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SKIING IN THE 209: Downhill Resorts, Cross-Country Options, Snow Play Areas
Skiing

The great thing about living in the 209 is you can hit the beaches one day and the slopes the next day.

While you’ll have to venture a short way out of the 209 to reach beaches there are five skiing options in our backyard.

* DODGE RIDGE: Located on Highway 108, this is the closest ski resort to Manteca or Turlock.

* BEAR VALLEY: This is the eighth largest ski area in California. It is reached via Highway 4.

* YOSEMITE SKI: You can reach it via Highway 120. It is the most low-key with five lifts. It was known for years as Badger Pass.

* BEAR VALLEY CROSS-COUNTRY: It is separate from Bear Valley Ski Resort and is located right along Highway 4 several miles before the turnout to the downhill ski resort.

* YOSEMITE CROSS-COUNTRY: While this is accessed at the former Badger Pass Ski Resort, there is no charge for access save for the $35 vehicle entrance fee to the park that’s good for seven days.

There are also a number of snow play and skating options.

 

DODGE RIDGE SKI RESORT

The ski runs are nice but arguably the best draw is the fact you can reach it a good 30 to 45 minutes quicker than any other ski area. That means you can get more slope time in without having to get up earlier.

It doesn’t hurt that on the way back home you can stop in Sonora with the widest variety of dining options in the Mid-Sierra.

Regular all day rates are adults (20-64) $78, teens (13-19) $59, youth (6-12) $28, and seniors (65-81) $62. Half day rates for skiing from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. are adults $68, teens $52, youth $22, and seniors $57.

Those 82 and older are free.

The base elevation at Dodge Ridge is 6,600 feet. The summit elevation is 8,200 feet. There are 12 lifts with the longest vertical drop being 1,600 feet. There are 67 runs on 863 skiable acres with 40 percent rated advanced, 40 percent intermediate, and 20 percent beginner. The longest run is two miles. The lifts operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. In addition there are three plus terrain parks at Dodge Ridge.

MORE INFO: The website is www.dodgeridge.com. The ski resort can be reached via Highway 120 to Highway 108 and then turn right on Dodge Ridge Road.

 

 

BEAR VALLEY SKI RESORT

The largest ski resort in the 209, Bear Valley also operates a NASTAR course nearly every weekend making it one of two ski resorts in California with a rich history in racing.

All day rates during midweek are $79 for those 20 to 64, $71 for ages 13 to 19, and $39 for both ages 6 to 12 and 65 to 74. Weekend rates are $95 for those 20 to 64, $78 for ages 13 to 19, and $33 for both ages 6 to 12 and 65 to 74.

The base elevation at Bear Valley is 6,600 feet while the mid-mountain lodge is 7,750 feet. The summit elevation is 8,500 feet. There are nine lifts with the longest vertical drop being 795 feet. There are 75 runs on 1,680 skiable acres. It ranks as the eighth largest resort in the state in terms of skiable acres. The lifts operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

MORE INFO: The website is www.bearvalley.com. The ski resort can be reached via Highway 4 to Highway 207 where a left turn takes you to the resort.

 

 

YOSEMITE SKI AREA

This is one of only three ski areas with lifts in a national park. It requires paying a $35 vehicle entrance fee to Yosemite National Park.

Regular all-day rates (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) are $59 for adults and $52 for ages 7 to 17. Half day rates from noon to 4 p.m. are $33.50 for adults and $28.50 for ages 7 to 17.

The base elevation at Yosemite Ski is 7,200 feet while the summit elevation is 8,000 feet. There are 10 runs and five lifts.

MORE INFO: The website is www.travelyosemite.com. The ski resort can be reached via Highway 120. Once in the park, drive to the valley and take the Tunnel Road to reach Glacier Point Road where the resort is located.

 

 

BEAR VALLEY CROSS COUNTRY

The Bear Valley Cross Country and Snowshoe Trail System consists of 35 trails covering 3,000 acres. They offer a variety of lesson options and some equipment rental.

All day passes are $30 for ages 18 to 59, $23 for ages 60 to 69, $15 for those over 70, $23 for ages 9 to 12 and $5 for those 8 and under.

MORE INFO: The website www.bearvalleyxc.com. The cross country ski area is east of Arnold on Highway 4.

 

 

YOSEMITE CROSS COUNTRY

There are 90 miles of trails and 25 miles of groomed track.

This is also the only area I’ve ever skied in the 209. The reason is simple. The 21-mile round trip to Glacier Point with its incredible wintertime view of the valley below, Half Dome, Nevada Falls and the Sierra mountains beyond makes any other cross-country ski venture mundane.

Given you can’t drive to Glacier Point in the winter due to the snow, the solitude at Glacier Point is stunning although there will be a handful of skiers at the overlook.

While there is no trail charge, there is a large a large selection of rental equipment including snow shoes. You can also book two tours that also include trips to two overnight huts including the stunning one at Ostrander Lake. I’ve hiked to it in mid-spring when there was still plenty of snow on the ground and as light snow flurries fell. It was gorgeous so I can only imagine how incredible it is with a heavy blanket of snow.

MORE INFO: The website is www.travelyosemite.com.

 

 

SNO-PARKS

There are sno-parks along the Highway 4 and Highway 88 corridors.

Sno-Parks are areas maintained in the winter to allow people to park safely so they can enjoy winter activities in national forests such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and limited snow play.

Sno-parks are far better than just pulling over to the side of the road. Not only do they have pit toilets and parking but they are sited in areas conducive to a wide variety of activity close to where you park.

Day permits can be purchased for $5 for a single day or an annual pass for $25. The pass is good at any sno-park in California as well as Nevada, Oregon, Washington, or Idaho. They can also be purchased at Strawberry Store that is six miles before the sno-park that’s near the end of the plowed portion of Highway 108. There are parking lots on both the north and south sides of the road. (These are spacious areas compared to the several you will find along Highway 4). You need permits to use the sno-parks between Nov. 1 and May 30.

There are three sno-parks along Highway 4. One is at the Spicer Meadow Road turnoff, one at the end of the plowed road near Lake Alpine, and a new one at Round Valley off Highway 207 leading to Bear Valley.

 

Leland High Sierra Snow Play Resort

The ultimate family snow play area minus skiing plus having the added convenience of lifts is the Leland High Sierra Snow play facility.

It consists of 12 acres featuring a “Little Hill” for kids and a “Big Hill” for everyone else. The big thing here is definitely tubing as well as just basic frolicking and having a grand old time playing in the snow.

There is also a lodge with a full kitchen, snack bar, and remodeled restrooms. Toss in a sun deck with plenty of chairs and tables along with a warm fire overlooking the base of the “Little Hill” and it’s for ideal families.

It’s within a two-hour drive and is at 6,200 feet.

Weekend and holiday rates are $39 for an all mountain all-day lift ticket, $31 for a two-hour all mountain lift ticket or $31 for an all-day all mountain walk-up tickets. You have to be 44 inches or taller. The rates for the lower mountain for those shorter than 44 inches is $22 for an all-day lift ticket, $19 for a two hour lift ticket, and $21 for an all-day walk up ticket.

Mid-week rates are $25 for an all-day all mountain lift ticket and $19 for an all-day lower mountain ticket.

If you want to make it an overnight trip there are cabins for rent nearby on the Stanislaus River as well as rooms at the Strawberry Inn on Highway 108. You can access information on lodging via the Leland High Sierra website.

MORE INFO: The website is snowplay.com. Leland High Sierra Snow Play Resort can be reached via Highway 120 to Highway 108 to a point four miles past Strawberry where you turn right on Leland Meadows Road and travel for about two miles.

 

Long Barn Lodge

You will find snow here at 5,043 feet that is often conducive to snowshoeing, sledding, snow play and even wilderness/cross country skiing. It is also a 10 minute drive from Pinecrest Lake that has year round maintained restrooms making it ideal as a snow play area for little kids.

But the main attraction is the ice skating. Long Barn offers ice skating Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday is reserved for groups.

Ice skating is $11 with a $3 rental charge for skates. There is no charge to watch. If you are interested in lessons the website has links to an instructor you can book.

Overnight rooms are available for $99. It is an ideal place to simply enjoy a Sierra winter day wandering the nearby woods and exploring, playing in the snow and ice skating.

MORE INFO: The website www.longbarn.com. Long Barn can be reached via Highway 120 to Highway 108 to Long Barn Road.