Snowboarding
With its stunning mountain ranges, varied terrain, and world-class resorts, it’s easy to see why California offers snowboarders of all levels an unforgettable experience.
“When I was about eight, I realized, ‘Whoa, I could be really good at this sport,’” says Brock Crouch, professional snowboarder and proud Californian. “I started winning contests, and I was really excited about that…I never wanted to leave Mammoth.”
While California may be best known for its sunny beaches and warm weather, it's also home to some of the best snowboarding destinations in the world. The snowboarding is so good here, the Red Bull Slide-In Tour planned a stop in Soda Springs, California in 2023.
5 Best Places to Snowboard in California
With its stunning mountain ranges, varied terrain, and world-class resorts, it’s easy to see why California offers snowboarders of all levels an unforgettable experience. While there are many destinations to choose from, here’s a list of what we consider the top five best snowboard spots in California.
01
Mammoth Mountain
Situated in the Eastern Sierra region, Mammoth Mountain has some of the tallest peaks in North America. It’s especially popular among snowboarders because of the insane natural amounts of snowfall - about 400 inches a year! If you’re a beginner, stick to the base of the mountain and the slopes near the Main Lodge and Canyon Lodge. If you’re more advanced, know the difficulty of the terrain increases with the elevation. We love this mountain because it caters to all levels and you can snowboard as late as July! The resort features over 3,500 acres of ridable terrain and a vertical drop of 3,100 feet.
- Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA
- Highest Peak: Mammoth Mountain (11,053 feet)
02
Big Bear Mountain Resort
Located in the San Bernardino Mountains, the resort is not only famous for its historic gold mines, it’s a popular local destination for snowboarders who make the trip from all over California. More of the snow here is manmade than what you’ll find at Mammoth, but that’s actually a positive for lots of riders—it means more consistency on the slopes throughout the winter. The resort features over 400 acres of skiable terrain, 19 lifts, and a good mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced runs.
- Location: Big Bear Lake, CA
- Highest Peak: Sugarloaf Mountain (9,952 feet)
03
Heavenly Ski Resort
Heavenly is located in the heart of Lake Tahoe, in between California and Nevada. At the risk of sounding cheesy, the views here live up to the name. Simply put, it’s one of the prettiest places to snowboard that you’ll find on earth! Ideal for snowboarders and skiers of all levels, the resort features over 4,800 skiable acres, with stunning views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains. It also has nine high-speed lifts! For beginners, there are two “learn to ski” areas and for more advanced riders, we recommend the High Roller Terrain Park.
- Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA
- Highest Peak: Heavenly (10,067 feet)
04
Kirkwood
Kirkwood is the place to snowboard if you’re a skilled rider on a budget. Weekday prices without a seasonal pass cost about 20 percent less than some of the other big resorts in California. But if you have an Epic pass you’ll be able to ride for about $65 a day. (This is about a 50 to 70 percent savings.) Anyone who snowboards will get their money’s worth at Kirkwood, which has runs for all levels of snowboarders. But the mountain definitely favors those with experience. There are two base sections, and you’ll need to do some traversing to get over to the harder runs.
- Location: Kirkwood, CA
- Highest Peak: Thimble Peak (9,805 feet)
05
Northstar California
Northstar California is another popular NorCal destination and this one is more family-friendly than some of the others on this list. The resort features over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain, with a vertical drop of 2,280 feet. The mountain also offers a plethora of other activities the whole family can enjoy together, like tubing and snowshoeing. Plus, the whole ski village is kid and pet-friendly. Whatever your level (or family situation), though, there’s plenty of great runs here for anyone.
- Location: Truckee, CA
- Highest Peak: Mount Pluto (8,617 feet)
Things to Consider Before Going Snowboarding in California
California is massive and can experience pretty surreal weather at times. If you’re considering a trip, here are some important factors to keep in mind:
- Weather and conditions: Always check the forecast and snow conditions before planning your trip, as well as during, especially if you’re driving a long way to the mountain. Make sure to pack appropriate gear for inclement conditions, including layers of waterproof clothing (jacket, leggings, socks, etc.) and a good pair of goggles.
- Location: Most of the resorts cater to all snowboarding levels, but do research and make sure your skill level and preferences match when selecting a location. Also consider your budget. Lake Tahoe, for example, can be quite pricey during peak snowboard season weekends.
- Equipment: Make sure to have appropriate snowboarding gear, including a snowboard, boots, bindings, and a helmet. Rental shops have the gear you’ll need pretty much anywhere you ride in California, so you can always pay for a day’s worth of gear if you need to. Smaller resorts typically rent gear at lower daily prices ($30 to $50 versus $100+).
- Physical fitness: Snowboarding requires physical exertion and stamina, especially if you’ll be riding somewhere like Heavenly, which is at altitude. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after and take breaks if you need to.
- Lodging and transportation: Nearly 280 million people visit California each year, so prepare for your snowboarding trip to California by booking lodging and securing transportation ahead of time. If you’re attempting any backcountry snowboarding, it’s strongly recommended you travel with a local guide who knows the area. Avalanches are fairly common in many parts of California, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
California is a dream destination for snowboarders of all levels. Besides recreational downhill snowboarding, California is also home to some of the best snowboard terrain parks in the U.S.
While the debate of east coast vs. west coast snowboarding will probably never be settled, these five spots help demonstrate why the west coast is so popular.
