As the flurries started flying, we spoke with Regan Carriere, supervisor of Denver Parks and Recreation’s Southwest District, to find out how everyone from budding Clark Griswolds to virtuosic Lindsey Vonns can enjoy their days at Denver’s most accessible snowsports destination: Ruby Hill Park.

Below, her five best tips.

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1. Ruby Hill’s massive sledding hill is the most popular in the city, according to Carriere. There are no hard-and-fast rules about the best way to gain momentum, but Carriere recommends a running start and a sled or a piece of cardboard in plastic wrap to reduce friction.

2. Speed is encouraged on the hill—within reason. The run bottoms out near a public road, and you risk a ticket (and, you know, death) should you skid into it. Park rangers patrol this area often during winter; parking on the grass and unleashing your dog (among other things) could net you a fine of up to $999.

3. You can lug your own gear to the park’s urban rail yard—basically, a skatepark for skiers and snowboarders—but why bother with the hassle? Last year, the parks department began providing free ski and snowboard rentals for kids and adults on Thursdays and Fridays (4 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and Saturdays (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

4. Ruby Hill Park is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, but the best time to go is late afternoon to catch views of downtown Denver at sunset. After nightfall, the artificial lights come on, enabling illuminated sledding and shredding till 9 p.m.

5. Not enough pow? Not a problem. Every year, Winter Park Resort brings its snowmaking machines to Ruby Hill as soon as there are freshies on the ground. Sure, the terrain might get a little glassy at times, but that just turns the sledding hill into a speed-silly luge.