Re: San Jose Bay Area Snow play for kids

dipumisc@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:
> 
> We are looking for a snow play area close to San Jose bay area for our
> 3 year old daughter. We dont have any plan to do skiiing or
> snowboarding or take any cl*****. This trip is mainly for our daughter
> to play around in snow for some time, maybe do some slides with tubes
> etc. One option we have is to go to Lake Tahoe area. But that seems a
> bit overkill for what we are trying to do. Also a 2-3 hour drive will
> be better for a day trip.
> 
> Thanks a lot for your help.
> 
> -Dipu

Go to Yuba Gap off of I-80.

"Yuba Gap south side of I-80 at Yuba Gap exit in Nevada County. Snow 
play area, cross-county ski trails. No snowmobile activity. No overnight 
parking and no busses <sic> allowed. No parking on entry road."

You'll need to buy a $5 Sno-Park day pass.

It's 2.5-3 hours, all freeway other than the last mile. They have a 
little cafe there, restrooms, etc.

"http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/pages/1233/files/snoparks.pdf"

I've been there a couple of times. It can be very crowded. Not sure if 
there is any snow there now.

It's been a bad snow year so far, so you may need to go to higher 
elevations to find snow. You could try somewhere up on Old Highway 40, 
near Norden. Maybe out behind the Sierra Club lodge 
("http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/ctl/brochureW.pdf").
Anyone 
can go into the lodge, and they have XC ski and snowshoe rentals, though 
check if they have really small snowshoes. The good thing about the area 
of the SC lodge is that there is usually snow up there even in low-snow 
years. They ask for some sort of donation to use their trails, I think 
$5. Parking is free. I don't know about tubing, but they have some small 
hills out behind the lodge.