The Best Spots for Sledding, Tubing and Snow Play Near Sacramento

Think “California” and you may think of sunny beaches and surfing. But come winter, California is all about snow! The Sierra Nevada stretches from Northern California to Southern California, making it a winter playground for winter sports enthusiasts. There are ski and snowboarding resorts up and down the state, as well as plenty of spots for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

But sometimes, you just want a chill spot to play in the snow, especially if you have younger children. Luckily, California has plenty of places where you can frolic. Whether you’re looking to sled, tube, make a snowman or have an epic snowball fight, following are dedicated snow play areas within just a few hours of the greater Sacramento region. So, dig out those gloves and boots, grab a snow disc or tractor tire, and head up the hill for a fun day out.

 Note: Be sure to check snow levels before heading up the mountain.

California Sno-Parks

California operates 18 sno-parks that dot the mountainsides from Sierra City down to Mammoth Lakes. More than half of them are within driving distance of Sacramento. They offer scenic settings, groomed runs, parking, and in many cases, restrooms. Parking permits are required and can be ordered online or purchased at nearby vendor locations for $15 a day or $40 for a season pass.

 The California Sno-Parks closest to Sacramento include Donner Summit Sno-Park, Echo Lake Sno-Park, Blackwood Canyon Sno-Park, Taylor Creek Sno-Park, Iron Mountain Sno-Park and Hope Valley Sno-Park. Most allow for general snow play, tubing, sledding and cross-country skiing. Blackwood Canyon, Hope Valley and Iron Mountain also allow snowmobiling. Note there are no rentals at California Sno-Parks, so bring your own equipment.

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Nyack Snow Park

Photo courtesy Nyack Snow Park

If you have young children, there’s no better place than Nyack Snow Park, located just off I-80 on the way to Tahoe. It started as a makeshift spot near a gas station and is now a full-fledged snow park with gentle hills and rolling, snow-covered paths. No rentals are available, so bring your own, or pick up a plastic saucer or sled (or a cup of hot cocoa) at the gas station. Parking is $30, otherwise there’s no cost to play. Be sure to check the weather conditions first; because they are at a relatively low elevation, they get less snow than other areas.

Tube Tahoe

If you’re looking for a day of adventure in the South Lake Tahoe area, consider Tube Tahoe. It’s a dedicated tubing resort with 500-foot-long tubing lanes with views of Mt. Tallac and Echo Summit. Or, for the more experienced tuber, you can catch some air on the specially designed big air jump. They also have cozy igloos for rent with comfy couches and s’mores. Snow play starts at $15 per person, while general admission and tube rental is $65 for adults and $55 for children.

Soda Springs Mountain Resort

Photo courtesy Soda Springs

Just an hour and a half from Sacramento, Soda Springs Mountain Resort is best known for its skiing and snowboarding, but they also have several options for snow play and tubing. Tube Town features groomed runs — up to 10, to be exact — plus a 400-foot lift so you don’t have to haul your tube up the hill yourself. For younger kids, Planet Kids has a snowy playground and plenty of space to roam. One ticket gets you access to all their snow play areas and includes tube rentals and lift tickets. Note that there are no on-site ticket purchases; all tickets must be purchased online ahead of time. Best of all, they make their own snow, so you don’t have to depend on Mother Nature.

Donner Memorial State Park

Photo courtesy Tahoe Donner

Tucked along Donner Lake near Truckee, Donner Memorial State Park is popular in the summertime for camping and hiking. Come winter, it is blanketed in snow, making it the ideal getaway for snow play. Although there aren’t many hills for sledding or tubing, there are miles of trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Or, you can head to the opposite side of the lake at West End Beach for snow play.

Adventure Mountain Lake Tahoe

Photo courtesy Adventure Mountain

Located at the top of Echo Summit in El Dorado County (7,400 feet elevation to be exact), Adventure Mountain has more than 40 acres of pristine alpine wilderness to explore. They get plenty of snow, more than many of the Tahoe ski resorts! Groomed runs are available for little kids as well as adults, and there’s no need to bring your own tubes — they are provided. There’s also a lodge where you can warm up by the fire and grab lunch. The entrance fee is $20 per vehicle and includes parking and the use of snow play areas. Two-hour tubing sessions are $40 for adults and $35 for kids. They also have tubing after dark on Friday and Saturday evenings.

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Granlibakken Tahoe

Photo courtesy Granlibakken

This low-key spot near Tahoe City is a great place for an all-in-one winter adventure. There’s a massive sledding hill and saucers are provided. They also have trails for downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. You can fuel up at the onsite café, or even stay the night — they have lodging if you’d rather make a weekend out of it. The sledding hill is open daily, and passes start at $25 for 90-minute sessions. Their ski hill is open Friday–Monday and rentals are available.

Tahoe Donner

Located near Truckee, Tahoe Donner is another ski resort that also offers a designated snow play area. They have groomed tubing lanes, sled lanes and plenty of space to make snow angels or have a snowball fight. They also offer special events throughout the season, like snowman-building contests, snow-bowling competitions and snowball-launching challenges for the whole family. Prices start at $25 for 75 minutes of hill time and reservations must be made in advance. Equipment is provided.

Kingvale Resort

Another easily accessible spot off I-80 is Kingvale Resort, a laid-back locale for a day on the snow. Located near Soda Springs, it has snow tubing with a magic carpet lift, nine groomed runs for sledding, and a dedicated snow play area. They also offer snowmobile tours. Parking is $20 per day plus $25 per person for entry to the snow park or $40 for a two-hour tubing session. They also sell sleds and saucers.