Winter is here! If you’re asking “Where is the closest place to play in the snow?” here are eight snow play areas and resorts that cater to younger children and families and are within a 5-hour drive from Monterey.
1. Leland Snow Play
34033 Leland Meadow Rd, Pinecrest, CA www.snowplay.com
Leland Snowplay has been offering Family Fun since they opened almost thirty years ago. Many people who used to come up as children are now bringing their own kids and keeping the snowplay family tradition going. They have lifts that whisk you to the top, to either the Big Hills or the newly installed Magic Carpet to the smaller Kiddie Hills. They also have new tubes that are specifically designed for snow parks. They are comfortable and help to keep your “backside” dry. If the snow is scarce, Leland Snowplay, the state of the art Snowmaking System installed throughout the park helps ensure the best possible snow and the earliest opening date.
Leland offers rates for 2-hours or all day passes that range in price from $19-$39 depending on height and day of the week. The park is open from 10 am-5 pm and depending on weather, closes on occasion. The season ends sometime in March or April. The park is closed on most Wednesdays, be sure to check their online calendar for exact details.
2. Pinecrest Lake Resort
421 Pinecrest Lake Rd, Pinecrest, CA 95364, www.pinecrestlakeresort.com
Overlooking Pinecrest Lake, this woodsy resort is within the Stanislaus National Forest at an elevation of 5,600-ft elevation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Leland Snow Play is less than a 15-minute drive away.
The resort offers pared-down rooms come with cable TV and high-speed Internet for an additional fee. Cozy 2- and 3-bedroom cottages sleep up to 6 and feature kitchens and living rooms. Relaxed 2-story townhouses sleep up to 8 and have fireplaces.
Parking is complimentary. Other amenities include a rustic-chic restaurant with a bar, as well as a coffee shop, and a marina offering boat rentals and a lakefront snack bar.
3. Dodge Ridge
1 Dodge Ridge Rd, Pinecrest, CA 95364, www.dodgeridge.com
Dodge Ridge is located in Tuolumne County near Pinecrest. Pack up your ski gear and bring sleds or sliding equipment for later and get to the resort early to maximize your fun. The resort offers several learn-to-ski programs, including a two-hour, one-on-one lesson for 2-5-year-olds ($14, including equipment rentals) and a $249 Progression Pass for teens (and up), which provides season-long access to daily lessons and a season pass to the lower mountain.
There are a few pricing options for a season pass and a day pass. An adult day pass is $78 and a half day is $68. Teens (13-19) are $59 for a full day and $52 for a half day. Youth (6-12) are $28 for a full day and $22 for a half day. Children 5 and under are free.
There are plenty of fun activities at Dodge Ridge if skiing if not your forte. They offer several dining experiences, including the Local’s Café, Creekside Café, Boulder Bar or North Fork Bistro. Each restaurant offers a wide selection of food and beverages.
4. Pinecrest Chalet
500 Dodge Ridge Rd, Pinecrest, CA 95364 https://alumni.berkeley.edu/travel/pinecrest-chalet
The Pinecrest Chalet is a Sierra Nevada landmark founded in 1952 as a rustic three-story dorm room with a separate kitchen and an outhouse. Over the past sixty years “the Chalet” has grown considerably and has hosted thousands of guests from all around the world.
Each of the accommodations is unique and inviting. The chalets have full kitchens and sleep up to 14 people. Pinecrest Chalet also offers more intimate cottages that are perfect for a cozy two to four-person stay. All guests are invited to enjoy the community areas, including a heated pool, bear garden, and den full of literature, games, and movies.
Many people find Pinecrest Chalet to be a great affordable option and take advantage of the proximity of nearby Dodge Ridge Ski Resort.
5. Ebbetts Pass
www.ebbettspassadventures.com/winter/snow_play.html
One of the most intimate and untamed trans-Sierra routes, the Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway is a 61-mile stretch of Highways 4 and 89, in between the towns of Arnold in Calaveras County and Markleeville in Alpine County.
Glacially carved valleys, ancient volcanic peaks, deep river canyon, majestic Giant Sequoia and breathtaking views are just a few of the wonders of Ebbetts Pass.
There are three Sno-Parks on Highway 4, one at the Spicer Meadow Road turnoff, another at the end of the plowed highway near Lake Alpine, and a new one, Round Valley, off Highway 207 leading to the Bear Valley Ski Resort. These Sno-Parks have two big advantages over other spots along the highway because they have bathrooms and parking.
The facilities at the Round Valley Sno-Park are the newest. Snowmobiling is not allowed at Round Valley. A nearby slope is popular for saucers, tubes, and similar sliding activities. The Sno-Park at the end of the road at Lake Alpine has been recently upgraded.
To use a Sno-Park you must obtain a permit. You can purchase a day permit for $5 or an annual pass (Nov. 1 - May 30) for $25. They are good at any California Sno-Park. Passes can be purchased at Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods or Sierra Nevada Adventure Co. in Arnold. In Bear Valley, passes are available to purchase at Alpine Snowmobile Center.
6. Bear Valley Lodge
265 Bear Valley Rd, Bear Valley, CA 95223, www.bearvalley.com/stay/bear-valley-lodge
If you’re planning on going to any of the Ebbetts Pass sno-parks, a close place for lodging is the Bear Valley Lodge. Located in the village of Bear Valley, it is close to Bear Valley Mountain skiing, Lake Alpine, and other Ebbetts Pass attractions. The Lodge has 53 guest rooms, shopping, lounges, restaurants, and year-round recreation.
7. Soda Springs
10244 Soda Springs Rd, Soda Springs, CA 95728, www.skisodasprings.com
If you are looking for an extremely kid-centered snow resort, Soda Springs may be a perfect match. They have a kids only snow playground featuring tubing carousels, tubing lanes, ski/snowboard learning areas, snow volcanoes to climb, snowman building and more. This unique facility is designed specifically for kids 7 and under to experience winter and play in the snow. One parent/guardian pedestrian ticket is included with each kid general admission ticket.
One day ticket for child 7 and under plus adult pedestrian is $55, a two-day ticket plus adult pedestrian is $110 and an additional adult pedestrian ticket costs $10. There is also an option if you plan on visiting more than once all season. A seasonal Family Pass that provides unlimited access to skiing/snowboarding, Tube Town and Planet Kids for $499 (family of two adults/two children, additional children must be added to your family pass for an additional fee on site).
8. Village at Squaw Valley
1750 Village East Rd, Olympic Valley, CA 96146, https://squawalpine.com/lodging/village-squaw-valley-lodging
Less than a thirty-minute drive away from Soda Springs is the Village at Squaw Valley. Located in Olympic Valley, The Village at Squaw Valley is connected to a shopping center, within a 5-minute walk of Aerial Tram and Squaw Valley Adventure Center.
All of the 186 guestrooms feature DVD players, complimentary wireless Internet access and cable programming. After a day on the slopes, you can relax in one of the 8 spa tubs or have some fun in the arcade/game room. Guests can catch a ride to nearby destinations on the area shuttle (surcharge).
You can grab a bite to eat at one of the hotel’s 9 restaurants or relax with a refreshing drink at one of the 5 bars/lounges. Free self-parking is available onsite.