❄️ Winter day trips
Snow day trips near SoCal
Curated by Simir Shah
16 spots near 92692 — add your zip or city to sort by what's closest to you
Mt. Baldy Resort
Mount Baldy · Ski & snowboard
The steepest terrain in SoCal with a scenic chairlift and lodge dining; chains often required on Mt Baldy Rd.
🗓️ Dec–Apr, snow-dependent
💵 $$ lift ticket
Get directions →SkyPark at Santa's Village
Skyforest · Snow tubing & play
A 230-acre adventure park — holiday Santa's Village plus tubing (40"+), little-kid sledding and ice skating; book online.
🗓️ Dec–early Jan + when snow falls
💵 $$ ticketed (~$59–79)
Get directions →Wrightwood Roadside Snow Play (Hwy 2)
Wrightwood
Free public pullouts before/after town; buy a $5 Adventure Pass at Mountain Hardware — small lots fill fast.
🗓️ Dec–Mar, snow-dependent
Get directions →Snowdrift Snow Tubing Park
Running Springs · Snow tubing & play
SoCal's oldest tubing park at ~6,500 ft; call ahead (it closes in rain/snow), and confirm it's operating this season.
🗓️ Dec–Mar, snow-dependent
💵 $ ~$20/hr + parking
Get directions →Idyllwild County Park Snow Play
Idyllwild · Free snow play
A county park that becomes a popular sledding spot after snowfall; parking sells out on snow weekends.
🗓️ Dec–Mar, snow-dependent
💵 $ day-use fee
Get directions →Mountain High Resort
Wrightwood · Ski & snowboard
The closest full ski/snowboard resort to LA & OC, with three areas; buy lift tickets online in advance.
🗓️ Nov–Apr, snow-dependent
💵 $$ lift ticket
Get directions →Yeti's Snow Play (Mountain High East)
Wrightwood · Snow tubing & play
Family tubing lanes plus a scenic sky-chair ride to 8,200 ft; weekends/holidays, daily over Christmas break.
🗓️ Thanksgiving–mid-Mar, snow-dependent
💵 $$ ticketed
Get directions →Kratka Ridge Pullout
Angeles Crest Hwy (Hwy 2)
An informal roadside sledding pullout at ~7,500 ft; Hwy 2 often gate-closes for snow — check Caltrans.
🗓️ Dec–Mar, snow-dependent
Get directions →Green Valley Lake / Rim Snow Play
Green Valley Lake
Roadside USFS sledding and snowman-building along Hwy 18; an Adventure Pass is required when snow is present.
🗓️ Dec–Mar, snow-dependent
Get directions →Mt. Waterman
Angeles Crest Hwy (Hwy 2) · Ski & snowboard
An old-school chairlift ski area at ~8,030 ft that only opens with natural snowfall — check status first.
🗓️ Dec–Mar, natural snow only
💵 $$ lift ticket
Get directions →Snow Valley Mountain Resort
Running Springs · Ski & snowboard
SoCal's longest-running ski area (since 1924), now Alterra-owned, with an expanded beginner area and a tube park.
🗓️ Dec–Mar, snow-dependent
💵 $$ lift ticket
Get directions →North Pole Tubing Park (Mountain High North)
Wrightwood · Snow tubing & play
SoCal's largest tubing facility — up to 10 lanes and two moving carpets; under-36" not permitted.
🗓️ Dec–Mar, snow-dependent
💵 $$ ticketed
Get directions →Mount San Jacinto State Park
Idyllwild
Snowshoeing and sledding in high country; the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a no-driving way to reach snow.
🗓️ Dec–Mar, snow-dependent
Get directions →Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain
Big Bear Lake · Snow tubing & play
Winter snow tubing (~$40 adult) plus a year-round bobsled slide; no reservations — buy on-site.
🗓️ Dec–Mar, snow-dependent
💵 $$ ticketed
Get directions →Snow Summit (Big Bear)
Big Bear Lake · Ski & snowboard
SoCal's best beginner facilities (on the Ikon Pass); buy lift tickets online — it sells out on peak days.
🗓️ Nov–Apr, snow-dependent
💵 $$ lift ticket
Get directions →Grizzly Ridge Tube Park
Big Bear Lake · Snow tubing & play
A magic-carpet lift to four 300-ft groomed lanes; riders must be 42" tall — book via Big Bear Mountain Resort.
🗓️ Dec–Mar, snow-dependent
💵 $$ ticketed
Get directions →Frequently asked questions
Where can SoCal families find snow?
The closest reliable snow for most Southern California families is in the local mountains: Big Bear and the surrounding San Bernardino Mountains, Wrightwood (home to Mountain High), and the Wrightwood-area resorts are all within a couple hours of the coast. These spots offer dedicated snow-play and tubing areas as well as ski and snowboard runs. Big Bear is the most developed for a full day or weekend with kids.
When is there snow, and is it guaranteed?
Natural snow in the SoCal mountains is most likely from roughly December through March, but it's weather-dependent and never guaranteed on any given day. The good news is that tubing hills and snow-play parks make their own snow, so many operate on a set winter season regardless of natural snowfall. Always check the resort's conditions page and reserve tubing time slots in advance, since they sell out on holiday weekends.
Do I need chains to drive up for snow?
Often yes. When it's snowing or roads are icy, Caltrans posts chain requirements on the mountain highways, and you're expected to carry chains during winter even when the pavement looks clear. Under stricter restrictions, even all-wheel-drive vehicles may need chains installed. Check current road conditions and chain requirements with Caltrans (1-800-427-7623) before you leave, and give yourself extra travel time on snowy days.
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Before you drive up: snow here is weather-dependent — a sunny day in OC can mean bare ground in the mountains. Check live conditions and Caltrans for chain controls (carry chains!). Free roadside snow-play areas in the National Forests need an Adventure Pass to park, and the big tubing parks fill up — arrive early or book ahead.