Best Places for Families to Play in the Snow Near Los Angeles

Posted Jan 03, 2019 Things to Do Family Travel

Don't let So Cal weather make you forget it's winter. Grab your coats, sleds, and tubes and head to the nearby mountains for some wintry fun! Just a short drive away from Los Angeles, your family's winter wonderland awaits! Check out our top picks for snow play fun near you.

SnowFest 2019 at Pittsford Park - Lake Forest
Join in on the fun at the annual SnowFest at Pittsford Park hosted by the City of Lake Forest. Make it a family affair with saucers and sleds for mountain sliding, a free snow play area for kids 10 and under, attractions, games and special guest appearances from a galaxy far far away. Food and beverages are available for purchase. SnowFest is a one day event held on January 26th with three available 1-hour, 15-minute sessions to choose from. You must pre-register and sledding wristbands usually sell out prior to the event. 

Angeles Crest Highway - Wrightwood 
Looking for a snowy scenic escape? Grab the sled and take the stunning scenic byway Angeles Crest Highway as it winds its way 66 miles through the Angeles National Forest for breathtaking views of the San Gabriel Mountain Range. Check out the Wrightwood Snowplay page for information on the best places to stop for sledding and playing in the snow along your drive through the Angeles National Forest.  An Adventure Pass is required to park throughout the National Forest. The $5 per day pass can be acquired at most local convenience stores. 

Mt. Baldy Snow Tubing Park - Mount Baldy 
Located 50 miles west of Los Angeles, Mt. Baldy Resort boasts of being Southern California's best natural skiing and snowboarding terrain. Mt. Baldy also has an epic snow tubing park located at the top of the Sugar Pine Chair Lift. Tubing packages include a round-trip scenic lift ride and a 90-minute tubing session. 

Snow Valley Mountain Resort Snow Play Area – Running Springs
About a 1.5-hour drive from Los Angeles, Snow Valley Mountain Resort has the longest sled runs in the region and Southern California’s only chairlift-serviced sledding area. Don't worry about packing the sled, their prices include sled rental. They make snow, so you can always count on a consistent sledding experience for the whole family. Skiing and snowboarding and lessons in each are available at Snow Valley as well.

Photo Credit: Snow Valley Mountain Resort, Running Springs, CA

Snow Drift Tubing Park – Running Springs 
Located in the San Bernardino National Forest about a 1.5-hour drive from the LA area, Snow Drift is Southern California's largest and oldest snow tubing park. They offer snowy downhill beginner, intermediate, and advanced slopes at 6500 feet above sea level. Tubes are designed with safety in mind with a belly strap and handles. A perfect day for family fun in the clean, crisp mountain air.

Snow Play Areas Around Frazier Park/Mount Pinos 
Nestled in Cuddly Valley are two snow play areas, a large sledding area next to the Chula Vista Campground and another near Mount Pinos Campground. Be sure to check weather conditions as traveling up Mount Pinos may require snow chains. 

Yetis Snow Park & North Pole Tubing Park at Mountain High Resort 
Mountain High Resort's Yetis Snow Park is open on weekends and holidays and has tubing, snow play and roving instructors for ski and snowboard lessons. The North Pole Tubing Park is currently closed but should be open soon on weekends and holidays for the wintry fun with up to 12 lanes, two moving carpets and custom tubes. Skiing and snowboarding are also available at Mountain High Resort.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway - Palm Springs 
Enjoy breathtaking views in the world's largest rotating tramcar as you ascend 2.5 miles through the picturesque wilderness to the top of the mountain where the family can get out and romp around in the snow and enjoy spectacular views. Bring your own sled. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway tickets may be purchased in advance online.

Photo Credit: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway - Palm Springs, CA

Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain – Big Bear Lake 
Open all year round, this world-famous Alpine Slide is Southern California's only authentic bobsled experience! Located about 2 hours from Los Angeles, this snowy attraction features a scenic chairlift to the top where riders step into their own individually controlled sled to slide down their choice of quarter-mile long cement tracks filled with long straightaways and plenty of high-banked turns. The recreation center hosts other entertainment as well, such as mini golf, golf carts and the new Soaring Eagle--a thrilling attraction that sends the riders vertically 100 ft high on a 500 ft. long cable and catapults the riders back at speeds of 28 mph!

Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain, Big Bear Lake, CA

Big Bear Snow Play - Big Bear Lake 
Once a ski hill, Big Bear Snow Play features the longest runs in Southern California. There are two Magic Carpet lifts (1 covered), allowing your family to conserve their energy for the slopes as you climb to the top for some downhill tubing fun. Go on a weekend or holiday night for glow tubing, taking the fun up to a notch for the whole family. 

Big Bear Snow Play, Big Bear Lake, CA

For more affordable family fun in the LA area, check out our Los Angeles deals and coupons.

Tags: Los Angeles LA family fun snow play sledding tubing kids

---

 

CertifiKID was founded by a mom with a passion for helping parents provide the best experiences for their children on a budget. From outings to adventures, classes to camps, theater to sporting events, amusement parks to getaways, CertifiKID provides the best family-friendly experiences at unbeatable prices. Sign up for family-friendly deals in your area and start saving!