Best Snow Tubing Around Southern California
(credit: Katie Bodell)
Southern California residents have plenty of access to winter snow via short day trips from L.A. Although side-of-the-road mountain locations are often free to play in, they lack safety and amenities of fee based tubing and sledding parks. Enjoy the comforts of onsite restrooms, plenty of parking, restaurants, and refreshments at these SoCal sledding and tubing parks.
Mt. Baldy Ski Resort
8401 Mt. Baldy Rd.
Mount Baldy, CA 91759
(909) 982-0800
winter.mtbaldyskilifts.com
Just 45 miles from Los Angeles, Mt. Baldy is the closest snow area to LA. From the top of the mountain on a clear day (7800 feet), you can see both the Mojave Desert to the north and Catalina Island to the south. Tubing lanes utilize the Sugar Pine chair lift during each hour and a half session. No tubers allowed under 36".
North Pole Tubing Park
Mountain High
24520 Hwy 2
Wrightwood, CA 92397
(888) 754-7878
www.mthigh.com
Located 75 miles from Los Angeles in the small community of Wrightwood, the North Pole Tubing Park, located within Mountain High's full service mountain, is open weekends and holidays. This park boasts not only the most tubing lanes in Southern California (ten lanes with two moving carpets), but it also boasts full service restaurants, a lounge, shops, and restrooms. The drive to Wrightwood, consisting mostly of major freeways, is also one of the safest and easiest for car-sick prone riders.
Snowdrift Snow Tubing Park
34600 CA-18
Green Valley Lake, CA 92341
(909) 867-2640
www.snowdrift.net
The small mountain community of Running Springs, located 80 miles from Los Angeles features two tubing parks. SnowDrift is the oldest operating tubing park in the San Bernardino National Forest and offers runs for tubers of all levels, and a great refreshment center. In addition, they never use manmade snow.
Snow Valley Mountain Resort
35100 State Route 18
Running Springs, CA 92382
(909) 867-2751
www.snow-valley.com
Also located in Running Springs, Snow Valley is a full ski resort featuring rentals, lounges, restaurants, and daily sledding in the winter. Ticket options can be purchased with or without a lift ticket to help maximize cost savings.
Big Bear Snow Play
42825 Big Bear Blvd
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
(909) 585-0075
www.bigbearsnowplay.com
The Big Bear area is the largest mountain community in Southern California. Beautiful scenery, boutique shops, and plenty of lodging options make for a great overnight trip from Los Angeles (just 90 miles away.) At Big Bear Snow Play, you can enjoy daily sledding on some of the longest runs in the area with the help of a magic carpet to get to the top. Kids age 2-6 are free with paying adults.
Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain
800 Wild Rose Ln.
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
(909) 866-4626
www.alpineslidebigbear.com
Big Bear's second snow play area, the Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain, offers Southern California's only bobsled experience coupled with tubing runs for visitors of all ages. Year-round go-karts are also offered, making this snow play area a diverse way to spend the day in the snow. Night sessions are available for a unique twist on tubing.