The Best Skiing in California
Looking for the best skiing in California? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around California. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
-
Ski and Snowboard Mammoth
5.0At 11,053 feet, Mammoth boasts the highest summit of any California resort, making for deeper, higher quality snow, beautiful views and a season that can last until July. And with 3,500 skiable acres, 400 inches of snowfall and an average of 300 days of sunshine per year, we enjoy re-earning our reputation as California’s only real big mountain skiing/riding experience each and every season.Bu...Read more -
Climb Mt. Shasta via Clear Creek Route
12.4 mi / 7927 ft gainThe least technical route to the summit of Mt Shasta begins at the Clear Creek Trailhead (elevation 6390 ft). Please note that although this is a less technical route, this is still dangerous and there have been deaths on Mt. Shasta because of falling rock. To start this, you should be a good hiker with knowledge of mountain skills.To get started, you will have registered at the ranger station ...Read more -
Backpack to Leavitt Lake in Stanislaus National Forest
4.03 miSituated on the eastern edge of Emigrant Wilderness, Leavitt Lake is a great introduction to backpacking in the Sierra Nevada. Leavitt Lake is located at the end of Forest Service Route 077 off of Highway 108. It is actually possible to drive to Leavitt Lake, but a high clearance vehicle is required. Route 077 is located 3.8 miles east of Sonora Pass on Highway 108. The road entrance is not mar...Read more -
Hike Pyramid Peak via Rocky Canyon
5.07.4 mi / 4100 ft gainPyramid Peak is the tallest peak in the Crystal Range and the Desolation Wilderness, just west of Lake Tahoe. On a clear day it can be seen from the Bay Area over 150 miles away. Named for its distinct shape, Pyramid a massive heap of glaciated granite slabs and talus, and the Rocky Canyon route to its summit is the most direct and the most difficult climb in the Tahoe area in terms of elevatio...Read more -
Ski and Snowboard Northstar
3.0Northstar California, previously known as Northstar-at-Tahoe, is located near the north shore of Lake Tahoe and is home to over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain. The resort is known for its laid back atmosphere coupled with high-end luxury accommodations, shopping and dining.The resort is home to impeccable grooming, incredible tree skiing and a variety of terrain options suitable for any ability...Read more -
Nordic Ski and Snowshoe to Glacier Point
5.021 miKnown for its breathtaking vistas, towering granite faces, and thundering waterfalls, Yosemite National Park truly is one of the world’s most astounding landscapes. Though the park covers nearly 1200 square miles, the vast majority of the ~4 million annual visitors spend almost all their time around the 18 square miles of Yosemite Valley. Especially between mid-April and mid-September, the va...Read more -
Hike to the Peter Benson Hut
5.011.6 mi / 1800 ft gainDrive to the top of Donner Summit via the Old Hwy 40 and park at the Donner Summit PCT trailhead, just past the Sugar Bowl Academy Building. Begin hiking up-hill through a somewhat forested area for about 2 miles. Shortly after you pass the trail sign for the Mt. Judah Loop, you will come to a small clearing where the trail starts to level out and you begin ridge-walking. The trail becomes very...Read more -
Climb Matterhorn Peak via the East Couloir
10 mi / 6000 ft gainMatterhorn Peak in the northeastern Yosemite Wilderness is an SPS Emblem Peak and many regard it as the beginning of the High Sierra, as there are no peaks higher to the north in the Sierra Nevada.There are many routes to the summit, but the shortest and most direct (though not easiest) begins at the Twin Lakes Horse Creek Trailhead at the Mono Village Resort, aka "RV Hell", near Bridgeport, CA...Read more -
Cross-Country Ski or Snowshoe to Ralston Peak
5.0This loop is best accomplished in 2 days, spending a night at either Ralston, Tamarack, or Cagwin Lake. Although this route is similar to hiking Ralston Peak in the summer, the trails are completely covered by snow so solid navigation skills are necessary. A map is required to find the best possible route, but note that even signposts may be covered with snow.In winter, you must park at the Ech...Read more -
Camp at Bretz Mill Campground
4.0/ 3286 ft gainBretz Mill Campground is truly one of a kind - no fee, open year round, first come, first serve. This is a wonderful campground is an oasis for those seeking to picnic, cool off during hot summer days, or explore snowy trails. This is also a great place to spend the night when many campgrounds at higher elevations are hidden under feet of snow in the winter. The maximum group size is 6 people ...Read more -
Ride Twin Peaks in Lake Tahoe's Backcountry
This trip is best done in two days with an approach day and then a descent day. Get started at the base of the Sherwood Chair on the backside of the Alpine ski area. Head up, outside of the ski area boundary toward the high ridge.Once on the ridge, you follow it south for a few miles until reaching the middle of North Twin Peak. This is a great place to camp for the night. In the morning, head ...Read more -
Hike to The Tuttle Creek Ashram
4.33 mi / 1500 ft gainThe Tuttle Creek Ashram is an abandoned stone building, "church" or place of enlightenment tucked away in the beautiful Eastern Sierra. Sitting at an elevation around 8000 feet, construction on the beautiful building was first started in 1928. The building took 20 years of hard manual labor to finish this amazing structure. The story starts with philosopher Franklin Merrell-Wolf and his wife Sa...Read more -
Camp at William Kent Campground
/ 6282 ft gainWilliam Kent Campground is a few miles south of Tahoe City on Lake Tahoe's western shore. Access to the lake is just a short walk from the campground. The campground provides bathrooms, campfire rings, a trash dump station, firewood vendor, grills, picnic tables, and food storage lockers. Pets are allowed, but there is a maximum of 2 animals per campsite. You can reserve your campsite ahead of ...Read more -
Cross-Country Ski to the Ostrander Ski Hut
Start your trip from the Badger Pass ski area. The Glacier point road is closed past here, and you'll spend your first couple of miles skiing mostly downhill to the Bridalveil Falls trailhead.The Bridelveil Creek trail gains slightly less elevation but is less scenic and longer than the more popular Horizon Ridge trail. We went up to the hut this way and came down Horizon Ridge.If you are going...Read more -
Climb Mt. Shasta via the Hotlum-Bolam Ridge
10 mi / 7200 ft gainThe Hotlum-Bolam route follows the ridge between the Hotlum and Bolam Glaciers on Shasta's north side. It's an intermediate route that isn't much more technical than the south side routes, except for icy sections and possible late-season open crevasses. For this reason it's a popular alternative to Avalanche Gulch for climbers with a bit more experience handling steep snow and ice looking to es...Read more -
Camp at Oak Grove Campground
/ 2772 ft gainApart from being visually appealing, the campground features open, yet secluded sites that are perfect for stargazing and shooting-star spotting. Each campsite has a picnic table and a grill. There are vault toilets and flush toilets. There is also potable water. If you are interested in seeing birds and other wildlife, you'll be pleased to read that mountain lions, mule deer, coyote, gray fox,...Read more
Quick links
- The best hiking trails in California
- The best backpacking in California
- The best camping in California
- Top adventures in California
More California Destinations
- San Diego
- South Lake
- South Lake Tahoe
- San Francisco
- Yosemite
- Mariposa
- Mariposa County
- Los Angeles
- Big Sur
- Inyo County
- Ventura
- Mammoth Lakes
- Bishop
- Malibu
- Mammoth
- Mammoth Lake
- Lake
- Yosemite National Park
- Laguna Beach
- Mill Valley
- Twentynine Palms
- Riverside County
- Tuolumne County
- Santa Cruz
- Yosemite Valley
- Half Moon Bay
- Sequoia National Park
- Lee Vining
- Sequoia
- Pacific
- San Bernardino County
- Shasta County
- Truckee
- Madera
- Madera County
- Mono County
- San Bernardino
- San Jose
- Stinson Beach
- Jenner
- Orick
- Shasta
- Inverness
- Oakland
- Palm Springs
- Redwood City
- Shaver Lake
- Trinity Center
- Arnold
- Borrego Springs
- Lakeshore
- Los Angeles County
- Newport
- Newport Beach
- Pacific Grove
- Pescadero
- San Diego County
- Boulder Creek
- Echo Lake
- Groveland
- Mount Baldy
- Pinecrest
- Santa Barbara County
- Sausalito
- Tahoe City
- Tahoma
- Berkeley
- Bridgeport
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Death Valley
- Grove
- Lone Pine
- Oceanside
- Ojai
- Pacifica
- Pearblossom
- Tulare
- Tulare County
- Auburn
- Crescent City
- Felton
- Junction
- Junction City
- Kyburz
- La Honda
- Lake Elsinore
- Montecito
- Point Reyes
- Point Reyes Station
- Rancho Palos Verdes
- San Luis Obispo
- Soda Springs
- Three Rivers
- Topanga
- Tulelake
- Twin Bridges
- Walnut Creek
