There’s no better place for playing in the snow than Placer County.
Today, internationally celebrated athletes appreciate Placer County ski slopes while families delight in cross-country skiing, snowboarding, or simply tubing. Whatever your level of interest, it’s here.
The winter months bring bountiful snowfall and snow fun to the higher elevations of Placer County. Winter activities include snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice skating, sleigh rides, sledding, tobogganing, snow play and of course downhill, telemark and cross-country skiing. You can even go heli-skiing.
Fourteen miles east of Foresthill, China Wall is a no-cost recreation site operated by the U.S. Forest Service that features plenty of area for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and family snow play. There are a number of areas along Interstate 80 that are easily accessible for snow recreation, some require a Sno-Park permit.
Sno-Parks in Placer County
- Safe, low cost program for the entire family to enjoy Placer County's great winter wonderland
- Operated through California Department of Parks and Recreation, offers snow-cleared parking lots, direct access to snow play areas, cross-country ski trails, and snowmobile regions
- Copy of the “Guide to Sno-Park and Trailhead Areas” and/or to purchase a Sno-Park Permit, available at the California Welcome Center Auburn, 13411 Lincoln Way, Auburn, 530 887-2111
- Note: For the 2011/12 winter season, there is only one official Sno-Park area along the I-80 corridor at Donner Summit (Boreal) leading to Lake Tahoe and another on Highway 89 (at Blackwood Canyon) three miles south of Tahoe City. Others are scattered throughout the Sierra Nevada and are listed in the California Sno-Parks brochure on the California Department of Parks and Recreation website.
- Hwy 80, Castle Peak exit; look for distinctive brown signs
- Cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, dog sledding, and snow play on the south side of the freeway, east of the Boreal Inn; Ski trails are on the north side of the freeway
- Call Tahoe National Forest 530 587-3558
- West side of Highway 89 three miles south of Tahoe City
- Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, snow play, and snowmobile trails
- Call Lake Tahoe Basin Management 530 543-2600
Winter Recreation in Placer County
Skiing & Snowboarding
2600 Alpine Meadows Road, Tahoe City
530 583-4232; Snow Ph: 800 581-8347
- Base Elev. 6835’; Summit Elev. 8637’; 2400 acres; 12 lifts and 100+ trails
- 25% Beginner; 40% Intermediate; 35% Advanced
- Unobstructed View of Lake Tahoe is part of the charm
19659 Boreal Ridge Road, Truckee
530 426-3666
- Base Elev. 7200’; Summit Elev. 7700’; 380 acres; 9 lifts and 41 trails
- 30% Beginner; 55% Intermediate; 15% Advanced
- Nighttime skiing
19320 Donner Pass Road, Norden
530 426-3635
- Base Elev. 7031’; Summit Elev. 7781’: 460 acres; 6 lifts and 52 trails
- 25% Beginner; 50% Intermediate: 25% Advanced
- Family-owned ski resort
725 Granlibakken Road, Tahoe City
530 521-7333
- Base Elev. 6310’; 2 lifts
- Beginner & Intermediate
- Tahoe’s oldest established ski resort offers an intimate hill
5145 Westlake Boulevard, Homewood
530 525-2992; Snow Ph: 530 525-2900
- Base Elev. 6230’; Summit Elev. 7880’; 1260 acres; 8 lifts and 59 trails
- 15% Beginner; 50% Intermediate; 35% Advanced
- One of Lake Tahoe’s oldest winter recreation sites with and unobstructed view of Lake Tahoe
5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee
530 562-1330
- Base Elev. 6330’; Summit Elev.8610’; 2490 acres; 17 lifts and 83 trails
- 13% Beginner; 62% Intermediate; 25% Advanced
- Resort was bought in 2011 by Vail Resorts of Colorado
10244 Soda Springs Road, Soda Springs
530 426-3666; Snow Ph: 530 426-3901
- Base Elev. 6700’; Summit Elev. 7360’; 200 acres; 2 lifts and 16 trails
- 30% Beginner; 50% Intermediate; 20% Advanced
- Excellent for families and beginners
1960 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley
800 403-0206; Snow Ph: 530 583-6955
- Base Elev. 6200’; Summit Elev. 9050’; 4000 acres; 33 lifts and 100+ trails
- 25% Beginner; 45% Intermediate; 30% Advanced
- Site of the 1960 Winter Olympics
629 Sugar Bowl Road, Norden
530 426-9000; Snow Ph: 530 426-1111
- Base Elev. 6883’; Summit Elev. 8383’; 1500 acres 10 lifts and 84 trails
- 17% Beginner; 45% Intermediate; 38% Advance
- The enhanced Backcountry Adventure Center offers guided backcountry tours
Snowshoe & Cross-Country Trails
Blackwood Canyon/Kaspian Recreation Area
Hwy 89 and Blackwood Canyon Rd, 4 miles south of Tahoe City
530 573-2600
- Non-groomed trails and no rentals
- There are good beginner and intermediate areas with gentle terrain and open meadows
- Further into Blackwood Canyon beyond the road the trail becomes more challenging for experienced skiers
- Forest Service warns that areas beyond the paved road are prone to avalanche
Foresthill Divide Road, 14 miles east of Foresthill
530 367-2224
- No rentals
- Miles of snow trails are groomed from China Wall
- Be aware that the trails are for multiple uses (cross-country ski, snowshoe and snowmobile) and please be courteous in sharing the trails
725 Granlibakken Road, Tahoe City
877 552-6301
- Rentals and Warming Huts
- Lift access to several miles of Nordic skiing terrain, including Page Meadows and Tahoe Rim Trail, 1mileOlympic racing par course located at base of ski area.
15001 Northstar Drive, Truckee
530 562-3270
- Rentals, Lessons and Warming Huts
- 40 Kilometers of carefully groomed and scenic trails
- The new expanded Cross – Country, Telemark and Snowshoe Center features a sundeck and expanded teaching area
925 Country Club Drive, Tahoe City
530 583-5475
- No Rentals and 2 Warming Huts
- 65 Kilometers of pristine grooming, 19 individual trails
- Fabulous view of the Lake
9411 Hillside Drive, Soda Springs
800 500-3871 or 530 426-3871
- Rentals, Lessons and 10 Warming Huts
- North America’s largest cross country ski resort with 90 trails, 330 kilometer track, 9000+ acres and 4 surface lifts
400 Squaw Creek Road, Olympic Valley
530 583-6300
- Rentals and Lessons
- 18 kilometers of groomed trails through the beautiful meadow at Squaw Creek or head into the backcountry of Squaw Valley
- A complete Nordic Center located at the trailhead of the Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Trails
Snowshoe Tours
530/913-9212 or 866-830-6125
Snowmobiling
Blackwood Canyon
Hwy 89, 3 miles south of Tahoe City
530 573-2600
- Trail with fee parking at Kaspian Point
- Ride west up level road 2.5 miles, left across bridge over creek up Barker Pass Rd. to large open areas, some steep bowls, and many roads
- Intermediate and Advanced
- No Rentals
Foresthill Divide Road, 14 miles east of Foresthill
530 367-2224
- 2 adjacent parking lots and Toilets
- Miles of snow trails are groomed from China Wall
- Be aware that the trails are for multiple uses (cross-country ski snowshoe and snowmobile) please be courteous in sharing the trails
- Rentals: Foresthill Snowmobile Rentals
8001 North Lake Boulevard, Kings Beach
530 546-8774
- Riding area consists of over 13,000 acres of groomed snowmobile trails, beautiful meadows and incredible views
- Riders of all abilities are set up with snowmobile rentals and protective gear
- Trailers are available to take snowmobiles to outlying areas
High Sierra Snowmobiling
790 North Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City
530 546-9909
- Snowmobile rentals
- Ride on a track at the historic Old Brockway Golf Course in North Lake Tahoe
- Two persons may ride a snowmobile together
Brockway Summit, Hwy 267, Kings Beach
530 546-4280
- Our exciting tours are designed for all ages and ability levels
- We have over 100 miles of trails that travel through the pristine National Forest offering spectacular views of the entire fabulous Lake Tahoe
Sledding/Tubing/Snowplay
Foresthill Divide Road, 14 miles east of Foresthill
530 367-2224
- 2 adjacent parking lots and Toilets
- Snowplay areas are not groomed
725 Granlibakken Road, Tahoe City
877 552-6301
- Features a groomed snowplay area with rental saucers for sledding
1960 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley
530 583-6985
- Squaw’s tubing park at the Papoose Learning Center offers two tubing lanes for varying thrill levels
10244 Soda Springs Road, Truckee
530 426-3901
- Sledding lanes, tubing lanes and a Little Dipper children’s area provide a variety of thrill and fun.
15001 Northstar Drive, Truckee
530 562-2013
- Offers tubing services by two separate tow lifts at mid-mountain just above the Gondola
6600 Donner Road, Tahoe Vista
530 546-4212
Skating Rinks
1960 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley
530 583-6985
- Rentals available
- Open year-round
- Scenic views of Lake Tahoe while skating atop Squaw Valley on Olympic-size rink
400 Squaw Creek Road, Olympic Valley
800 327-3353 or 530 583-6300 x6624
- Rentals available
- Open Winter Season
- Skate around the outdoor rink surrounded with the Sierra Nevada range as your backdrop, then warm up with a mug of hot chocolate
10500 Brockway Road, Truckee
530 587-6172
- Rentals available, Group or Private Lessons
- Open Winter Season
- This outdoor setting under tall Pines, located in the Truckee River Regional Park, complete with bonfire, overhead lights and music
5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee
530 562-3689
- Rentals available, Lessons
- Open Winter Season
- This 9,000 sq. ft. rink is the center of activity at the heart of the Village at Northstar
Dogsled Tours
530 550-8133
- Open Winter Season, Daily
- Out of Sugar Bowl and the Resort at Squaw Creek
- Husky-driven dogsled tours
Sleigh Rides
Verdi Trails West
775 771-2057 or 530 583-6000
- Open Winter Season
- Out of Resort at Squaw Creek
- Ride through Squaw Valley Meadow in elegant, hand-crafted open sleighs