Southern California mountains, although conveniently located to the masses, is rarely decent snoboarding or skiing. The Big Bear area is the closest snow skiing to SD, OC and LA - but certainly not the best. Which is why so many SoCal residents make the drive up 395 to Mammoth in the Eastern Sierra.
Trinity Mountain Resort
33311 Angeles Dr, Hwy 18 Green Valley Lake CA (W Big Bear)
888-867-3433 3 Lifts
Snow
Forest
909-866-8891
909-866-5503 ski phone
Smallest, oldest & cheapest
near the Big Bear Village
Snow Summit
888-SUMMIT-1 snow reprt
909-866-5766
909-866-5841 reservations
1 mi. E of Big Bear Village 11 Lifts
Snow Valley Ski Area
Hwy 18, in between
Running Springs & Big Bear
909-867-2751
760-867-5151 14 Lifts
West Sierra Snow / Central Sierra Ski
Western and Central Sierra Nevada mountains are conveniently located in the center of the state, with paved highway access from numerous cities in the San Joaquin Valley. Ski resorts, just up the hill from Gold Country.
Eastern Sierra Snow Ski Eastern slopes of the Central Sierras, 11,000-foot high Mammoth
Mountain is the favorite Sierra getaway for southern Californians,
luring crowds with 30 ski lifts and 150 trails. Mammoth is best
known for its vast open slopes and superb backcountry routes for
cross-country skiing. June Mounatin is a less crowded and a great
place for beginners.
Tahoe Area Snow Skiing
Northern Sierra's Lake Tahoe Basin has approximately 20 downhill and cross-country ski resorts. Choose from small, low-key facilities to luxury, world class resorts. Alpine country with stunning scenery surrounding the largest, deepest, most gorgeous, bluest lake in California.
Soda Springs Ski
I-80, near Truckee
530-426-3901
530-426-1012 lodge
2 Lifts
Squaw Valley
off Hwy 89 at Squaw Valley 209-583-6955 27 Lifts
Sugar Bowl
I-80, South of Norden
530-426-1111
530-426-9000 11 Lifts
Tahoe Ski Bowl
(now a condo complex)
Northern California Snow Ski
NorCal certainly has more precipitation than the rest of California, but less ski resorts in operation. Wilderness ridges, historic rural resorts, cross country ski areas, plus one kids sledding park near Shasta.
