Check each website and any COVID Updates they may have posted after this publication.
Hours and availability depend on weather, snow conditions, and COVID county regulations, so make sure you check with resorts to confirm they'll be open before you head up to the mountains.
Northern California Snow Play Resorts
There are many fun outdoor snow play areas in the area for your family to enjoy! Visit each link to see what amenities and activities they offer. Note that many resorts will require advance tickets and social distancing precautions due to COVID-19.
TAHOE DONNER
The dedicated snow play area at Tahoe Donner offers sledding and tubing fun for families. There is a food truck will be on hand for snacks, soups, and beverages. Relax by the fire pit with a cup of hot chocolate after playing in the snow! Open Fridays 12:15–4:30 pm and Saturdays and Sundays 9 am–4:30 pm. Location: 12790 Northwoods Boulevard, Truckee, 96161. More info: www.tahoedonner.com or (530) 587-9437.
GRANLIBAKKEN
Granlibakken resort, located near Tahoe City, offers a dedicated sledding hill and snow play area for family fun. All sledding tickets must be purchased online. There will be 1 1/2 hour time blocks for customers with 30 minutes between blocks to clear the hill. The time blocks will be 8:30 am to 10:00 am, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm, 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm, and 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm. Day passes cost $20 per person ($25 on holidays) and include saucer rental and all-day sledding. Kids under 4 sled for free, and lodging guests get a 50% discount. Time slots start at 8:30 am and the last is at 4 pm. Note: participants may not bring their own saucers and other sledding devices. Location: 725 Granlibakken Road, Tahoe City 96145. granlibakken.com
SODA SPRINGS
While Soda Springs resort offers skiing and snowboarding, there's a special focus on family snow play here, with tubing for everyone at Tube Town and plenty of snow play for the little ones at Planet Kids—a snow playground for ages 8 and under with tubing, snow hills to climb, ski and snowboard lessons, and more. Hours: Monday, Thursday, and Friday 10 am–4 pm, weekends and holidays, 9 am–4 pm. Passes start at $25 per day. Location: 10244 Soda Springs Road (off I-80 near Donner Summit), Soda Springs, 95728. More info: www.skisodasprings.com or (530) 426-3901. Visit https://www.skisodasprings.com/the-mountain/operations-schedule/what-to-expect for updates on what is open.
ADVENTURE MOUNTAIN
South Lake Tahoe's Adventure Mountain is all snow play, all the time! They offer tubing, sledding, saucers, snow play, snowshoeing, and sled and tube rentals, as well as dining and a gift shop. Pricing for the 20/21 season is listed here: http://adventuremountaintahoe.com/prices/. You can bring your own gear or rent or purchase at the resort. They will be expanding their tubing lanes, limiting capacity, and moving most indoor operations outside during COVID. Hours: Weekdays, 10 am–4 pm and weekends and holidays 9 am–4 pm. Location: 21200 Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe (at Echo Summit), 96150. More info: adventuremountaintahoe.com or (530) 659-7217
HANSEN'S SNOW TUBE HILL
Hansen's Resort in South Lake Tahoe operates a snow tubing hill with a 400-foot run. Open daily from 9 am–4 pm or 10 am–5 pm; times are subject to change to call before you go. Rates: $30 per person per hour; 4 and under free. Cash only. Rates include the use of a tube or saucer. Parking and restrooms available. Location: 1360 Ski Run Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe 96150. More info: www.hansensresort.com (530) 544-3361
KINGVALE RESORT
Kingvale Resort near Soda Springs offers groomed tubing and sledding runs and a snack bar. Bring your own tubes, sleds, and saucers! You can purchase an inexpensive, two-person sled at the resort. Hours: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, 10 am–4 pm through January 3; parking lot opens at 9 am. All-day tickets cost $15 per person; parking fee $20; children under 2 free. Location: Kingvale Exit (Exit 171) off I-80, Kingvale, 95728. More info: (916) 622-6654 or www.kingvaleresort.com
BEAR VALLEY ADVENTURE COMPANY
Sledding and tubing, cross country skiing and sledding/tubing. Open 7 days a week 9am-4pm. No advanced reservations required. Location: 1 Bear Valley Road, off Highway 4, Bear Valley, 95223. More info: (209) 753-2834 or https://www.bvadventures.com/.
LELAND HIGH SIERRA SNOW PLAY
Located in Tuolumne Country east of the Gold Country town of Sonora, Leland Snow Play offers 12 acres of groomed runs and tow-up lifts for tubing and sledding. There's a kiddie hill for especially for little ones, mini snowmobiles for kids ages 5–12. Everyone visiting the Snowpark, must have a ticket due to limited capacity. All food and beverage sales will be grab-&-go. We encourage people to bring their own food and use their car as their own personal lodge. Hours: Daily, 10 am–5 pm. All-day admission ranges from $19–$39 per person. 34033 Leland Meadow Road, Strawberry, 95375. More info: www.snowplay.com or (209) 965-4719.
California Sno-Parks
Operated by the state's department of off-highway motor vehicle recreation, California Sno-Parks are no-frills places to park the car and get out and play in the snow. While many of them cater to snowmobile enthusiasts, there are a few that are perfect for sledding, snow play, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Keep in mind that Sno-Parks are pretty much just parking areas with access to places for winter recreation. Usually restrooms are provided, but that's about it. It's up to you to find a hill for sledding or saucering, but that's part of the fun, isn't it?
The best part of Sno-Parks is the price: $5 for a day-use pass or $25 for a seasonal permit. Passes and permits for the 2020/2021 season are only available online. Order yours here. Make sure you do buy a permit, because it's a lot cheaper than the tickets (currently over $90) that the CHP hands out to people who are parked without one! Note that parking at Sno-Parks is on a first-come, first-served basis, and some of the more popular locations can fill up early. Also, conditions can change and parks can close, so check the Sno-Parks website before you head up to the mountains for directions and more information.
Sno-Parks that are open for snow play and sledding include:
- Donner Summit (near Truckee off I-80)
- Blackwood Canyon (near Tahoe City off Highway 89)
- Carson Pass (off Highway 88)
- Echo Lake (off Highway 50)
- Iron Mountain (off Highway 88 near Kirkwood ski area)
- Lake Alpine (off Highway 4)
- Meiss Meadow (off Highway 88 near Carson Pass)
- Spicer (off Highway 4)
- Taylor Creek (off Highway 89 near Fallen Leaf Lake)
- Yuba Pass (off Highway 49)
