With the winter season approaching, skiing and snowboarding popularity is at its peak. Because there are not many skiing spots close to Carlsbad, here are some worthwhile spots to hit the slopes with only a long drive or short flight.

First up on the list is arguably the most popular destination for students in Carlsbad to hit up, called Big Bear Mountain. What appeals the most to students is the quick two and a half hour drive to get there. Big Bear is known for their terrain parks, so if you’re into that, you’d have a really fun time. And with your purchase of a lift ticket, you also gain access to the Snow Summit ski Resort, which is just a 10 minute shuttle bus ride away. Sophomore Tyler Nolte had some takeaways from his time in Big Bear, when he and some friends drove up in early February.

“I was surprised at how fast it took us to get there, and once we were on the slopes, we had a good time cruising the terrain parks,” Nolte said. “I would recommend Big Bear for any group of friends that are looking for an easy way to hit a ski resort.”

Next up on the list is Mammoth Mountain, which is known as one of the more premier spots to ski in the U.S. It takes a lengthy 6 and a half hours to drive there, so you may want to look elsewhere if you want quick access to skiing. Just last week, Mammoth got pounded with around 10 feet of snow, so look to Mammoth if you’re into skiing the fresh snow. Along with the mountain, it has a big village area which is super fun to hang around. Junior Tommy Lombardi reflects on his trips to Mammoth.

“My family always plans trips to Mammoth because it’s a huge mountain to snowboard on, with everything from long bowls to crazy terrain parks,” Junior Tommy Lombardi said.

Mountain High Ski Resort is a perfect spot for students who want a quick drive to snow (the drive is only 2 hours long). The mountain has something for every kind of skier, as they have multiple terrain parks as well as tough black diamonds. Mountain High is just a little colder than the temperature in Carlsbad, so you wouldn’t have to worry about being too cold. Junior Jared Barnes told us his thoughts about the mountain.

“Mountain High Ski Resort was a fun experience for me because it had a lot of intermediate rides, which I mostly did because I’m not an expert skier yet,” Junior Jared Barnes said.

What is your favorite ski destination?

• Big Bear
• Mammoth Mountain
• Mountain High Ski Resort
• Park City Utah

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The last spot on the list is the Park City resorts located in Utah. Park City is super far away from Carlsbad, as it would take a 2 hour flight to get there. This resort is recommended if you’re looking for a top notch experience at some of the best resorts in the U.S. Once you’re in Park City, you could choose between Deer Valley, Canyons,Snowbird, Alta, and the Park City resorts. Just a few years ago, Park City and Canyons merged into one resort, making it the largest skiing resort (by area) in the U.S. All of the resorts are very close to another and all offer different experiences. Note that Deer Valley is for skiers only, so if you’re a skier that does not want to be around snowboarders, Deer Valley is for you. 

“I love going on trips to Park City because of all the activities and skiing resorts you can hit up,” Junior Cam Kremers said. “Even when you’re not skiing, the villages around the base camps are filled with stuff to do.”

Once it is past the 4 day weekend, you can still use this list to plan out future trips. Spring Break skiing is perfect for people who don’t want to avoid the long lift lines and avoid the cold weather. It’s still a few more months until ski resorts close, so you have plenty of time to pick out your trip with your friends/family.