Winter Recreation Winter Recreation

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! From the northern tip of California, practically all the way to the Mexican border, California offers superb snow activities. Hundreds of miles of white-capped mountains provide unparalleled opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, skating, snow climbing — even sleigh riding. For more information on California’s ski and snowboard resorts, lessons, cross-country skiing options, trip planning assistance, and much more — be sure to start with the California Ski Industry Association, but don't forget to check out excellent regional resources such as the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, the North Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureau, or the Mammoth Lakes Visitors Bureau. Check out our Winter Deals page for a complete list of discounts on ski packages and lodging throughout the state.

The Full Experience

California offers incredible diversity in winter recreation – and the options aren’t limited to the shredheads among us. From dining to dancing, shopping to snow parks, California’s snowy scene has a little something for everyone.

The Lake Tahoe area is a mecca for winter activities. Get whisked along by racing huskies, teeter or whirl on ice skates, or listen to those jingle bells on a sleigh ride. Of course, it’s also the scene to some of the best slopes and snow in the world. Don’t be afraid to enter Tahoe’s wonderful winter world!

Heavenly Ski Resort stands out with its gondola, within walking distance of about 5,000 hotels rooms, multiple five-star restaurants, two cineplexes, spas, shopping and all-night dance clubs. At 4,800 acres, it’s the largest resort in California, providing spectacular views of Lake Tahoe.

The Village at Northstar is also a dining hotspot, with three new restaurants bringing the total to 13. Don’t miss The Chocolate Bar, featuring a one-of-a-kind menu specializing in the highest-quality chocolate.
 

Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing

California is a mecca for snowshoers and cross country skiers who relish a good workout amidst the quiet of an alpine forest. You can find a wealth of opportunities throughout the state on trails leading off the highways or roads. Or, you can enjoy one of the resorts that cater to cross-country aficionados.

Kirkwood Cross Country & Snowshoe Center offers some incredible scenery and exciting terrain for cross-country skiers and snowshoers in California. Climb to ridge tops, glide along the base of impressive lava cliffs and roll along through picturesque meadows. Kirkwood is also pet-friendly, so you and man’s best friend can enjoy winter together.

Try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in northwestern California along the hundreds of miles of little-traveled trails in Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Or, if you prefer groomed trails, Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort, near North Lake Tahoe is the largest in North America.

Skiing and Snowboarding

California boasts elite downhill skiing and boarding. While the focal point is the Lake Tahoe area, you can find great runs at Mt. Shasta, Mammoth Mountain and even on the Southern California slopes.

• The Lake Tahoe Ski Area is packed with dozens of world-class resorts. The High Sierras’ varied terrain offers plenty of challenges for the beginner on up to the black diamond enthusiasts. One Tahoe favorites is Squaw Valley, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics. Squaw Valley also offers a twist on traditional skiing – night riding! Visitors can take to the slopes under a specially-made floodlight system. In 1983, when Walt Disney helped choose where to place the first chair lift in California, he chose Sugar Bowl, near Donner Summit – a place of precipitous peaks, steep narrow chutes and wide open bowls. But that’s just a start—whatever your fancy, from luxury digs to shredder casual, you can find it here.
   
• In South Lake Tahoe, Heavenly, Kirkwood, and Sierra-At-Tahoe are mountain resorts well worth a visit. If you find yourself headed to the north side of Lake Tahoe, you will find Northstar, Sugar Bowl, Mt. Rose, Alpine Meadows, and Boreal, among others. Visitors to Mt. Rose will be starting from Tahoe’s highest base, and heading into 1,200 acres of some of Tahoe’s best powder.
   
• From Bear Valley to Mammoth Mountain, the Central Sierras offer outstanding snowboarding and skiing. Families flock to the Stanislaus National Forest, home to Bear Valley and Dodge Ridge. South of Yosemite, Mammoth Mountain is the favorite snow getaway with over 3,500 acres of steep chutes, open bowls and well-groomed trails. Offering “pure mountain fun,” Mammoth provides endless possibilities for a winter getaway.
   
• North and South of the Sierras, California boasts challenging downhill terrains and full-service resorts. Mt. Shasta, at 14,162 feet, looms over California’s northern reaches and throughout the winter, snowboarders and skiers flock to the Mt. Shasta Ski Park. While, just a few hours from Los Angeles and San Diego, resorts in the San Bernardino National Forest offer unmatched terrain at the Snow Summit and Bear Mountain resorts.  With over 150 jumps, ranging from spines, tables, hips, gaps, transfers, cheese wedges, rollers and bumps, Bear Mountain is the place to learn them all.

Family Fun in the Snow

Families can discover all forms of snow play up and down the state, from ice skating at an Olympic rink overlooking Lake Tahoe, to an outing in a horse-drawn carriage on a crisp, starry night. In addition, California has dozens of great sledding sites, including 19 sno-parks, which are located off major highways.
 

• Visit the terrain parks of Alpine Meadows with aspiring air-catchers – the perfect place to learn on smaller rails and jumps. Perfect for all beginners, from the kids to the grandparents. Alpine Meadows also features some of the finest children’s programs in the region, focusing on safety, fun and learning.
   
• For a unique winter experience, ascend 2.5 miles up the sheer face of Mt. San Jacinto on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Deep in the desert, you’ll find the frozen stuff—and the Winter Adventure Center, which rents showshoes, cross-country skis, and snow tubes. For a more traditional experience, tour Yosemite nestled in blankets atop a two-horse open sleigh, courtesy of Yosemite Trails Pack Station.