The quickest way to snow in the Los Angeles region—short of getting into an airplane and flying to the slopes—is to make a beeline to Mountain High, a popular mountain getaway on the east side of the San Bernardino Range. Three areas make up the ski resort, each with its own style and atmosphere. If you like the vibe of slope-side music, live performances, night skiing, and on-hill contests, head for West Resort. East Resort aims to deliver a true alpine experience, with a high-speed quad accessing the region’s longest trails, with moguls, glades, and Mojave Desert views. Mountain High North Resort, open Friday through Sunday during peak season, fills the niche as the family-friendly hangout, with 70 acres of beginner-to-intermediate terrain and the largest snow-tubing park in Southern California.
The resort offers 290 acres of skiable terrain (map), with an average of more than 130 inches of snowfall each season. There’s a nice mix of trails too, with 25 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate, and 35 percent advanced. Mountain High’s flexible ticketing policy lets you have access to the lifts by the hour or by the run; kids under four are free with a paying adult and seniors over 70 are free as well, which could make your snowy getaway more economical.
Though the resort has no on-site lodging, nearby there is a host of options ranging from low-cost cabins that can accommodate large groups (The YMCA even operates several of them here, at its Camp E.L.K.) to lodges, inns, and multi-bedroom cottages in Wrightwood.