looking for snow near Los Angeles

January 3, 2008 12:59 PM

I'm looking for a place near Los Angeles where snow is falling or has recent fell on the ground. I don't want to go skiing I just want to throw a few snowballs.

Does anyone know of the closest place to Los Angeles with plenty of snow? I tried to find some at Mt Baldy, but there were just a few sparse patches...that I could see from the car. I'm not looking for slopes just somewhere I can throw snowballs and frolic in the snow.

posted by Charlie Lesoine to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total)

a few weeks ago I was up at the Angeles Nat'l Forest, near the Mountain High ski resort, near Wrightville. It was 26 degrees and snow was falling then, can't vouch for what's happening there now.

The drive from Hollywood was between 90 minutes to 2 hours I think. My friend and I were woefully underdressed, but we walked on this little trail by the visitor center. Then we ate burritos in Wrightville. It was pretty awesome.
posted by drjimmy11 at 1:30 PM on January 3, 2008

The rains 2 weeks ago wiped out most of the snow on the ground but Baldy/Arrowhead/etc should have some fresh stuff possibly this weekend if it gets cold enough.
posted by iamabot at 1:37 PM on January 3, 2008

Big Bear Lake? Near Big Bear Mtn and Snow Summit, about 2 hours away.
posted by djgh at 1:41 PM on January 3, 2008

Maybe try Palm Springs and take the tramway? The forest at the top often has snow. The tramway itself is super-cool, and it's a nice day trip (you can even stop at the concrete dinosaurs in Cabazon.)
posted by Mozzie at 2:07 PM on January 3, 2008

I'd imagine there will be plenty of snow on Baldy after the rains come through this weekend. Maybe wait until then?
posted by Shecky at 4:07 PM on January 3, 2008

Mt. Pinos up at Frazier Park (up the 5) is supposed to get snow below 6000' on Saturday. I did exactly what you are thinking of about 4 yrs ago up there. Tons and tons of snow, convenient parking at XC resort, lots of folks sledding and tubing. We got stuck in a traffic jam on the way up, but otherwise (OK, there is no otherwise) it would only have taken about 90min from downtown.
posted by johngumbo at 5:55 PM on January 3, 2008

Try driving up Angeles Crest Highway out of La Canada. I think it eventually gets to over 7000'. But they might close it, AND it has VERY steep drop offs, so be careful.
posted by mrhappy at 6:16 PM on January 3, 2008

Mt. Pinos had snow on it when I drove Tuesday afternoon.
posted by pmbuko at 12:49 AM on January 4, 2008