Ski Areas -Nordic Ski Touring

NORDIC
SKI
TOURING

Where do you want to ski today?

Nordic Ski Areas and Related Websites

(Local Mountains)(Sierras)

SKI AREAS- Los Angeles Local Mountains

Mt Pinos has some of the best nordic skiing in Southern California.
Take I-5 north from the San Fernando Valley for
approximately 70 miles to the Frazier Park offramp.
Go west and follow the signs past Frazier Park to
the Cuddy Valley/Mt. Pinos turnoff. Turn northwest
and proceed about 10 miles to the road up to
base of Mt. Pinos. Turn left at the Portero Highway
intersection (chains are sometimes required from this point.)
The best skiing is usually all the way to the top
parking lot (approx. 22 mi). There is a Nordic Ski Patrol
building in the parking lot. Ski up the unplowed
road that is on the north side of the parking lot.
Go early, the parking lot can fill up fast on the weekends.
Current Snow Conditions for Greater Frazier Mountain are at
http://www.frazmtn.com/fmcoc/snowcond.htm
Snow/Road Info. (805)245-3449
Angeles National Forest has some backcountry skiing.
If you'd like to stop at Mount Waterman
you can pay $5 for a one-time lift ticket and then ski
down an access road in the back. There are some nice ski bowls behind
the lifts. Mt. Waterman is 45 miles north of La Canada on the
Angeles Crest Highway. Snow Info. (818)790-2002
San Bernadino National Forest has a backcountry
trail up past Poopout Hill toward Mt. San Gorgonio. Take I-10 east
to the Orange/Highway 38 exit in Redlands. Drive north on Orange and
turn right on Highway 38. Follow Hwy-38 approximately 70 miles to
the Jenks Lake road . Park approximately 3 miles up the road at the
intersection with the gated road. Ski (or walk until there's snow)
south up the gated road to Poopout Hill. This is a fun high mountain
ski.

Rim Nordic Ski Area is
a variable location that sometimes does not open. They have groomed
trails, rentals, and even lessons. Take I-10 east to I-215. Then go
north toward the Mountain Resorts on Hwy 30. Follow the signs on up
the mountain to Hwy-18. Go 5 miles east of Running Springs. Snow
Info. (909)867-2600
Mt San Jacinto has the easiest way of all to get
into backcountry ski trails. Take I-10 east and then highway 111
toward Palm Springs. The Palm Springs Tramway road is approximately
12 miles from I-10. Ride the Palm Springs Tram to the top, check in
at the ranger station, and then ski south along some easy trails or
west up toward Mt. San Jacinto. Snow Info. (760)327-6002
Ski Huts in Southern California
Keller Ski Hut is located in the San Bernardino Mountains,
just off Highway 330, five miles north of Running Springs and
across from the Snow Valley Ski Area (downhill). Their are
groomed Nordic Cross-Country trails nearby and also four
miles away at Green Valley Lake.
Elevation: 6,000 feet
Cost per night $5 (Sierra Club members), $7 (Guest)
Reservations: See the printed "Angeles Chapter Schedule of Activities"

Harwood Lodge is located in the San Gabriel Mountains
off Mt. Baldy Road, four miles above Mt. Baldy Village,
just across from Snow Crest Lodge. It can be used for a
a place to stay after skiing Mt. Baldy or just a relaxing weekend
Elevation: 6,000 feet
Cost per night $9 (Sierra Club members), $10 (Guest)
Reservations: Call Teri Jones at (818)349-2020

San Antonio (Mt.Baldy) Ski Hut is located halfway up
San Antonio Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains, reached
by a steep 2.5 mile trail (2,200' elevation gain) from the
Manker Flats Campground. Truly a rustic place to "get away
from it all", the Baldy Hut makes a good resting place to
ski the Baldy Bowl (be aware of the avalanche danger).
Elevation: 8,400 feet
Cost per night $5 (Sierra Club members), $7 (Guest) and a "Day Use" donation
Reservations: Call Host in Charge (listed in the Angeles Chapter schedule)
for details on a specific weekend or contact or contact
the Baldy Ski Hut Committee Chair - Jerry Held at (714)751-8805
Mt San Jacinto has the easiest way of all to get
into backcountry ski trails. Take I-10 east and then highway 111
toward Palm Springs. The Palm Springs Tramway road is approximately
12 miles from I-10. Ride the Palm Springs Tram to the top, check in
at the ranger station, and then ski south along some easy trails or
west up toward Mt. San Jacinto. Snow Info. (760)327-6002

SKI AREAS- Sierras and others

Yosemite National Park Very good intermediate and beginning lessons at
Badger Pass. You can get maps and trail information at the Badger Pass
ski lodge. General Information-(209)372-1000, Lessons and rentals
are available at the X-Country Ski Center- (209)372-8444

Ostrander Lake Ski Hut: This is a trip for advanced experienced skiers.
The popular route is the Horizon Ridge trial from
Badger Pass ski area to Ostrander Lake.
You can take the Glacier Point road to Bridalveil
campground and then follow the Horizon Ridge trail.
The 9 mile ski with a 1,980' climb takes approximately
9 hours. Hut Reservations are by lottery.
For more information, check out their Website at the
Ostrander Ski Hut Home Page
Mammoth Mountain has some excellent Nordic Ski
Trails around it.
- Twin Lakes. These easy trails wind around the lakes and up
  toward Mammoth pass. The forest service has marked
  an area as out of bounds due to natural CO2 seeping
  into the snow.
  Tamarack Lodge has information about the Lake George
  and Lake Mary loops. Tamarack offers X-country
  ski rentals and lessons(800)237-6879
  Tamarack Lodge charges a trail fee to use most of
  these trails. (Crystal Crag 7.5-Min. USGS Topographic
  Quadrangle)
- Mammoth area ski trails
  has some suggested trips in the area. Try the Inyo Craters trial.
- Minaret Lookout trail. Start at the Hairy Mammoth (full size elephant with
  a bad hair day) sculpture in front of the main lodge.
  Take the road that goes under ski lift 11. Head west to
  the Minaret Lookout point and enjoy the backcountry
  views. Continue along the trail up toward Deadman
  Pass (Mammoth Mountain 7.5-Min. USGS Topographic
  Quadrangle).
- Rock Creek Lodge has information about Rock Creek Valley.
- Websites for Mammoth area information:
  - Mammoth Web contains information about X Country Skiing.
  - MammothTimes Online
The Eastern Sierra WebPage: All about the Eastern Sierra!!!!
This site contains information about towns and trailheads from
Lone Pine to Bridgeport.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon-
Usually best in February. Ask at visitors center for trails and their conditions.
Winter Road Information
Montecito-Sequoia at Sequoia National Park has groomed trail and backcountry
skiing. There is a trail fee and they offer lessons and rentals. For
more information, call (800)227-9900
Lake Tahoe Area
- Ski Huts in Lake Tahoe area
  - Clair Tappaan Lodge is located in Norden, California, near the top of Donner Pass.
    Norden is just off Interstate 80's Soda Springs exit,
    45 minutes west of Reno and 90 minutes east of Sacramento.
    Best known for the highest average annual snowfall in the Sierra,
    both Alpine and Nordic skiing are close by in the Donner Summit,
    Lake Tahoe, and Truckee areas.
    Elevation: 7,000 feet
    Reservations: Clair Tappaan Lodge, P.O. Box 36,Norden, CA 95724
    or call the Manager at (530)426-3632
  - High Sierra Back Country Huts
    Peter Grubb, Benson, Bradley, and Ludlow huts are operated
    by the Sierra Club and are "rustic basic shelters" located in the
    backcountry area of Clair Tappaan Lodge, each about a day's ski apart.
    The hut system offers an strong intermediate skier a true
    unspoiled wilderness experience.
    Elevations: 7,000 - 8,000 feet
    Reservations: Clair Tappaan Lodge, P.O. Box 36,Norden, CA 95724
    or call the Manager at (530)426-3632
- Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Center This X country ski
  area near Lake Tahoe is the biggest for track skiing. Great
  place to learn race skating. Backcountry skiing is
  not their bag.
Mt. Shasta Alpine Lodge, was built in 1922 at Horse Camp,
timberline on the south slope of Mt. Shasta (14,162 ft.) in
Northern California near the towns of Mt. Shasta City
and Weed (off Interstate 5). The Lodge is off Everett Memorial Highway
and reached by trail about two miles in from the Bunny Flats parking lot.
Skiers should check in with the ranger station in Mt. Shasta City to
obtain a wilderness permit and expect unpredictable weather.
Note: John Muir was once buried alive in a snowstorm on
Mt. Shasta and nearly lost his life.
Elevation: 8,600 feet
Cost: Donations of any amount (envelopes available onsite)
encouraged for the Lodge's maintenance
Reservations: None required; For information, write to: Horse Camp, Sierra Club
85 Second St. 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415)977-5500

Colorado ski huts
There are a series of ski huts between Vail and Aspen.
The huts are maintained by and reserved through:
10th Mountain Division huts (Colorado): 10th Mountain Trail
Association, 1280 Ute Avenue, Aspen, CO 81611, 303/925-5775

Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club, 3435 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 320, Los Angeles, CA, 90010-1904, USA. Telephone +1-213-387-4287 (voice), +1-213-387-5383 (FAX). Sierra Club^� is a registered trademark of the Sierra Club. Comments on this page should be E-mailed to Webmaster Jerry Blackwill at nordic@angeles.sierraclub.org Revised: March 10, 2003