From The Bay Area To The Mountains - Snow Is Falling In Tuolumne County
The closest ski resort to the San Francisco Bay area, Dodge Ridge Mountain resort is set to open very soon after seeing over 30 inches of snow over the past couple weeks. The resort offers visitors over 50 skiing and boarding runs, as well as winter hiking and snowshoeing in Yosemite National Park.
Skiing and snowboarding at Dodge Ridge resort
A firm favourite amongst families for skiing and snowboarding, Dodge Ridge is the closest mountain resort to the San Francisco Bay Area, approximately 163 miles and a little over three hours’ drive. The family-built resort covers 862 acres with 12 lifts, plus 4 terrain parks and has skiing suited to beginners up to advanced levels, with equipment hire and lessons available it's the perfect resort for the whole family. Keep an eye on the snow cameras in the resort, available here.
Rewarding hikes
Plenty of trails remain open across the county and in Yosemite National Park during the winter season The hike to Carlon Falls (approx 4 miles) takes walkers along Tuolumne River and rewards them with a view of the stunning waterfall. For a more challenging adventure the hike to Wapama Falls leads to some of Yosemite’s tallest waterfalls, with incredible views of Hetch Hetchy valley along the route (approx 13.4 miles). Visitors looking for something a little out of the ordinary will enjoy snowshoeing from the Tuolumne Grove down into the beautiful and peaceful giant sequoia grove. This is a gentle 1.2 miles round hike.
Leland High Sierra Snowplay
For nonskiers, the Leland High Sierra Snowplay Park is a family-owned park offering 15 acres of tubing terrain and the biggest snow play facility in the Sierra. Tube hire is included with lift tickets, and the hills are groomed daily.
The Long Barn Lodge Ice Rink
The only ice rink in the county, Long Barn Lodge will open in mid-November until mid-March a true winter gem for those looking for some indoor activities during the festive season, the Lodge is also conveniently located next to Dodge Ridge Ski Resort, Pinecrest Lake and Leland Meadows Snow Play, so visitors can enjoy everything winter has to offer in Tuolumne County during their stay. Guests can choose from one of 20 rooms or 10 cabins on site, starting from £107 per night.
Visit Tuolumne (“to-all-o-me”) County (VTC) is the official destination marketing organisation for Tuolumne County in Northern California with a mission to increase visitation, travel spending and overnight stays. Tuolumne County is just a 2 1/2-hour drive east of the San Francisco Bay Area. The destination is known for its pristine, scenic expanse reaching into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Gold was discovered in Tuolumne County in 1848, setting off the major gold rush of 1849. The main highways leading to the picturesque drive from the Bay Area are Highways 108 and 120 from the west and Highway 49 from the north. The State Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park is considered the “front door” of the park for the Bay Area.
The Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and other surrounding areas provide natural vistas and settings for hiking, water skiing, horseback riding, rafting, camping, snowmobiling, boating, snow skiing, fishing and other outdoor activities. Seven restored historic hotels, four golf courses, numerous and varied dining establishments, historic saloons, four wineries, a hard cider distillery, train rides, casinos, seven museums, two state historic parks, two live theatres, many bed-and-breakfast inns and a variety of Airbnb accommodations are among the many other attributes that make the county a year-round vacation destination.
