Suicide Hill

Suicide Hill 04/10/22

Suicide Hill is any hill the someone goes down (sledding, skating, etc.) that could possibly end in disaster, such as getting run over by a car in the street. New York City has several "Suicide Hills" in several boroughs.

At Manhattan Fort Tryon Park, there's a "suicide hill" where someone sledded into the street and died.

At Manhattan's Riverside Drive and 91st Street, there's another "suicide hill." That's this location.

At Manhattan's Central Park on West Park Drive between 104th Street and 110th Street, there's a "suicide hill" where bicyclists became tired, and gangs of kids would swarm out of bushes and steal the bikes. I'm familiar with climbing this hill too.

As I said I'm familiar with this location on Riverside Drive. I go for the hike and views. I would never go sledding down the hill. I already had one sledding experience with my cousin. It was when I was little holding on his back with my arms around his waist when he headed down the hill. We hit the fence and he lost his front tooth. I'm sure he got a beating from his father too. Oh memories......sled at your own risk.

DO NOT SLED ON SUICIDE HILL UNLESS YOU WANT TO RISK YOUR BONES AND POSSIBLY YOUR LIFE.

After a nice snow dump in March 2018. I took a couple of runs to gauge the steepness and thought I had it figured out.

Then, on the third run, by the time I realized I was going too fast, it was too late, and I slammed into the hay bales in front of the chain link fence surrounding the playground.

About a half hour later I was on my way to the hospital for surgery to insert two plates and 14 screws into my shattered right ankle. It took me 4 months to walk again. Nearly a year later, I still am not fully recovered despite being fit and in excellent health otherwise.

The hill is steep and there is no flat part at the bottom. The nurse who visited me while I was confined to my apartment said there have been many ambulance visits to Suicide Hill. "Bracing yourself" will not suffice if you hit those hay bales, which are compacted and rock hard. I think the city and/or Parks Dept should put warning signs there.

The hills in Central Park in the 70s and 80s are much safer in my experience and view.

Very popular sledding hill. Steep and crowded. No Flats at the end, you sled directly into hay bales and a chain link fence to stop you . every season at least a few kids break a bone or crash and get bloody. Have fun but you were warned... why do you think they call it Suicide Hill...
Nice view of the hippo playground and Hudson River. also popular for sunbathing and dog walking.

Suicide Hill is where I go sledding. It's a pretty steep, long hill (by Manhattan standards) that levels out to almost being flat before you fly up an embankment and into a chain link fence. As long as you brace yourself, you won't get too banged up. It gets pretty crowded after a lot of snow has stuck, so it's best experienced earlier in the day.

I enjoyed the views and the sunshine. Lots of nice people, too! You can see the river. It's right under the soldiers and sailors monument, which looks like something straight out of world of Warcraft. You definitely want to come back for sledding. Just watch out for coyotes!

I don't know who named it Suicide Hill, but it definitely gives the place street cred. I grew up a few blocks away and this was (and still is) my sledding hill and I have not found anything better. Yes, it's quite a speedy plunge but there are hay bales and an embankment right before the fence to slow you up. It is a bit of a hike back up the hill, and it does get crowded. I would recommend investing in a good sled for maximum sledding experience as this hill does not disappoint!