First off, let us say this: There are a lot of “die-hard” skiers that live a lot further away from skiing than the folks that live in Los Angeles, CA.
Does hearing that scare you?
Put your nerves on edge, perhaps a few hairs standing on the back of your neck?
“LA, more of a ski town than where I live? No Way!”
Well, calm down, let us look at the numbers; they’re interesting.
SKI TOWN, LOS ANGELES, CA:
– Distance from downtown to the nearest ski resort: 48 miles, about 75 minutes
– Population: 12.8 million humans
– Skiing population: who knows? But it’s large…
SKI RESORTS NEAR LOS ANGELES, CA:
- Mt. Baldy Ski Resort = 45 miles from downtown LA, 60 minutes by car. Top Elevation: 8,600 feet. Vertical Drop: 2,100 feet. Skiable Acres: 800. Chairlifts: 4.
- Mount Waterman Ski Resort = 47 miles from downtown LA, 75 minutes by car. Top Elevation: 8,030 feet. Vertical Drop: 1,030 feet. Skiable Acres: 150. Chairlifts: 3.
- Mountain High Ski Resort = 85 miles from downtown LA, 90 minutes by car. Top Elevation: 8,200 feet. Vertical Drop = 1,600 vertical feet. Skiable Acres: 290.
- Snow Valley Mountain Resort = 85 miles from downtown LA, 90 minutes by car. Top Elevation: 7,841 feet. Vertical Drop: 1,041 feet. Skiable Acres: 240. Chairlifts: 12 lifts.
- Snow Summit Ski Resort = 99 miles from downtown LA, 2 hours by car. Top Elevation: 8,174 feet. Vertical drop: 1,209 feet.
- Big Bear Ski Resort = 114 miles from downtown LA, 2 hours by car. Top Elevation: 8,805. Vertical Drop 1,665 feet. Chairlifts: 14.
There is no denying that LA has a strong showing of ski resorts within a very easily drivable range.
Denver, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland, Reno aren’t much closer to skiing, and some of them are even further.
There is no denying it. Los Angeles, CA, is a ski town.
If it’s never been considered one before, we’d like to officially put it on the list, starting today.
Right, and Denver is a surf town.
Los Angeles is definitely a ski town! Taught at Mammoth Mountain during April 2017. Most of our guests were from L.A.!! It felt like Mammoth was just a mountain transfer of of Southern Cal surfing and skateboarding scene, even in the vocabulary and attitude!!!
Yes, but the warm temps melt the snow away almost immediately, not letting a deep enough base layer to form for bc/off-piste. Maybe, MAYBE, skiable during an el niño year.
Truth! We’re more dedicated than the Bay dwellers!!!
Don’t know about that…you seen the smog down here???
It’s true. We do have good access and conditions can be very good. I’ve had some killer days at Baldy, there was a TGR post about bc skiing baldy once that was legit. deep pow, long lines hugely spaced tree.