Here’s where to enjoy the snow over Thanksgiving weekend
Usa today news
Snow enthusiasts can kick off the winter season over Thanksgiving weekend by hitting the slopes for skiing, tubing and snowboarding.
Only two Southern California snow spots have opened for the season, but they are inviting the public to don snow gear and breathe in that fresh mountain air.
Highway 38, a key link to Big Bear is closed for repairs after an intense storm wiped out the road in September.
But three other routes are available to reach Big Bear Lake: Highway 330 (through Highland), Highway 18 (through San Bernardino and Crestline) and Highway 18 (through the Lucerne Valley).
A snowboarder takes a jump Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, as he enjoys spring-like condtions at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood. The mountain received more than a foot of new snow and has opened five trails and three lifts. Colder temperatures are expected next week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A snowboarder enjoys the snow Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Snowboarders throw snowballs Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A snowboarder carves a turn Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood. The resort was the first in Southern California to open for the winter season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Granada Hills resident Katy Ricchio enjoys the sunshine near a fire pit Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A snowboarder is seen Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A snowboarder arrives Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood, where the winter season began Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Orange resident Dan Harmon, right, helps 10-year-old daughter Emma learn to snowboard Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Snowboarders and skiers enjoy the day at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A snowboarder glides down a slope Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A snowboarder goes down a slope Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A skier falls Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A snowboarder makes a turn Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, amid the spring-like condtions at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A snowboarder enjoys the condtions at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. The mountain received more than a foot of new snow and has opened five trails and three lifts. Colder temperatures are expected next week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A snowboarder enjoys the spring-like condtions at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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A snowboarder takes a jump Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, as he enjoys spring-like condtions at Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood. The mountain received more than a foot of new snow and has opened five trails and three lifts. Colder temperatures are expected next week. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Big Bear Snow Play is open after recent storms brought fresh snowfall — enough to run three full-length snow tubing runs for the Thanksgiving weekend.
“The timing is perfect for those looking for something to do this Thanksgiving,” Big Bear Snow Play Director of Operations Scott Voigt said in a Monday, Nov. 24, news release.
Tubing is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. At night, glow tubing starts Friday, Nov. 28, and is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and holiday nights.
Big Bear Snow Play is at 42825 Big Bear Blvd, in Big Bear Lake.
Big Bear Mountain Resort in Big Bear Lake has not yet opened for the season and does not know when it will be welcoming guests, resort spokesperson Justin Kanton said in a Wednesday, Nov. 26, email.
The resort — which includes Snow Summit, Bear Mountain and Snow Valley — hopes to know more in the next week, he wrote.
Mountain High Resorts
Though the Big Bear-area resorts aren’t expected to be open this weekend, Mountain High Resorts in Wrightwood in the San Gabriel Mountains is already doing business.
The resort reported 12-16 inches of snow, with a total of 14 inches of snow expected over a seven-day period for this week. Two lifts and five trails will be open over Thanksgiving weekend.
On Saturday, Nov. 29, DJ William Reed will be spinning at the resort from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reed is rooted in Germany’s underground scene, and has residencies at The Standard, Ace Hotel, W Hotel and Skybar in Los Angeles. He has performed with Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki, Kaskade, Arcade Fire and Kings of Leon.
Mountain High opened Saturday, Nov. 22, with about 2,000 people, making for its best opening weekend in a decade, a news release states.
The resort is the second to open this season in California and was just behind Mammoth Mountain.
Mountain High’s Thanksgiving weekend hours are 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 30.
For more information or to buy lift tickets, click here.
