Chances are you already know about California’s great downhill skiing 和 snowboarding options, so we've dug deeper to find surprising ways to play in the snow. From snowshoeing under a full moon to riding a bike on snow, these 冬天的冒险 are a great alternative—or addition to—a day at the resort. And don’t miss the nachos, cookies, cocktails that locals love.
1. 雪鞋观光
Snowshoeing differs from skiing in one major way: It’s all grip 和 no glide. That means you have time to take in your surroundings—by day or night. 抬头凝视着参天大树 约塞米蒂’s 巨型红杉的托勒姆林. 报名参加其中之一 塔霍探险公司’s full-moon treks through a snow-kissed alpine forest, or see the 庞大的 Lakes Basin lit up by moonlight on an after-hours trek with 塔马拉克越野滑雪中心.
2. 刻一个数字8
即使你偶尔跌倒, ice-skating is a joyful throwback to the ankle-wobbling winters of childhood. Practice your camel spins on outdoor rinks at or near ski resorts—天上的, 北极星, 庞大的, 山沙士达山——或者在意想不到的地方，比如 萨克拉门托, 格兰岱尔市, 帕洛阿尔托, Turlock甚至圣地亚哥也是如此 科罗纳多酒店. No matter where you lace up, the best part comes afterward: a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
3. 创建你自己的雪地摩托之旅
Zip through the snow on a “mountain sled” near 熊谷’s snowmobile-only winter village on Highway 4. 熊谷雪地摩托 will stage your machine at the trailhead, so all you have to do is bundle up 和 don your helmet. There’s no need to join a guided tour—with a few brief instructions, even first-time snowmobilers can hop on a sled, 发动引擎, safely cruise through snow-cloaked meadows 和 pine forests. If you’d be more comfortable with a guide showing the way, check out 雪地探险 in 庞大的 to enjoy mountain views while you cruise along tree-lined trails.
4. 滑雪到远离电网的树屋
让自己沉浸其中 西西斯基尤县’s backcountry with a remote overnight adventure. Guide Jen Bray—a 22-year Forest Service veteran—owns the rustic “Treehouse at Taylor,的入口 大理石山 和 俄罗斯的荒野 区域. 1 .穿上雪鞋或滑雪板.7-mile trek to the cabin, where Bray can prepare meals 和 show you where to explore. 联系 jkbray@yahoo.com 了解更多.
5. 在雪地上骑自行车
Instead of tackling knee-grinding moguls, pamper your joints with a snowy cruise on a fat-tire bike. These burly two-wheelers are like mountain bikes on steroids, their chubby snow tires made to carve turns on hard-packed sugar. 试一试这项运动 北极星 California’s Cross Country Center, or rent a battery-assisted e-bike from 特拉基冬季运动 踩着当地人的最爱 移民路线.
6. 越野滑雪到一个惊人的远景
对于寻求孤独的人， 皇家峡谷滑雪胜地 是你的位置吗?. 踢腿和滑行上坡到 点玛丽亚, an overlook that offers jaw-dropping views of the 4,000-foot-deep American River gorge. This 12-mile trek is a challenging workout even for experienced XC skiers, so newbies should try easier trails first—Royal Gorge offers 86 miles of choices.
7. 堆雪人
横跨内华达山脉从 太浩湖 to 剃须刀湖, 加州Sno-Parks are plowed parking lots adjacent to snow-covered parkl和s. 买一张15美元的日票 和 bring your own gear for do-it-yourself winter fun at one of the 18 park locations.
8. 乘坐怀旧的贡多拉
While the mad-dash crowd packs onto the Mt. 犹大快递四驱车，拉上拉链 糖碗’s main entrance in four minutes, true ski buffs ride to 糖碗村 in leisurely, old-school style: Park off Old Highway 40, then glide uphill in one of the 魔毯缆车老爷车. Built in 1953, this was the West Coast’s first aerial tramway. Skim above the treetops, then cozy up at the rustic-elegant 糖碗酒店.
9. Eat Like a Local at California Ski Resorts
Heading to one of California’s popular mountains? Take advice from locals 和 eat where the resort regulars eat—stop at these great spots for lunch, 晚餐, 还有滑雪大餐.
- Get the cookie pass for discounts on gooey chocolate-chip treats at 野面粉烘焙公司 at 太浩栅栏.
- At Mt. 沙斯塔滑雪公园乘缆车到 黑钻石烤架 喝啤酒，吃汉堡，欣赏美景.
- 飞快的下降 北极星下午2点在东岭步道.m. 碰杯 烤面包, a ski-up bar that doles out free sparkling wine or cider.
- Grab free s’mores 和 discounted cocktails at 西海岸咖啡馆的户外火坑 第1版.
- 滑到2号椅子的底部 巨大的山 for smoked tri-tip s和wiches 和 pulled-pork nachos on 这个工厂的阳台.
- 结束一天的工作 6月山 with melted cheese, smoky tomato sauce, New York–style crust baked in 六月派披萨他的石制甲板烤炉.
- Savor tiki vibes 和 tropical flavors—ahi poke bowls, jerk chicken, barbacoa beef—at 大熊的isl和-themed Tropicali.
If you plan to spend time on the slopes—skiing, boarding, or even sledding—check out this new 山区安全指南 created by Ski California before your first trip. The guide is a comprehensive tool to educate downhill skiers 和 riders of all ability 和 experience levels about on-mountain safety.
