Snow tubing in New England is an exciting winter activity that is a perfect alternative for non-skiers. Do you want to try snow tubing with your family? One of the best places for a fun snowboarding experience for all ages is the eight-lane Ski Butternut Tubing Center in the Berkshires in western Massachusetts.
Of all the fun winter activities in the Berkshires, flying down this hill may be your most memorable experience. Ski Butternut is the small, intimate kind of mountain that draws families in, but let’s face it: skiing and snowboarding aren’t for everyone, and costs can add up quickly. Tubing, on the other hand, is a challenging and relatively safe and affordable activity that requires no instruction, and the only equipment you’ll need, a snow tube, is provided. Hanging out at one of the two ski area lodges, drinking cocoa, and eating homemade waffles (weekends and holidays available) can also be part of your experience.
And you’ll have the energy to spare to visit one of the other family-friendly Berkshires attractions, like the Berkshire Museum or the Norman Rockwell Museum.
These tips for your excursion will help you get the most out of the snow tube hill at Ski Butternut.
Tips for snow tubes
- Save Time – Before you leave your home, print copies of the Ski Butternut Tubing Risk Assumption and Release Agreement and complete them in the warm comfort of your home or car, rather than at the Tubing Center ticket window.
- Get there early: The Ski Butternut tubing facility opens at 10 am on most weekends and holidays and at 5 pm on Friday nights. By 11:30 am on weekends and holidays, it can be difficult to find parking near the Tube Center, and you may have to wait for a tube of snow. The lines to get tubes can be even longer in the middle of the afternoon.
- Get Your Tube First – Do n’t make the mistake of queuing at the ticket window before snagging a tube. On busy days you have to be aggressive on arrival and wait at the bottom of the tube hill for snow tubes as they become available.
- Bundle Up: Jackets, scarves, hats, and gloves are a must, even on a seemingly warm day. However, snow pants are not really necessary – you can wear jeans and not really get wet. Note that it can be clearly cooler in the Berkshires than further south or east, plus the tube hill descent is a pretty chilly thrill. That being said, you will feel colder while you are waiting for tubes.
- Consider a helmet: Although helmets are not required, they can be a good idea, especially for younger children. While there are no formal age requirements for the snow tube in Butternut, children must be able to ride comfortably and safely in their own tubes – they are not allowed to ride on the lap of a parent or other adult. Bring children’s bicycle helmets in case you worry. Sweeps and dangerous activity are not common. However, you know your kids best and you may want to consider a helmet, particularly for your first tubing experience.
- Go Before You Go – The facilities near the Butternut Tube Center are limited to potties (brr!), So you may want to use the restrooms elsewhere, like at the Lower Lodge, before heading up the hill of the tubes.
- Bring Cash – You can use a credit card to pay for your tube tickets ($ 25 per person for a two-hour session starting in 2018 / $ 10 for three hours on Friday nights other than holidays), but it’s still a good one idea to have a few dollars for yourself. There’s no place near the Tubing Center at Ski Butternut to bend over and warm up, so when your kids start clamoring for the hot chocolate and snacks, which are sold in the ticketing building, they’ll want to scoop out a few bucks.
- Get Ready To Climb – One of the beauties of tubing at Ski Butternut is that the handle lift makes it easy to get back up the hill on your tube between races. That said, the tube lift is not the fastest thing in the world, and on busy days, it does form a long line. If you want to maximize your tubing time, you will probably find yourself walking uphill, rather than walking, most of the time.
- Fasten Your Tube: When you get to the top of the tube hill, put the tube tow strap inside the tube, then make sure to hold the handles as you push. In general, visitors abide by the rules, particularly waiting in line and allowing the person in front to get to the bottom of the hill before starting. You should also hold your tube between races – don’t stray away from it, not even for a moment, or someone who has been waiting for a tube is likely to grab you.
- Go Faster – Your first downhill run can take your breath away, but after that initial euphoria, the experience is a lot of fun – not scary at all. If you are an adrenaline junkie, you will find that the shady lanes to the left of the hill when looking up are faster. And here’s another speed tip: Raise the bottom of your tube and you’ll have more momentum.
