Whether you prefer to hit the slopes for skiing and snowboarding or to curl up by a fireplace for apres-ski cocktails, there are plenty of places to see snow near San Francisco.
When mass require us what we jazz about San Francisco , the answer is often : Everything just outside of it . Do n’t get us wrong , we ’re huge fan of the metropolis too , but how could we not be taken by Northern California ’s telling H.M.S. Bounty ofbeaches , vino region , andquaint mountain township ? Within a comparatively light cause from SF , you may find all of these as well as place to ski , snowboard , sled , snowshoe , make snow Angel Falls , or just curl up by the fire with a toasty cocktail this winter . You could even do all of those in the dayspring and still make it back to the coast in clock time for an good afternoon surf session , but now we ’re really just showing off . Looking for a magic snow - filled escape ? learn on for some of our favorite wintertime wonderlands only a car ride aside from San Francisco . ( Though it ’s worth refer that the railcar ride may involve putting chains on your tyre or , at the very least , waiting to get through chain of mountains control . Prepare accordingly — aka , have chains , flares , an ice scraper / snow brush , gloves , a flashlight , and stack of snacks . )
North Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoeis passably much every San Franciscan ’s phone number one ski and snowboard destination , thanks to its stunning beauty and the fact that it averages around 18 feet of snow each wintertime . It ’s only 200 mile away ( which , to be clean , can take anywhere from 3.5 to 10 hours in a car depending on weather conditions and traffic ) and has 15 ski stamping ground and nearly 550 mile of slope . It ’s also full of sledding hills , cross - country skiing , deoxyephedrine skating skating rink , and fundamentally everything you need for a magical winter experience , even if you ’re not much of a skier or snowboarder .
mob - well-disposed North Lake , which is made up of a bunch of small townsfolk , include Truckee , Tahoe City , Carnelian Bay , and Incline Village , has much more of a mountain town vibration than South Lake . There are bars and restaurants , but for the most part , you ’ll be cozy in your cabin in front of the ardor by 9 phase modulation , which is idealistic for those who want to wake up early and hit the hill . There are flock of haunt approachable to those staying in North Lake , includingSugar Bowl , Mt. Rose , Diamond Peak , Boreal , andHomewood , but the two biggest arePalisades Tahoe(formerly Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ) andNorthstar .
If you ’re staying anywhere from Truckee to the state line , Palisades Tahoe will satisfy every level of skier or snowboarder in your group . The recourse is made up of two heap — Alpine Meadows and Palisades — which are connected by a foundation - to - infrastructure car . That means over 6,000 skiable Acre accessed by 34 lifts , plus , for the non - skiers , a village at Palisades that ’s full of bars , restaurant , and shopping .
Heavenly Mountain
Northstar is a family - friendly resort , perfect for beginners and average skiers and snowboarders . Despite its “ Flatstar ” byname it also has some steep terrain and out of sight gunpowder cache , so do n’t compose it off if you ’re a serious skier — there ’s plenty of playfulness to be had if you pip the right spots . There ’s also a settlement with great eating place and an ice skating rink for those who do n’t want to ski / ride .
South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe is what materialize when a ski town is hit with a side of Vegas . Think : self-aggrandising , Sir Ernst Boris Chain hotels ; casinos ; four - lane roadstead ; and lots of nightlife . Visit this side of the lake if you do n’t ski and want other entertainment or if get “ first chair ” is less important than party well into the nighttime . That being enjoin , it still has lots and wads of snow , awesome views , and two character ski resort .
Want to ski in two unlike country on the same day?Heavenly Mountain Resortstraddles the California - Nevada delimitation and feature 4,800 skiable Akka ( the second - most in Tahoe now that Palisades and Alpine Meadows are connected ) , 28 chairlift , 10,067 feet of elevation ( the highest in Tahoe ) , and terrain for every form of skier . The view of Lake Tahoe are also unparalleled , which even those who are n’t skiing or ride can experience via the gondola .
Whereas you may take the air to Heavenly from most of the bad hotel along the main strip in South Lake , Kirkwood Mountain Resortis off the beat path — about 45 minutes in the cable car . Still , if you ’re a serious skier or rider , it ’s deserving the campaign and price of admission because this resort is known for have one of the high median snowfalls and usurious terrain . The resort also has cross - country skiing , snowshoe , productive biking , and dog - well-disposed lead .
Palisades Tahoe
Yosemite National Park
Yosemiteis one ofthe most beautiful places on earth , whatever time of year you visit , but it is most magical in the wintertime when snow blanket the landscape , the crowd disappear , and there ’s a quiet hush not found during any other season .
you may still do many of Yosemite ’s renowned hikes during the wintertime month — and will be able-bodied to enjoy the mesmerizing hatful without have to jostle for the perfect photo — but there are also some wintertime - specific activities to enjoy , includingice skating in Curry Village , complete with fire pits and views of Half Dome , ( open daily until March 5 , 2024);snow tube at Badger Pass($30 per soul and you have to get your tube up the hill without the help of a conveyor belt);snowshoeing , including guiding rise ( $ 28.50 to rent snowshoes for the day ) ; andcross - country skiing($31 for the day ) . For the latter , you ’ll discover 25 miles of groomed rails at Badger Pass Ski Area , but if you want a really once - in - a - lifetime experience , plan to do the 21 - geographical mile round - stumble trek toGlacier Point , a gorgeous overlook . During the wintertime , you’re able to only get to it via skis or snowshoes , which signify it will be almost empty of other human beings . If you want to do some traditional skiing or snowboarding , Badger Pass Ski Areais open from mid - December to early - April ( conditions permitting ) , has 10 ski runs , five chairlift , and is a very laid-back and beginner - friendly experience . Even if you normally smash black diamond , you ’ll be able-bodied to say you ski at one of only three ski hills with chairlifts in a US National Park .
Stanislaus National Forest
Arnold , a mellow pot town in Gold Country ( about halfway between Yosemite and Tahoe ) , is best bonk as the abode toCalaveras Big Trees State Park , which has two groves of giant redwood trees , some of which are thought to be 2,000 class old and reach a height of 325 foot and a diameter of 33 feet . The trails do not get cleared in the winter , which may put some people off , but is really just the perfect excuse to whip on some snowshoe or cross - country ski — you’re able to rent both atSierra Nevada Adventure Co. The North Grove is the promiscuous to access ( it ’s a level , 1.5 - mile loop ) , but if you want to see the ballpark ’s two biggest trees , you ’ll need to commit to a 3.5- to 5 - mile hike ( depending on your route ) to the South Grove . If you choose to ski or snowboard , then you ’ll want to get a lift ticket for Bear Valley .
Just up the hill from Arnold , Bear Valleyis a family - favorable resort inside Stanislaus National Forest . It ’s a much more mellow haunt than the unity you ’ll find in Tahoe ( as well as more affordable in terms of lodging and food ) , but it ’s still a fun place for anyone to ski . There are nearly 1,300 acres of skiable terrain , eight chairman lifts , and 67 trail ( which are pretty evenly divided between all levels ) .
Mount Shasta
Mount Shasta is about 275 miles from San Francisco ( about halfway between SF and Portland ) . Despite being a much well-off drive than the trek to Tahoe , it tends to be fairly ignored by people in the Bay . If you ’ve never been to the imposing 14,179 - invertebrate foot - magniloquent mountain ( and the second tallest volcanic crown in the Cascade Range ) and you ’re looking for something a little off - the - beaten - path , it ’s a great option for winter playfulness . There are plenty of cross - country and snowshoe chance — you’ll find groomed crabby - country trails at theMt . Shasta Nordic Center , but you ’re appropriate to ski or snowshoe wherever you want insidethe Shasta - Trinity National Forest . you’re able to even goice sportfishing at Castle Lake , a 47 - Accho lake that ’s 120 feet deep and was formed by glaciers over 10,000 years ago .
For a more traditional skiing or snowboard experience , hit upMt . Shasta Ski Park , which has 38 trails , 635 acres of skiable terrain , 2,036 erect feet , and four chairlifts ( plus two carpets ) . There ’s alsotubingand a twosome of bars and eating house for those who require to escape the coldness .
Lassen Volcanic National Park
If you hikeLassen Volcanic National Parkin July , there ’s a good chance you ’ll observe some snow at the top . For a true snow - filled experience , jaw this parking lot full of open mountain lakes , hydrothermal areas , and over 30 volcanic domes during the winter when it ’s usually cover with a blanket of C . The nose candy think that many of the roads are closed to vehicles , so be prepared to welt on snowshoe or cross - country skis so as to search . There ’s alsosnow campingand a couple ofsledding area .
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Parkis know for its jumbo sequoia trees , including General Sherman , the largest tree on earth by intensity . It ’s standardized to Yosemite , but it ’s also completely dissimilar — and in many ways much more witching — during the winter . Takea destitute , guide snowshoe take the air , go bad-tempered - country skiing , or go sleigh or tubing in designatedsnow playareas . you may camp overnight or bide inone of the park ’s lodges , where you ’ll have memory access to restaurants , cosmopolitan stores , retail , and more .
Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth sits on the “ other ” side of Yosemite in the Eastern Sierras . It accept about six hours to hit it by car during the winter , when Yosemite ’s Tioga Pass is close due to C. P. Snow . It ’s about 100 nautical mile further away from SF than Tahoe , but you could get there in passably much the same amount of metre ( or faster ) if you clock it proper . We detest to admit it , but Mammoth is even more gorgeous than Tahoe , thanks to staggering good deal , shimmer lakes , and small - townsfolk vibe . It ’s amazing to visit any time of twelvemonth ( there ’s incredible good deal biking and hike in the late spring , summer , and declension ) , but it ’s well known for its ski stamping ground .
Mammoth Mountainis considered to be the premier ski resort in California ( and the third most call in the United States after Vail and Breckenridge ) , in large part due to its altitude of 11,053 metrical unit , over 1000 feet gamey than Heavenly and 2000 feet in high spirits than Palisades . Mammoth has over 3,500 infantry of skiable terrain , 175 trails , 25 electric chair elevation , 10 parks , and it mystify about 350 in of snow a twelvemonth ( but also 300 days of temperateness ) . For those who prefer the après part of ski more than the actual skiing , there ’s alively villagewith 14 bars and restaurant , a dozen stores , and , of course , a spa .
Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Yosemite|Rudy Wilms/Flickr
Bear Valley Resort
Mt. Shasta Ski Park
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
