Tag Archives: recreation

Snow Towns in California

snow towns

People visit higher elevation towns & parks just to hang out in the snow. Ski resorts are plentiful, but not every snowy town has a ski lift. They may just have a great sledding hill or a big meadow to cross country ski.

Elevations range from 4000′-9000′ above sea level.

Most California snow locations have a wide variety of outdoor recreation, lodging, restaurants, shops. Cute cabins to rent for that upcoming weekend get-away. Or that week-long fishing trip. But with millions people in the state you better make overnight reservations in advance.
snow
California WINTERS:
When does winter actually ‘set in’ for California?

eastern sierra: OCT- APR
western sierra: NOV- APR
high sierra: OCT- MAY
northern coast: OCT- MAY
northeast: OCT- APR

snow

Winter Recreation in California

winter road conditions
California Road Conditions

CALIFORNIA SNO-PARKS: Locations listed below with California State Snow Parks nearby, are listed in bold.

sledding

SoCal Snow

While Southern California doesn’t receive nearly the amount of snow that the rest of the state gets, it does on occasion get some winter storm precipitation. Perhaps just a winter dusting, or maybe a few inches, but sledding families usually enjoy it. For real snow skiing opportunities, head to the Sierras!

Angeles National Forest
Angelus Oaks
Big Bear City
Big Bear Lake
Cleveland National Forest
Fawnskin
Frazier Park
Idyllwild
Julian
Laguna Mountain
Lake Arrowhead
Los Padres National Forest
Palomar Mountain
Pine Cove
Pine Mountain
Ramona
Running Springs
San Bernardino National Forest
Sky Forest
Twin Peaks
Wrightwood

huntington lake

Sierra Nevada Snow

Arnold
Aspendell
Avery
Bear Valley
Blairsden
Blue Lakes
Bridgeport
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Camp Nelson
Convict Lake
Dorrington
Downieville
El Dorado National Forest
Fish Camp
Hume Lake
Huntington Lake
Inyo National Forest
Kirkwood
June Lake
Lakeshore
Lake Tahoe
Mammoth Lakes
Markleeville
Norden
Pinecrest
Plumas National Forest
Ponderosa
Rock Creek Canyon
Sequoia National Park
Shaver Lake
Sierra City
Sierra National Forest
Sierra Nevada Mountains
Stanislaus National Forest
Tahoe National Forest
Tahoe City
Tahoe Vista
Tahoma
Toiyabe National Forest
Tom’s Place
Truckee
Twain Harte
Twin Lakes
Yosemite
Yosemite National Park

sierrasnowbelt
Sierra Snowbelt

snowmo

NorCal Snow

Blairsden
Bucks Lake
Burney
Butte Meadows
Cedarville
Chester
Childs Meadow
Etna
Fall River Mills
Fort Jones
Gold Lake
Graeagle
Greenville
Happy Camp
Inskip
Klamath National Forest
Lake Almanor
Lassen National Forest
Lassen Volcanic National Park
McCloud
Mill Creek
Mineral
Mount Shasta
Portola
Quincy
Shasta Trinity National Forest
Shingletown
Six Rivers National Forest
Soda Springs
South Lake Tahoe
Trinity Center
Trinity Lake
Westwood

snow towns california

Moab, Utah

Moab UTAH
Red Rock Country is Outdoor Heaven

moabUT

If there is one way to get the Total Escape crew outta California, it will be with the enticing red rock landscapes of Utah. The amazing spanse of colorful desert is enough to inspire any nature lover down to their soul.

Moab, Utah was a sleepy little, rural town until about the 1980’s when the Jeeps took over. Numerous, annual off road events, plus the rise of mountain biking, new hotel development in town, and sheer “word of mouth” made Moab what it is today – a bustling, busy, tourist village with restaurants, brewery, and lodging.

Off Road Mecca of Moab UT

 Desert

terrain: high desert canyons and mountain peaks

elevation: 4000′
population: 5,253

terrain: High elevation red rock desert paradise. A deep river valley surrounded by snow capped peaks & red rock grandure.

location:
South Eastern Utah
Grand County
south of Interstate 70 on Hwy. 191

description: This locale has boomed in the last few decades with a determined focus on outdoor activities. The town is a recreation mecca set in the vast beautiful desert of southwestern Utah.

Amazingly scenic spot set in red rock landscapes along rivers – with abundant outdoor recreation around every corner. Snow capped mountains are a scenic backdrop for more than half the year.

4x4

4WD – 4×4

area activities:

  • off-roading
  • rock crawling
  • mountain biking
  • dirt biking
  • rock climbing
  • river rafting
  • shops in village
  • restaurants
  • river kayaking
  • hiking
  • camping
  • picnics

camp

local links:

Moab Area Chamber of Commerce
805 North Main Street
Moab, Utah
435-259-7814

DiscoverMoab.com

Moab-Utah.com

maverick
Maverick, Moab Utah

Parks, Rivers and Forests
surrounding Moab Valley, Utah

There is plenty land for solitude, just make sure to keep the peace. Don’t be honking at any cattle in the roadway. Stressed out city folks will soon be put in their place out in these parts. It is best to plan a full week vacation to thoroughly enjoy this awesome red rock location.

Moab Area Maps

Moab Cyn Hike 2003

Best Hikes in Moab:

dirtbikes

Moab Mountain Biking Trails

check

Try this adventure: Drive from Saint George to Moab — on almost all dirt roads! No traffic lights for 5 full days. Weaving in & out of all the National Park & National Forest lands is an experience of a lifetime. Plenty of great dispersed camping – everywhere.

camera see our 150 Utah photos on Flickr

umbrellaMay through October is the best months to try this road trip, but be aware that there is a monsoon season here: Thunderstorms and flash floods are possible late summer into autumn.

Destination Unknown

Tent less
Tent-less Car Camping

exploring California – on a budget

destinations
Don’t have any ideas on WHERE you want to go? Never heard of that little town? Follow our links below to explore a variety of California hidden secrets.

This whole web site is dedicated to finding new places to visit within California. Cheap, free, inexpensive options. We concentrate on the back roads, rural areas and park lands. More space, more nature, less people.

California Escapes

Coastal
Mountain
Country
Desert
City

yourfacehere

Budget weekends, outdoor trips, hiking and camping, SUV road trips and much more; all, off the beaten path. Total Escape has California covered.

Explore the Backroads
Find Ghost Towns
Romantic Get-Aways
Seasonal Camping
Snow Weekends
Soak in Hot Springs
Spring Wild Flowers
SUV Vacations
Various Sample Trips
Take the Train

smalltownCA

campfireCar Camping is FREE on the back roads of California. Primitive camping requires that you be a self-sufficient campers, obtain a free camp fire permit, have a shovel, bucket and water at camp to extinguish fire.

back roads in cali

DanaMite has an extensive list of forest roads in California. Guide to the backwoods: find photos, map links, wilderness trailheads, best places to look for a camp. Look on USDA USFS National Forest web sites for Dispersed Camping Areas, also called Open Camping or Primitive Camping. Buy a printed map and then go explore.

worth1000

wildatheart