Does It Snow In California?
Have you been wondering, does it snow in California? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!
Does It Snow In California?
Absolutely! But only in certain areas, like the higher elevations of the mountain ranges throughout the state.
It is rarely cold enough at sea level for snow, so the major cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles will rarely see snow within city limits.
When Does It Snow In California?
The rainy season begins in November and as the temperatures drop in December, it creates significant snowfall in the higher elevations that consistently have temperatures below 32 degrees.
The majority of the snow comes later in the season in January and February.
Usually a big snowfall will come earlier though, allowing the mountain resorts to open up in the November and December months.
Why Doesn’t It Snow Everywhere In California?
The lower elevation areas don’t usually cool off enough for snow, but will get a good amount of rain during this time of year.
The Sierra Nevada mountains, which is in the Northeastern portion of the state, consisting of destinations like Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe will get anywhere from 300-500 inches of snow each year.
➡️ Does It Snow In San Francisco?
As a comparison, the lower elevations of the mountains further south surrounding LA and Orange County only get around 60 inches of snow per year.
➡️ Does It Snow In Los Angeles?
As recent as February 2023, the Greater Los Angeles area saw a significant amount of snowfall.
There was even a blizzard warning issued in some areas that hadn’t had one since 1989!
Where Can I See Snow In California?
The main destinations you’ll want to look into to see snow in California are Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park and Mammoth Mountain in the Northern California area, and Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead in the Southern California area.
Probably the closest area to San Francisco to see snow is Mt. Hamilton just outside of San Jose.
It’s about an hour’s drive from Downtown San Francisco. It doesn’t always get snow, so it’s not the most reliable location, but it’s the closest.
Reliably, you’ll want to head over to Lake Tahoe or any of the mountains in that area down to Yosemite National Park.
They will always have snow in the Winter due to their elevation.
This area is a little further away, usually about 2 1/2 to 3 hours or more from Downtown San Francisco.
If you’re in Southern California, the nearby mountain towns get plenty of snow in the Winter months as early as October and as late as April. Sometimes the snow is so plentiful it lasts well into Summer!
Because of this, there are so many ski resorts in the nearby mountain towns to really get the Winter feel you won’t get in the city.
Think places like Mount Baldy, Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear Lake, and more.
✅ Mount Baldy
Mount Baldy has a tubing park where you can take the Sugar Pine chairlift roundtrip for a 1 1/2 hour tubing session.
Mount Baldy is about 50 miles outside of Los Angeles and is about an hour and 45 minutes drive or longer depending on the area you’re driving from.
✅ Mount Wilson
The Mount Wilson Observatory is a free place to visit and hike. It’s about 30 miles outside of Los Angeles, making it about an hour drive.
It has an elevation above 5,500 feet, so it will occasionally get some snow.
✅ Lake Arrowhead
Lake Arrowhead is a mountain town just a little further out than Mount Baldy. It’s about 80 miles from Los Angeles and takes closer to 2 1/2 hours to drive there.
This is a great area if you’re going for the whole weekend or at least overnight.
✅ Frazier Park
Frazier Park is up past Santa Clarita, about 75 miles away. It’s about an hour and a half drive from Los Angeles.
Being another mountain town, Frazier Park experiences its fair share of snow. It’s also a great place to see the sky at night away from all the city lights.
✅ Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake is even further out, but still not too far. It’s about 95 miles from Los Angeles and takes almost 3 hours to drive there.
We have a great Winter weekend itinerary for Big Bear Lake if you’re going for 2-3 days.
✅ Wrightwood
Wrightwood is another mountain town about 85 miles outside of Los Angeles and it’s about a 2 hour drive from the city. It’s elevation around 6,000 feet allows for plentiful snowfall.
This town is actually so small it’s considered the “town without a traffic light”. There’s plenty of skiing and hiking in this area.
Be sure to visit the Devil’s Punchbowl, a park full of colorful rocks.
If you’re in the San Diego area and you want to see snow, you’ll have to venture out to the mountains.
✅ Mt. Laguna
Mt. Laguna gets the most snowfall of any other place in San Diego. It’s located over 6,000 feet above sea level, which is what allows for so much snow.
There are plenty of trails up there, so rent some snowshoes to get out and about. Mt. Laguna is only about an hour from San Diego.
✅ Julian, California
Julian is just a little further out from San Diego than Ramona. It’s typically about an hour and 20 minutes to an hour and a half, or 60-70 miles.
✅ Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
This state park is about an hour from San Diego. It’s nice for a day outside of the city or as a stop while you’re visiting the other mountain towns around San Diego County.
✅ Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain is about an hour and a half from San Diego. They have a nice Observatory up there as well.
Popular Snow Resorts in California
The mountain areas from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite National Park are the closest ski and snowboarding spots to San Francisco.
Most destinations are within about 2 1/2 to 3 hours from Downtown San Francisco.
👉 Click Here To Book Your Scenic Snowshoe Adventure In Lake Tahoe Today!
If you’re in Southern California, these resorts just North of LA, Orange County, and San Diego are the closest and easiest to get to.
➡️ Mountain High Ski Resort
Mountain High East Ski Resort, located in the San Gabriel Mountains, has 5 ski lifts that will take you to slopes for a variety of skill levels.
The elevation here is mostly between 6,500 – 8,000 feet, which is why they get plentiful snow and Los Angeles does not.
➡️ Snow Summit Ski Resort
Snow Summit Ski Resort is roughly 100 miles outside of LA, in the San Bernardino Mountains. There are 11 ski lifts that will take you to slopes for a variety of skill levels.
The elevation here is mostly between 7,000-8,000 feet, which is why they get plentiful snow and Los Angeles does not.
➡️ Snow Valley Mountain Ski Resort
Snow Valley Mountain Ski Resort is in the San Bernardino National Forest. They have 13 ski lifts that take you to slopes for a variety of skill levels.
The elevation is mostly between 7,000 – 7,500 feet, which is why there is plentiful snow fall that Los Angeles does not get.
More Fun Winter Activities in California
California has a little bit of everything in the Winter because of the variety of climates and cultures.
✔️ The 27 Best Things To Do In California In December
From San Francisco all the way to San Diego, these are the best seasonal events in California for the holidays!
✔️ Big Bear Lake Winter Weekend Getaway Itinerary
Our favorite winter weekend getaway in Southern California for a relaxing time in a cozy cabin with hot chocolate!
✔️ LA Zoo Holiday Lights
See the holiday lights at the LA Zoo this winter season!
✔️ Night of Lights OC / Winter Fest OC at the OC Fairgrounds
Winter Fest OC is finally back and here is everything you need to know about it!
See The Best Of California With GoCity
A great way to see all that California has to offer is with a GoCity Pass! We’ve used them in several cities and it’s a great way to get discounted deals on many attractions around town.
In California, you can get GoCity Passes for visits to San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
GoCity attractions cards offer included admission to over 400 top attractions, activities, tours, and museums for one low price!
Save up to 55% compared to buying separate tickets at the attractions and receive a free full-color guide book with your purchase.
Choose from two options: Go City’s All-Inclusive Pass offers admission to top attractions and activities for one low price with a savings of up to 55%.
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Conclusion: Does It Snow In California?
It absolutely does, especially at the high elevations in the mountains. If a town is closer to sea level, don’t expect to see much snow, but maybe you’ll get a few flurries every once in awhile.
