Skiing & Snowboarding in Los Angeles

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Skiing & Snowboarding

Cross-Country

Ski season in Southern California generally runs from Thanksgiving until Memorial Day. Idyllwild (951/659-3259. www.idyllwildchamber.com), near Palm Springs, has excellent cross-country trails.

Downhill

East of town, at the San Bernardino County line, is Mt. Baldy (909/981-3344. www.mtbaldy.com), the largest and steepest ski area in Southern California with 26 runs over 400 acres. Despite rustic facilities and limited snowmaking facilities, it's beloved for its varied and challenging terrain. Take the I-10 or the I-210 over the San Bernardino County line to Mountain Avenue, which you'll take north for 16 mi to Mt. Baldy Road; then continue north. Count on a two-hour drive from downtown L.A.

Big Bear (909/866-4607. www.bigbear.com), about 100 mi northeast of Los Angeles, is one of the most popular ski retreats on the West Coast, with a full range of accommodations, several ski lifts, night skiing, and one of the largest snowmaking operations in California. To get here, take the I-10 San Bernardino Freeway east past the city of San Bernardino to Highway 30 headed for Highway 330; that goes northeast and becomes Highway 18, which eventually goes around Big Bear Lake. The drive takes at least two hours.

Another ski and snowboard area in the vicinity of Big Bear is Bear Mountain (888/786-6481), where freestyle terrain tends to attract young thrill-seekers. To get to the lake, take the I-10 San Bernardino Freeway east past the city of San Bernardino to Highway 30. Then connect to Highway 330 going northeast; Highway 330 becomes Highway 18, which circumvents Big Bear Lake. Snow Valley (35100 Hwy. 18, Running Springs. www.snow-valley.com. 909/867-5151) has snowmaking capabilities, a kids' snowmobile park, and a designated sledding area. Mountain High (Hwy. 138 west to Hwy. 2, 3 mi past Wrightwood. 888/754-7878. www.mthigh.com), as do most of these areas, has lights for night skiing. It's also got a kid-friendly tubing park. The easy-to-navigate facilities and calm vibe at Snow Summit (3 mi past Wrightwood. 909/866-5766) make it a good spot for beginners, families with small children, and skiers seeking traditional downhill runs without fuss.

Word of Mouth

"There are times when you can lay out on a sunny beach in the morning, then drive to Big Bear at night and go snow skiing. Welcome to L.A."

-- Thyra