30 Must-Do Winter Adventures in California

There are plenty of reasons California is an ideal winter destination for outdoor enthusiasts. With nine national parks, the proximity of the mountains to the ocean, and the relative quiet and lack of crowds compared to other times to visit and take advantage of the Golden State’s natural beauty, there is a lot to love about California’s colder months.

To best appreciate this state as a winter destination, visitors should allocate some time to tromp around in the snowy Sierra Nevada as well as as explore the coastline. You’ll be blown away that you can go from a nearly freezing day at over 8,000 feet to a comfortable coastal chill in just one day.

Locals, however, should definitely take advantage of the breadth of adventures here in California as often as possible. Don’t feel pressure to squeeze these ideas into each weekend. Instead, stretch them out over the entire weekend and make the place where you live the place where you play.

From Sierra summits to seaside scenes, here are just a few of our favorite winter adventures in California.

Desert

The best time to visit the desert in California is hands down in the winter due to fewer crowds and more comfortable temperatures. 

• Arch Rock Nature Trail, Joshua Tree
• Golden Canyon, Death Valley National Park
• Zabriskie Point, Death Valley

Surf and Sun in SoCal

Escape the cold and bask in the land of eternal summer. 

• Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles
• Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, San Diego
• Tourmaline Surfing Park, San Diego
• Anacapa Islands, Channel Islands
• Cooper Canyon Falls, San Gabriel Mountains
• Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego

Big Trees

From the Sequoias to the Redwoods, you'll want to stand beneath California's giants.

• Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park
• Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwood State and National Parks
• Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Redwood State and National Parks
• Pear Lake Ski Hut, Sequoia National Park

Central and Northern Coast

The weather may be chillier, but the views are breathtaking.

• Natural Bridges, Santa Cruz
• Battery Point Lighthouse, Crescent City

Alpine Adventures

Craving snow? Head straight for the Sierra and Southern Cascades.

• Ski Mount Shasta's West Face
• Southwest Entrance Winter Recreation Area, Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Ridge Lake Winter Camp, Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Donner Memorial State Park Cross Country Ski, Truckee
• Donner Ridge, Truckee
• Donner Peak, Truckee
• Andesite Peak, Truckee
• Castle Peak, Truckee
• Jake's Peak, west shore of Lake Tahoe
• Hidden Peak, west shore of Lake Tahoe
• Snowshoe or ski to the Peter Grubb Hut, Truckee
• Winter in Yosemite National Park
• Sierra Hotsprings, Sierraville
• Tamarack Lodge, Eastern Sierra

Looking for more California winter adventures? Consider this road trip to see the state covered in a blanket of white.