Meiss Meadow SNO-Park sits on the north side of Highway 88 near Carson Pass, making it one of the more accessible winter play spots in the Carson Pass area when conditions are right. The parking lot gets plowed out regularly during the SNO-Park season, which runs from November 1st through May 30th, so you’re not dealing with snow-packed lots that make getting your dog out tricky.

Once you’re parked, you’ve got solid options for winter activities. Cross-country skiing is popular here, and plenty of people bring their dogs along for those outings. Dog sledding happens at the meadow too, which gives you a sense of the space and infrastructure available. Snow play is straightforward—the open meadow areas are great for letting your dog run around and burn off that winter energy. You won’t encounter snowmobiles here, which keeps things quieter and safer for dogs who might be startled by the noise.

The SNO-Park program exists specifically to open up Sierra Nevada recreation in winter, and Meiss Meadow is one of the marked locations you’ll spot by those distinctive brown highway signs along the mountain corridors. Each site offers cleared parking and basic sanitation facilities, which matters when you’re spending time outdoors with your dog in colder months.

Snow conditions really do dictate what’s actually possible on any given day—sometimes the meadow is completely open, other times drifts make certain areas inaccessible. Check conditions before heading out, especially early or late in the season.

You’ll need to purchase a parking permit for your vehicle. Day passes run $15, or you can grab a seasonal permit for $40 if you’re planning multiple winter outings in the Sierra. The permit gets displayed on your dashboard, and it’s required for any vehicle parked at the site.