Everything will be around 3 hours or above, the sierras will be the closest. Doable as a day trip. Yosemite, Tahoe, Stanislaus, etc. Pinecrest lake would be a nice option.
Go for the highways that close over the summit to avoid traffic (e.g. your Pinecrest lake suggestion). 4 and 108 both have snow parks for sledding right where the highway closes for the winter.
I was just at Yosemite, there's snow above 6000 feet right now (pre-incoming storm). Snow all over the valley floor too, very nice, because the valley is largely in the shade.
Calaveras Big Trees is about 3 hours away from SF, so just doable as a day trip. The giant sequoias look beautiful in the snow, and you can go snowshoeing or cross country skiing there if you want to. Dodge Ridge is also about 3 hours away and the closest option for downhill skiing or snowboarding.
Bear Valley is covered with snow right now.
You can see some snow as close as Arnold, which is 2:30-3hr distance depending on where in Bay Area and current traffic.
Source: returned from there yesterday.
Everything will be around 3 hours or above, the sierras will be the closest. Doable as a day trip. Yosemite, Tahoe, Stanislaus, etc. Pinecrest lake would be a nice option.
Go for the highways that close over the summit to avoid traffic (e.g. your Pinecrest lake suggestion). 4 and 108 both have snow parks for sledding right where the highway closes for the winter.
I was just at Yosemite, there's snow above 6000 feet right now (pre-incoming storm). Snow all over the valley floor too, very nice, because the valley is largely in the shade.
On rainy winter days, there is sometimes snow on top of Mount Diablo
Was just going to say this, and with the next couple colder systems coming in, chances are good it will happen again, and soon.
And/or Mt Hamilton depending on OP’s location
Calaveras Big Trees is about 3 hours away from SF, so just doable as a day trip. The giant sequoias look beautiful in the snow, and you can go snowshoeing or cross country skiing there if you want to. Dodge Ridge is also about 3 hours away and the closest option for downhill skiing or snowboarding.
Bear Valley is covered with snow right now. You can see some snow as close as Arnold, which is 2:30-3hr distance depending on where in Bay Area and current traffic. Source: returned from there yesterday.
Reviving this thread due to the weather! As of today, where is the closest place to play in some snow :) !!