Here’s a DogTrekker secret: Stories about California SNO-Parks are among our most-read each year! There’s lots to bark about at these dog-friendly, snow-covered playgrounds scattered on U.S. Forest Service lands throughout the Sierra Nevada mountains. Pick your destination. Reserve your permit ($15 per day or $40 per season for 2023-2024). Arrive early for easy parking and get ready to romp with your pup.

California State Parks collaborates with several agencies and community partners to open nearly 20 SNO-Parks each year. Dogs are welcome at these popular winter playgrounds that feature plowed parking areas. Some locations have plowed or groomed trails, too, and prime access to sledding hills, snowshoe paths, cross-country ski trails, snowmobile routes, snow-covered forest landscapes and open spaces for snowball fights.

SNO-Parks are set between Sierra County and Mammoth Lakes, with several clustered near Lake Tahoe. DogTrekkers love Blackwood Canyon, three miles south of Tahoe City on the lake’s north shore, and Echo Lake, on the north side of Highway 50 (not far from Pacific Crest Trail access into Desolation Wilderness). To the south, Rock Creek is a snowmobile-free spot for cross-country skiing and other adventures.

For dog owners specifically, SNO-Parks offer something that’s hard to find elsewhere: wide-open, snow-covered terrain where your pup can bound through powder once you’re away from the parking area. Most dogs go absolutely wild for fresh snow — rolling in it, diving nose-first into drifts, chasing snowballs. It’s some of the best exercise and mental stimulation your dog will get all winter. Just keep them leashed near the parking lot and trailhead, and let them loose once you’re well into the backcountry.

A few things to keep in mind for your pup: check their paws regularly for ice balls forming between the pads, bring a towel for the car ride home, and pack extra water since dogs can get dehydrated in cold, dry mountain air just as easily as on a hot summer day. Dog booties are a smart investment if you plan to make SNO-Parks a regular winter outing.

Here are some suggestions for a smooth SNO-Park experience.

• The SNO-Park season typically runs from November through May. You must purchase a permit before visiting a SNO-Park. California State Parks shares preferred vendors and a link to purchase permits online.
• Parking at popular SNO-Parks like Hope Valley and Huntington Lake fills up fast, so arrive early.
• Winter conditions can change quickly. Always check road and weather updates before you travel.
• Please follow DogTrekker’s Leave Only Paw Prints values. Pack in and out, leave only boot and paw prints, and protect our precious natural lands.