In Tuolumne County, California, winter means the return of silent snowfall, crackling fireplaces and cozy clothing.  However you define it, there are plenty of ways to enjoy winter in this land of Gold Country history, High Sierra adventure and Yosemite National Park. 

Skiing at Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort - summer.dodgeridge.com

Of course, the main event is when the snow flies and ski season begins on Dodge Ridge's 862 skiable acres, 1,600 vertical feet, 70 trails and 12 lifts.  Season passes are now on sale.

In the meantime, get ready to go deep into the stuff of which snowy dreams are made with the 74th annual film Warren Miller Film, “ALL TIME,” on Nov. 3, 2023, at the Pinecrest Amphitheater. Celebrate the birth of ski towns like Sun Valley and Aspen, icons and innovators like the original hotdoggers, and the most outlandish locations ever skied. Then, catch new footage featuring Maine's finest athlete of today, Donny Pelletier, and meet the next generation at Woodward Park City. Through it all, Jonny Moseley and special guests will share their own stories to bring us to this moment.

On Nov. 11, 2023, Dodge Ridge presents its 2nd annual POW-a-Bunga Party, the official winter kickoff event, at the Armory in downtown Sonora.  Come dressed in your best 80's ski gear, think bright colors and crazy patterns!  Dance the night away with a live DJ, Dodge Ridge photo booth, catwalk, drink specials, costume contest, prizes, and swag.  Admission is free and all ages are welcome.

Leland High Sierra Snowplay – snowplay.com   

With 12 acres of varied terrain and a 4,000 sq. ft. day use lodge, Leland High Sierra Snowplay is the largest dedicated snow tubing and snow play park on the West Coast.   They have a huge supply of tubes to choose from, along with two lifts to tow guests to the top of the biggest snow tubing hills.  

Snowmaking capabilities ensure a beautiful field of white stuff daily, and snowcats provide a perfectly groomed hill every day.

The lodge provides a full kitchen, a snack bar, large restrooms, a warm fire, and a sun deck with plenty of tables and chairs overlooking the snow play areas outside. Family owned and operated since 1990, Leland Snowplay retains that cozy alpine feeling, but large enough to accommodate large groups.

Leland Snowplay is located at the end of Leland Meadow Road, off of Highway 108, 33 miles past the city of Sonora and 4 miles past the town of Strawberry.  Navigating by GPS is not recommended.

Long Barn Lodge Ice Skating - thelongbarnlodge.com/ice-rink

The Long Barn Lodge is a family-run 20 room motel with 10 cabins, located near Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort, Pinecrest Lake and Leland Snowplay.  For four to five months beginning in November, it's also home to the Long Barn Ice Skating Rink, the only ice rink in Tuolumne County.  Skating lessons and private events are available.  Come out and get your blades on!

Snowshoeing through the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park - www.nps.gov/places/000/tuolumne-grove.htm

Nordic skiing or snowshoe touring in Yosemite can be a magnificent experience. The Tuolumne Grove trail descends 500 feet from the trailhead to the majestic giant sequoias. This is a popular trail both with snowshoers and hikers, 2.5 miles round trip with a strenuous 1-2 hour return trek with a 500-foot elevation gain.

The Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias is located on Tioga Road (Highway 120 East), just east of Crane Flat.

Guided snowshoe tours with Echo Adventures Cooperative - www.echocoop.com/adventures

Echo Adventures Cooperatives' guided Dewey Point snowshoe adventure offers one a birds-eye​ view of Yosemite Valley and Yosemite Falls, as well as panoramic views of Yosemite high country.  Points of interest include Half Dome, Tunnel view, Badger Pass, Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and Dewey Point. This is a 10 hour, 7.5 mile strenuous trek, not suitable for those under age 12.

“Elevate” Family Fun Center at Black Oak Casino: www.blackoakcasino.com/play/elevatepark 

Coming in December 2023 to Black Oak Casino, “Elevate” will be an all-ages indoor sports park with a Trampoline Park, Xtreme Dodgeball, Aerostrike, Head2Head, Battle Beam with Airbag, Airbag Pit, Ninja Course, Softplay, Slick Slide, Axe Throwing, Batting cages and more.

Christmas Town Sonora - christmastownsonora.org  

We double dog dare you not to get into the holiday spirit when you experience Christmas Town Sonora in November and December.  There's the Lighting Ceremony, the Downtown Christmas Parade, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Santa's House, the Best Tree and Best Window Contests, the Red Church Christmas Bazaar and Hometown Crafters Holiday Craft Fair, Christmas Tree Lane and Winter Wonderland, the Holly Jolly Wagon and more.  It's like walking into your favorite holiday movie.   

Historic Holidays at Columbia State Historic Park -  www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27701

Columbia City Hotel Restaurant's Victorian Christmas Feast, Dec. 8, 10, 14 and 15, 2023:  For more than 35 years, the historic City Hotel in Columbia State Historic Park has celebrated the holidays by recreating a 140-year-old banquet melodrama with a cast of colorful characters, minstrels, great food and wonderful wines. This year is once again very special because of the reopening of the City Hotel Restaurant and return of several original actors and singers who made this a popular gathering for over three decades. Actors play George and Margaret Morgan, the 1870s proprietors of the City Hotel. They invite you to join them at their table as they deal with “local issues” and “colorful characters.” Mixing the melodrama with good cheer and holiday toasts, period musicians, fine dining, and the beautiful surroundings of the restored hotel, it's a perfect holiday primer. Guests return year after year to renew friendships, start their Christmas season, see what the Morgans are up to, and spend the night in one of the State Park's historic hotels.

Columbia All Equestrian Parade, Dec. 10, 2023:  This judged parade is open to all ages of equestrian riders/drivers and mounted groups. Participants in the equestrian parade can accumulate award points towards the California State Horsemen's Association Parade High Point Program. Everyone is encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for the toy drive benefitting ATTCAA's Housing Families Program.

Las Posadas Nativity Procession, Dec. 10, 2023: Las Posadas is a Spanish tradition that re-enacts the biblical story of Mary and Joseph's search for shelter in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. Since 1983, the people of Columbia have put on their own version of Las Posadas each December- with a distinctive 1850s flavor. Characters in this re-enactment include Mary and Joseph and their donkey, the three Wise Men, tax collector and innkeeper, and miners and musicians and other costumed townspeople. Columbia's Main Street is decorated for the Christmas season and luminaries light the way for the procession, while on-lookers hold candles and join in singing Christmas carols.

Miners Christmas, Dec. 16 and 17, 2023:  Discover what Christmas in a Gold Rush town may have looked like in the 1850's.  Stop in and listen to Christmas stories from some of the ole' timer miners, taste chestnuts roasted over the open fire, and make a variety of old-fashioned crafts. Explore the historic buildings of Columbia adorned with old fashion decorations while you sip hot cider and coffee. You might even catch sight of Father Christmas as he visits the town of Columbia.

Candy Cane Making: Watch traditional candy canes being made at Nelson's Columbia Candy Kitchen every Saturday and Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Sierra Repertory Theatre: www.sierrarep.org

“Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella” will be presented at the East Sonora Theatre on Nov. 2-Dec. 17, 2023.  It features all the moments you love—the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the royal ball and more—plus some surprising new twists. Rediscover some of Rodgers & Hammerstein's most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It's Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago” in this hilarious and romantic experience for anyone who's ever had a dream.

The world premiere of “Sh-Boom: A Christmas Miracle” plays at the Fallon House Theatre in Columbia State Historic Park on Nov. 30-Dec. 22, 2023. It's 1965. A few years ago, Denny and the gang achieved overnight fame when they won the WOPR Radio “Dream of a Lifetime Talent Search” as “Denny and the Dreamers.” After a few years of touring and having a taste of the big time, the fledgling group broke up.  In this holiday sequel, the gang gets back together to perform again as a group for the Christmas Bazaar at Wally's church. Denny and Eugene won't speak to each other, Duke and Lois are in the middle of an un-acknowledged marital spat, and Wally is left to broker the peace for Christmas. Filled with great 60s doo-wop hits and holiday classics.

Railtown 1897 Polar Express: www.railtown1897.org/events/polar

Relive the magical journey of “The Polar Express™” on an hour-long train ride to the North Pole. Once you reach the destination, Santa himself will come on board to give each passenger a silver sleighbell, the “first gift of Christmas.”  Offered on Friday-Sunday, Nov. 24-Dec. 17, 2023.  Reserve tickets early!

ABOUT VISIT TUOLUMNE COUNTY

Visit Tuolumne (“to-all-o-me”) County (VTC) is the official destination marketing organization for Tuolumne County in Northern California.  Tuolumne County is just a 2.5 hour drive east of the San Francisco Bay Area. The destination is known for its pristine, scenic expanse reaching into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Gold was discovered in Tuolumne County in 1848, setting off the major gold rush of 1849. The main highways leading to the picturesque drive from the Bay Area are Highways 108 and 120 from the west and Highway 49 from the north. The State Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park is considered the “front door” of the park for the Bay Area. The Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and other surrounding areas provide natural vistas and settings for hiking, water skiing, horseback riding, rafting, camping, snowmobiling, boating, snow skiing, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Seven restored historic hotels, four golf courses, numerous and varied dining establishments, historic saloons, four wineries, a hard cider distillery, train rides, casinos, seven museums, two state historic parks, two live theaters, many bed-and-breakfast inns and a variety of Airbnb accommodations are among the many other attributes that make the county a year-round vacation destination. For more information, go to www.visittuolumne.com.