Northern California's Gold Country offers snow many options to get out there this year
California's Gold Country, where gold was originally discovered in 1848 to set off the gold rush of '49, is still a gold miner's dream, with the six pound “Butte Nugget” unearthed just last summer. But the area's reputation for all things outdoorsy and adventurous, no matter what time of year, is a more common find. As ski resorts begin to open, Northern Californians can get all that winter has to offer in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range (called the High Sierra by locals) beginning two hours east of San Francisco. The 400-mile long range runs north to south along the eastern part of California. Downhill, cross country skiing, and snowboarding options are joined by new adventures, such as snow biking, dog sledding, snowshoeing under the canopy of Giant Sequoias, and finding rarified air with a snow kite. At the end of the day, more than 100 wineries await, many with no-fee tasting rooms. Here are some winter sports suggestions in the Gold Country:
North – El Dorado and Nevada Counties
El Dorado County VisitEldorado.com
El Dorado County, northeast of Sacramento on Highway 50, is the heart of the Gold Country. The 1848 discovery of gold here touched off the largest Gold Rush in history.
Snow skiers and boarders have access to three world-class resorts in this South Lake Tahoe region. Heavenly Ski Resort is home to some of the steepest, deepest and most scenic ski runs in the west. Lake Valley State Recreation Area and Sugar Pine Point State Park both offer cross country skiing in the High Sierras. Another way to experience Lake Tahoe in winter is to snowshoe right on the water's edge at the iconic Camp Richardson.
Many argue that winetasting is a year-round sport; the Gold Country concurs. El Dorado wineries are renowned for making vibrantly flavorful, distinctly delicious wines that are grown in the dramatic elevations of the Sierra Nevada. For many of the vineyards at the higher elevations, winter marks the beginning of the winemaking season, where vintners get their first glimpse of the quality of the vintage. The region is uniquely situated above the fog and below the snowline. Weather is mild and the tasting rooms are uncrowded, allowing even more opportunities to talk one-on-one with the winemakers who pour their heart into their craft.
A noteworthy seasonal event is held annually at Miraflores Winery. The Wild Thing VIII (this year on Dec. 13) is a gastronomic experience pairing wild game with their wines. Past offerings include kangaroo, elk, wild mushrooms and turtle soup.
Nevada County gonevadacounty.com
Nevada County, above El Dorado County and stretching east to the California border, is the home of Donner Summit, with some of the deepest snow in the continental U.S. and a range of winter options at each resort.
Boreal Mountain Resort is celebrating its 50th year of operations with significant renovations including the addition of a surface life and expanded learning terrain, three major events to mark the golden anniversary, and the opening of Neff Land, a pirate-themed terrain park with 30 ridable features. Night skiing is also available at Boreal Mountain, with lifts operating until 9 p.m. daily The Take 3, Ride Free encourages improving ski techniques and abilities – the season pass lift ticket is free with the completion of three lessons.
Woodward Tahoe, located steps from the slopes, is Tahoe's only action sport training facility with indoor trampolines, foam pits, skate parks, ramps and more.
Planet Town at Soda Springs Resort has a wide viewing area that puts proud parents into the perfect spot to film their children's first turns on skis or snowboards. Toddlers may start at 2 years old to age 8. Soda Springs rents pint-sized snowmobiles for kids ages 6 to 12 (under 100 pounds). The adventures take place on a circular track – no worries of heading off down the slope – and helmets are provided.
Donner Ski Ranch, another family friendly ski and snowboarding slope has a tubing hill that requires no experience or special equipment other than energy and gumption.
Cross country skiers have unlimited access at Royal Gorge, North America's largest cross country resort on 200km (134 miles)of groomed trails across 7,500 acres of pristine terrain that crosses Nevada and Placer Counties. Winter enthusiasts can also enjoy snowshoeing, or snow biking on Surly Bikes equipped with overly-exaggerated “fat” tires for a great workout on a scenic loop. Snowkiting, winter's new darling sport, harnesses the wind. World champion snowkiter Tyler Brown offers lessons, tips and techniques at California's first established snowkiting school.
Nevada County is also the home to the Sierra Vintners wine region, known for their blue ribbon wines, hospitable vintners and tasting room experts. Many offer tasting and events at their vineyards like Pilot Peak, Sierra Knolls and Double Oak; while others are showcased in one of the many tasting rooms located in Historic Downtown Grass Valley or Nevada City.
Central – Sacramento, Amador and Calaveras Counties
Folsom, Sacramento County VisitFolsom.com
The city of Folsom, in Sacramento County, is a natural home base for winter activities throughout Northern California's Gold Country.
Take a stroll down Historic Sutter Street and visit unique shops, quaint dining and historic bars. Lace up ice skates at Folsom's Ice Skating Rink, located around the historic railroad turn table. This family favorite activity is open daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., through Jan. 19. The traditional Historic Folsom Tree Lighting and Arts and Crafts Fair returns Dec. 5 and 6 to kick off the holidays.
World class productions, including the national tour of Disney's” Beauty and the Beast” and “An Irish Christmas”, are performing on stage at the Harris Center Performing Arts Venue in November and December.
Visitors who book the Folsom Shopping Getaway package, available at six hotels, receive a $25 gift card to the Palladio at Broadstone Lifestyle Shopping Center along with a complimentary bottle of local wine, shopping and theatre discounts.
Amador County touramador.com
Located 45 miles southeast of Sacramento and 125 miles from San Francisco, Amador County is in the middle of Gold Country California, with Highways 49 and 88, providing north-south and east-west access.
Kirkwood Mountain resort's unique location atop the Sierra Crest, 35 miles southwest of South Lake Tahoe, with elevations ranging from 7,800 to 9,800 feet, receives some of the lightest, driest, and most plentiful snowfall in the Lake Tahoe region. More than 2,300 acres of terrain, from calm beginner runs to hair-raising cornices and cliffs, including three unique terrain parks ranked by skill level, the “Wood” as locals call it, serves all ski enthusiasts. For more adventure, skiers can enjoy Expedition: Kirkwood for a more intimate experience, with private guides and backcountry offerings.
While everyone else is above ground, Amador County's dazzling Black Chasm Cavern in Volcano, offers a below-ground wintery view of stalactites, draperies and helictites, and a beautiful turquoise lake. The Kennedy Mine, famous for being one of the deepest gold mines in the world, gives visitors an understanding of life in the Gold Rush era and how the precious gem changed lives. Tours are available, by reservation, year round. For hands-on gold panning, March through September, visit the Roaring Camp Mining Company in Pine Grove to see a gold mine in operation and join in to pan, sluice, dredge and dry wash – and keep the nuggets. (Members of the Dirt of the Month Club can receive bags of dirt from mining, with possible gold remnants, on the first of each month.)
Amador County's fifty-five wineries offer every possible range of taste. One way to navigate the options is to end a winter sports week with the annual Behind the Cellar Door, by the Amador Vintners Association, on March 7 and 8, 2015, which offers educational seminars, including Bray Vineyard's “Hone your Sensory Skills”, Drytown Cellar's “Exploring the Link Between Wine & Spirits” and Sera Fina Cellar's “Winemaker Want-to-Be's Rhone varietal blending.
Sutter Creek's Parade of Lights strolls down Main Street on the evening of Dec. 13. Mail trucks, dogs, horses, baton twirlers and marching bands, adorned in lights, move along the historic Gold Rush street past local businesses, open for wine tasting and holiday shopping.
Calaveras County gocalaveras.com
Calaveras County sits in the midst of California's historic Gold Country with a history of inspiration for gold rush hopefuls in 1848 and later, Mark Twain and his story:” The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” It is located in the Sierra Foothills appellation featuring spectacular winter scenery at high elevations.
Bear Valley Mountain Resort is a friendly and relaxing High Sierra ski resort in the beautiful Central Sierra Mountains. Located just off Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway (Highway 4), this destination offers everything from relaxation to extreme adventure. Winter activities include downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and sledding.
This area includes the only wilderness trail system in California with snowmobiles for rent from Bear Valley Snowmobile. World class cross country skiing with snowshoeing, sledding and tubing options are available through Bear Valley Cross County which maintains 38 groomed trails, 4 trailside huts and the trailside Meadow Café. Visitors with their own equipment may head to two U.S. Forest Service winter recreational snow play areas; Lake Alpine Sno-Park and Spicer Reservoir Sno-Park.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, featuring spectacular Giant Sequoia trees is a magical place to visit in the winter on a pair of snowshoes. Loaners are available free of charge from park rangers while supply lasts, but it's best to bring a set and plan to take the Saturday guided tour (1 p.m. throughout winter.) A lovely and welcome amenity is a warming hut with hot chocolate and cider. The Annual Winter Wonderland Carnival in December features horse-drawn carriage rides and live music.
Two dates worth noting: the quaint town of Murphys' Holiday Open House and Festival of Wines, Dec. 4 and Santa's rappelling descent to the bottom of Moaning Cavern, Dec. 13. Multiple lodging options are available in the Arnold, Dorrington and Bear Valley areas including the Arnold Black Bear Inn and multiple cabin vacation rentals.
South – Yosemite Gateway Counties of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera, including Yosemite National Park
Tuolumne County yosemitegoldcountry.com
An easy two-and-a-half-hour drive east of San Francisco, Tuolumne County features beautiful terrain from near sea level to high elevations over 10,000 feet well and the closest entrance to Yosemite National Park from the Bay Area.
Dodge Ridge Winter Sports is a perfect family snow destination with a Family Lodge catering to the needs of children. Intro to Snow – Kinder Ski and Ride programs are offered along with adaptive lessons for all ages.
The iconic area of Pinecrest, at approximately 5,600 feet elevation, offers snowshoeing around the lake. Generations of families visit the year-round resorts. A must on the schedule is a visit to the Steam Donkey, an Alpine steakhouse at Pinecrest Lake Resort (named for the equipment which hauled logs to the railroad cars.)
Long Barn Ice Skating Arena, another multi-generational tradition, located in the town of Long Barn off Highway 108, offers skating every weekend from November through April, and daily during holidays and school breaks.
A winter highlight is being in the still, snow-blanketed forest with only the sound of wind in high branches and the thump-crunch of snowshoes. The Stanislaus National Forest, located between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park, offers a full range of year-round recreation opportunities. A network of forest roads and trails encourages the discovery of nature for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing.
This year, the popular Polar Express train ride, created after the book and movie, will roll through Tuolumne County, at Railtown - 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown. The chocolate pajama ride runs Fridays through Sundays during December. A range of accommodations, from affordable cabins, historic hotels, motels, bed & breakfast inns and hotel casino action, is available at the Tuolumne County website.
Mariposa County YosemiteExperience.com
Mariposa County, home of Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove, features world-class natural wonders along with charming, authentic Gold Rush-era towns and lush pine forests close to its western and southern border.
Mariposa County offers breathtaking beauty of Yosemite Valley, more than 20 miles of cross-country skiing on a groomed trail to the some of the most sublime views in the world, and snowshoeing in the majestic Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
When the snows gather around Half Dome's iconic north face, it's time for a visit to Badger Pass Ski Area, the most affordable ski resort in California. At Badger Pass, parents can watch from the warmth of the sundecks as their kids hit the slopes. Badger Pass features 10 runs, many that are ideal for beginning skiers and snow boarders, plus a few that are reserved for the more advanced. Stay and Ski packages make it easy to experience the luxury of The Ahwahnee Hotel or the family-friendly Curry Village. Ski lift tickets are included with a two-night stay.
Visitors looking for an easy trip to the Yosemite Valley Floor might consider staying in the towns of Mariposa or Midpines, and let YARTS, the regional bus system do the driving. This is a no-hassle (and chain-free) ride that delivers visitors to the heart of Yosemite Valley, for walks around the valley trails, views of icy Yosemite Falls, the cozy fireplace at The Ahwahnee Hotel, or ice-skating at Curry Village, a seasonal tradition. Mariposa offers a range of great dining options, plus wine-tasting and breweries, and is home to the Pioneer History Museum, the California State Mining and Mineral Museum, and antique shopping in the Old Town district.
Outside the park entrance at Fish Camp, winter sports include daily horse-drawn sleigh rides, s'mores around a campfire, ice skating or spa treatments, at Tenaya Lodge.
Madera County YosemiteThisYear.com
Madera County, located in the San Joaquin Valley 60 miles north of Fresno, is known as “California's Gateway to Yosemite” offering some of the most iconic spots along the way.
Dotting the landscape are a variety of restaurants featuring locally grown ingredients, award-winning wineries along the Madera Wine Trail, art galleries and museums that create the desire to slow down and linger a while. The Madera Wine Trail has 12 distinctive, hospitable wineries spanning from Madera to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
Explore the beauty and quiet of the Sierra National Forest on Whisky Snowmobile Trail, a 35-mile route through the forest following logging roads. Goat Meadow Winter Sports Area is a popular stop in a picture-postcard setting and is perfect for impromptu hill sledding on tubes, sleds and anything an active imagination can conjure up.
Winetasting is also a winter sport here. Explore the Madera Wine Trail's February Wine and Chocolate Weekend, Feb. 14 and 15, for local wines, chocolate pairings, live music and foods.
Bass Lake, named by Sunset Magazine as one of the “West's Best Lakes”, offers year round fishing, with lakeside cabins and boats for rent.
Before you go:
Up-to-the-minute snow information is available at onthesnow.com/sierra-nevada/skireport.html with listings of each ski resort's snow base and lift availability. The site also offers a “powder alert” and notification of which resorts have received more than 8 inches of snow in the past 14 hours. Each county's noted website provides lodging options, many dog-friendly, and activities information. For more information, go to calgold.org.
