2020-2021_Nevada County Gold

RECREATION
SNOW DAYS
Hit the Slopes for Cool Fun
Royal Gorge
Snow Park
Permits
At Donner
Summit
Sno-Park you'll
find snow play,
plus access to
backcountry, along
with plowed parking
and restrooms.
Get inexpensive
permits online or
at vendors in
Truckee. They’re
good all over the
west! The SNO-
PARKS hot line is
(916) 324-1222.
GEORGE LAMSON
Downhill skiers will find their fill of exhilaration at Nevada County resorts. And from grueling, to
flat and mellow, there are miles of opportunities for snowshoers and cross country skiers.
Cross-Country/
Snowshoeing
One fine choice is Royal Gorge, the
largest cross-country ski area in the country!
Royal Gorge is comprised of an
extensive network of trails, giving access
to the inspiring challenge of 6,000 acres
of High Sierra wilderness. There are also
51.3 km of dedicated snowshoe trails for
some unparalleled snow hiking. Also visit
Tahoe Donner Cross Country, with 54
trails covering a beautiful 100 kilometers
for your aerobic workout pleasure in
addition to 11km of singletrack trail
especially designed for snowshoers of all
ages. Snowshoe and cross-country ski
trails at Donner Memorial State Park
begin at the parking lot by the museum.
Some trails are designated for crosscountry
skiing and others for snowshoeing.
Snowshoers may walk along the side
of ski trails. For a popular back country
cross country/snowshoeing experience,
the Castle Peak area provides panoramic
views. Sno-park permits are
required Nov 1 - May 30.
Alpine Skiing/
Snowboarding
For terrain parks and night skiing, pick
the secret powder paradise of Boreal,
which also caters to beginners. Bigelevation
lovers would do well to choose
CC BY 2.0
Sugar Bowl, which has three large mountains
and runs of every level. This historic
park rarely ices up and offers great panoramas
of Donner Lake. Another great
choice is Northstar Cross Country,
Telemark and Snowshoe Center, which
has 79 trails covering 2,480 acres of downhill
and a modern network of lifts. Why
not try the view from Mount Pluto? Soda
Springs is a favorite for families and
beginner-to-intermediate skiers and boarders.
Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area
has uncrowded slopes, wide-open bowls
and great beginner terrain. Donner Ski
Ranch is the granddaddy of them all,
since its first rope tow was built in 1937!
An average of 400 inches of snow, 6 chairlifts,
52 runs and 460 acres of terrain are a
few of the statistics you’ll need to help
you picture this budget-friendly mecca,
high atop Donner Summit.
Fat Tire Biking
Fat tire biking offers a unique option for
exploring Sierra snow. Fat tire bikes are
like a regular mountain bike, but with
chubby, knobby tires designed to travel
on snow and soft surfaces. Northstar,
Tahoe Donner and Royal Gorge allow
fat biking on designated trails and offer
bikes for rent (subject to conditions and
availability).
Tubing/Sledding/
Family Fun
For the snow-play days in your life, think
Nevada County for uncrowded venues,
reasonable prices and that sweet, sweet
High Sierra snow. For a blast for the
whole family, try Tube Town at Soda
Springs, Boreal’s Playland, the Donner
Ski Ranch Tubing Hill, Tubes-R-Us at
Kingvale Resort or Tahoe Donner
Snowplay. There’s fun right off Highway
80 at Nyack or Yuba Gap. Also Soda
Springs set aside their Planet Kids area
for ages 7 and under to keep the little
ones out of harm’s way.
There may be ski resorts more famous
than some of ours but with that much
notoriety, high prices and the crush of
the crowds follow. Our area features
every kind of snow fun you can imagine,
complete with a less hectic, more familyfriendly
atmosphere.
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