Pokagon State Park’s popular winter attraction opens for the 2026-2027 season on Friday, Nov. 27 at 10 a.m.
Each year, more than 90,000 people enjoy the exhilarating ride down the quarter-mile refrigerated tracks with a 90-foot vertical drop at speeds reaching 42 mph.
“The Toboggan Run at Pokagon State Park is a fantastic way for people to enjoy the outdoors, winter weather and all that nature has to offer in northeast Indiana,” said Aimee M. Wentworth, an Indiana DNR interpretive naturalist. “For nearly 90 years, the toboggan track is a fun, fast and thrilling winter tradition for generations of riders.”
Regular hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Feb. 28. The toboggan run is also open the two weeks of Winter Break, Dec. 19 to Jan. 3, except Christmas Day, and is open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 18, and Presidents Day, Feb. 15.
Civilian Conservation Corps workers built the original toboggan track in 1935 for their own recreation. After opening to the public in 1938, several upgrades and modifications have modernized the attraction.
Rules and Information
Tobogganers must use the park’s toboggans, which are rented for $20 per hour per toboggan. Each toboggan holds a maximum of four people with no exceptions. Cash, check, and Visa/Mastercard are accepted. A driver’s license or state issued ID is required as a deposit for up to two toboggans. Toboggans are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no all-day rentals or group rates. Groups may rent a maximum of 15 toboggans.
There is no age limit; however, children must be able to understand and follow the rules. Gloves must be worn to ride the toboggan. No cameras or video equipment are allowed on the ride.
The Warming Center restrooms will be open, and concessions are available in the Warming Center. However, no indoor gathering space is available. Carry-in food items are only allowed at the outdoor picnic tables.
Since the track is refrigerated, snow is not needed for it to be open. However, if the air temperature at the toboggan track reaches 0°F or less, the track will close until the temperature rises.
Toboggan gift certificates make for great family memories. The gift certificates are available only through Mother Nature’s Mercantile, Indiana State Parks’ online store, at https://mother-natures-mercantile.myshopify.com. Each certificate is $30 for 1.5 hours of tobogganing. All gift certificates expire Feb. 28, 2028. They are not redeemable for cash and may not be extended. You can find more information about the toboggan run and related procedures at www.tobogganrun.com.
In addition, Nov. 27 is also #OptOutside day at Indiana State Parks, and Pokagon is participating with two programs. First, hike to the Spring Shelter for an open house from 2-3 p.m. and learn about the construction and restoration of the structure and warm up with a cozy fire. Second, the Friends of Pokagon will offer a Lantern Lit walk at the Nature Center from 7-8 p.m. Come enjoy this easy 0.75-mile walk among lantern lights and warm up by the fire when you’re done. The group will offer hot chocolate and cookies for suggested donations. For more information about the Friends of Pokagon, please visit www.friendsofpokagon.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/friendsofpokagon.
For a complete list of all upcoming programs and events, go to on.IN.gov/pokagonsp.
Regular park entrance fees apply: $7 for Indiana vehicles, $15 per out-of-state vehicle, and $2 per person on a bus.
Pokagon State Park (on.IN.gov/pokagonsp) is at 450 Lane 100 Lake James, Angola, 46703.