Sno much fun, on a shoestring budget

By: DogTrekker Staff

A vibrant dog park bathed in sunlight features abundant greenery with mature trees, offering ample shade for leisurely outdoor activities. In the distance is a well-equipped playground that presents an additional activity area. An inviting picnic table spreads out nearby, ideal for enjoying meals al fresco or taking relaxing breaks from play. A neatly-placed trash bin aids in maintaining the park's cleanliness for everyone's enjoyment. Dominating the scene is a generously wide dirt path gracefully curving through the expanse of grass, promising exploratory walks and lively fetch games.

Snowy family time at SNO-Parks.

SNO-Parks offers some of California’s best, most affordable winter activities. For just $15 a day or $40 for the 2023-2024 season (November 1-May 30), you and your pup enjoy parking and access to 18 SNO-Park sites (find your nearest SNO-Park). California State Parks and its partners clear lots and sometimes groom trails on these sprawling U.S. Forest Service lands scattered between Sierra County and Mammoth Lakes.

Depending on the location, your SNO-Park to-do list might feature skiing, sledding, building snow forts, tossing snowballs, snowmobiling or stomping through snowdrifts with your dog. Some sites have groomed cross-country and snowshoe trails, too.

DogTrekker favorites include parks at Echo Lake (on Highway 50’s north side), Blackwood Canyon (three miles south of Tahoe City), and popular Hope Valley (just south of Highway 88, 12 miles south of Lake Tahoe.)

Purchase your SNO-Park pass online, by mail or from a local vendor. Arrive early for the best experience, since parking fills fast at many sites. Please follow DogTrekker’s Leave Only Paw Prints values, packing in and packing out to protect precious natural lands. And remember, winter road conditions can change quickly. Always pay attention to weather forecasts.