Recreation - Winter Sports
Eagle Beaks located on Shuteye Ridge,
Bass Lake Ranger District
Winter is a beautiful time to explore
the Sierra National Forest. There are
many forms of winter recreation. They
include: snowmobiling, nordic skiing,
snowshoeing, alpine skiing, sledding,
dog sledding, snow camping, all terrain
vehicles and just playing in the snow.
Enjoy your visit to this winter wonderland.
Come Join In! The Forest Service Volunteer
Program
Many clubs and individuals volunteer
time and energy to your National Forest.
This commitment helps insure quality
recreation opportunities. Volunteer activities
include trail maintenance and construction,
resource rehabilitation, and trail patrol.
Anyone who wants to become involved may
apply. Contact the volunteer coordinator
at the High Sierra Ranger District at
(559) 855-5360. The volunteer program
offers you an opportunity to promote
your recreation activity and helps insure
the future of your sport.
Sierra Snowmobile Patrol / Pineridge
Nordic Ski Patrol
The Sierra Snowmobile Association and
the Pineridge Nordic Ski Patrol are an
intricate part of our Winter Recreation
Program. They provide many volunteer
hours to maintain and patrol the trails
on the High Sierra Ranger District. Patrol
members are available to provide information
concerning locations of trail routes,
length of routes, points of interest,
permissible activities, and guidelines
for each area, Look for them wearing
Forest Service green windbreakers with
volunteer patches. If you have questions
concerning the winter recreation areas,
please take the time to contact them.
If you are interested in the volunteer
program, please contact the district
office at (559) 855-5355.
Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing (also known as
Nordic skiing or ski touring) is the
fastest growing winter sport in California.
It requires less commercial investment
and fewer beginning skills. Most importantly,
any area with snow cover and relatively
flat ground can be the playground of
the Nordic skier. While any snow-covered
forest road or trail can be used, the
Sierra National Forest has also developed
several marked ski trails along Highway
168. Most of the trails are between the
7,000 and 7,500 elevation. They range
in length and difficulty from a one mile
beginner trail at Huntington Lake to
six mile advanced trail near Highway
168 and Tamarack Ridge...
Snowmobiling
Snowmobilers will find 209 miles of
groomed and maintained trails around
Huntington
Lake, Tamarack Ridge and the High
Sierra Area. There are trails for all
levels
of experience from easiest to most
difficult. Come and enjoy a day of
winter fun...
Snowmobiling And ATV Guidelines And
Requirements
The Sierra National Forest has a network
of groomed and ungroomed
snowmobile trails available in the Huntington
Lake/ Tamarack Area.
Snowmobiles are not allowed in wilderness
areas or on trails designated for
cross-country skiing only.
...
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
Located within the Sierra National Forest
and operating under a special use permit,
is the Sierra Summit Mountain Resort.
The resort is 65 miles northeast of Fresno
at Huntington
Lake. Sierra Summit offers
excellent downhill and snowboarding opportunities
for the beginner, intermediate and advanced
skier or snowboarder.
Also located nearby is Badger Pass Ski
Resort. The resort is 75 miles north
of Fresno via Hwy 41 in Yosemite National
Park. Badger Pass, California's first
ski area, offers excellent downhill and
snowboarding opportunities for beginner,
intermediate and advanced skier or snowboarder...
Sno-Park
Sno-park
is a program of the California Department
of Parks and Recreation
to provide parking for recreational
users of California's mountain areas
in the winter. They were created
to meet an increasing need for off-highway
parking in undeveloped dispersed
recreation
areas, popular with cross country
skiers, snowmobilers and others who enjoy
snow-based
activities...
Winter Travel Safety
Be aware of the hazards of winter travel.
Harsh conditions of wind, cold, snow
or whiteout can turn an outing into a
tragedy. Knowledge of the area, weather,
route and limitations of your body and
equipment, plus a little common sense
can insure a safe and enjoyable trip...
Wildlife Watch
There are several types of wildlife
out and about during the winter months.
Not all wildlife hibernate or migrate
in the Sierra mountains during winter....
During this season, you will find opportunities
for:
Cross-Country Skiing
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
Snowmobiling
SNO-PARK Areas
Winter Volunteer Programs
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