7 for in-state vehicles and $9 for out-of-state. Remember to bring your gloves—they are required for toboggan riders.
POKAGON STATE PARK
450 Lane 100 Lake James
Angola, Indiana, 260-833-2012
on.IN.gov/pokagonsp
Photos: Indiana Department of Natural Resources (top); Visit Indiana (bottom)