California operates 18 designated SNO-PARK sites dedicated to snow play, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Permits cost $5 per day and are required on site. Nevada does not operate a SNO-PARK system, leaving state-line routes and managed commercial hills to handle sledding traffic.
- Roadwork eastbound between Magra (Railroad) (Exit 140) and Gold Run Rd (Exit 143), traffic getting through — tree work; until 5:59 a.m.
- Roadwork westbound between Rock Spring Rd and King Rd (Exit 112), 1 mile east of Penryn, traffic getting through — fiber optic installation; until 5:01 a.m.
I-80 Snow Play and Tubing Parks
Donner Summit Sno-Park sits right at the Boreal ski turnoff along I-80 road conditions. It provides plowed parking and restrooms. The $5 daily permit covers parking here, and permits bought for California also work in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho SNO-PARKs. Check road visual feeds at the I-80 at Donner Summit webcam before heading up the pass.
Tahoe Tubing at Boreal Mountain Resort operates groomed lanes and a moving carpet lift. Just west of the summit, Soda Springs Mountain Adventure runs Tube Town, which features 20 lanes and a 400-foot surface lift. Soda Springs also operates Planet Kids, an area dedicated to children age 7 and under that includes mini tubing lanes, tube carousels, and snow volcanoes.
Tahoe Donner Snowplay provides sledding and tubing with all equipment included in the ticket price. Hours depend entirely on local weather conditions.
Highway cameras along I-80 between Reno and Donner Summit.
Highway 50 and South Shore SNO-PARKs
Three California SNO-PARKs sit near the South Lake Tahoe corridor off US-50 road conditions and connecting mountain passes:
- Taylor Creek SNO-PARK: Located just past the "Y" on the route toward Emerald Bay along SR-89 road conditions. It sits at the base of Mt. Tallac and offers classic snow play and Nordic touring access.
- Echo Lake SNO-PARK: Located near the summit of Echo Pass on Highway 89. The higher elevation holds snowpack when lake level bare spots appear. Drivers can monitor road surface conditions at the US-50 at Echo Summit webcam.
- Hope Valley SNO-PARK: Positioned east of Carson Pass on SR-88 Carson Pass road conditions. The site provides access to groomed cross-country trails and marked snowmobile areas.
Free and Low-Cost Sledding Slopes
Spooner Summit sits at the intersection of Highway 50 and Highway 28. It is an unserviced Nevada snow play site with a moderate slope for sledding and tubing. There are no fees for snow play on the slope itself. Parking inside the park entrance carries a $10 day-use fee, though the parking lot may or may not be plowed after a storm. Verify visibility through the US-50 at Spooner Summit webcam.
Unofficial roadside pullouts require vehicles to park with all four tires entirely inside the white fog line. Obey all posted signs and do not block access gates. Nearly 20,000 children are injured nationwide each year in sledding accidents on unmaintained hills containing hidden terrain obstacles. Plastic sleds break easily in sub-freezing temperatures; broken plastic shards must be packed out to keep debris out of the Lake Tahoe watershed.
Nordic Skiing and High-Elevation Snowpack
When natural snow depth clears two feet at lake level, Camp Richardson below Mt. Tallac opens cross-country skiing terrain along the lake shore. Early in the season or during dry stretches, Kirkwood Resort offers Nordic skiing at 7,800 feet above sea level. Kirkwood's trail system links to three warming huts, including the Kirkwood Inn, established in 1864. In Hope Valley, Hope Valley Outdoors maintains more than 60 miles of winter trails for snowshoeing and cross-country touring.