Explore Placer County as a Winter Wonderland

The iconic wintertime wonderland, Placer County, a 1,400-square-mile destination in Northern California, has plenty to offer all visitors this season to celebrate the festivities.

With cool temperatures, beautiful white-capped scenery and plenty of snow activities, there’s no lack of opportunities to explore the powdery snowscape. From sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, skiing, snowmobiling and offroading, travelers can have a fun winter vacation with an unforgettable experience. Charming bed and breakfast lodging, indulgent resorts, classic cabins and adventure campgrounds offer an array of stays while experiencing the area. Après ski, visitors can snuggle up with cozy cocktails or decompress in the crisp cool air to unwind after a day on the slopes.

Uniquely situated along Interstate 80, Placer County attractions are only 20 minutes away from the major freeway at any point, making it an ideal destination for travelers from the Bay Area, Sacramento, Reno, Lake Tahoe and other nearby regions.

New and Noteworthy
The Squaw Alpine Transit Company and Placer County are teaming up to continue Mountaineer, the free, app-based ride share service that operates in Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows, with extended hours and new service to Tahoe City. Service hours have been extended to 10:30 p.m. in Olympic Valley and will begin at 7:00 a.m. in Alpine Meadows. Mountaineer will operate from December 10, 2021 through April 10, 2022, with daily service in Olympic Valley, and service on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays in Alpine Meadows. TART Connect, another free ridesharing service, will run between Olympic Valley and Tahoe City on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Rocklin’s Quarry Park Adventures is open for winter, with tickets available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday complete with discounted rates and extended hours during the holiday season. Palisades Lake Tahoe has plenty of new additions, including the latest surface lift addition, High Camp Carpet. They’re also welcoming Sun Bowl, a new eatery providing guests with healthy, island-inspired fuel. Additionally, Palisade Tahoe’s Ikon Thursdays will kick off in December and feature exclusive offers for Ikon Pass holders including free snow tubing, free waxes, demo discounts, restaurant deals and a special Ikon Happy Hour every week, with live music and raffle prizes.

Heading into 2022, the Lincoln’s Wise Villa Winery will be offering a special seven course food and wine pairing dinner hosted by owner and founder Dr. Grover Lee on February 9 in celebration of Valentine’s Day.

Winter Wonderland
If you’re looking for an alpine escape, Placer County is the place to be. Parents can head to Nyack Snow Park for soft hills to sled with the whole family. For a more leisurely winter activity, enjoy an intimate experience with Tahoe Adventure Company snowshoeing tours through backcountry (we recommend a full moon or sunset tour for special views). For a romantic option, the Tahoe City Winter Sports Park offers an elegant option complete with skate rentals, private lessons and more. To get your adrenaline pumping, look to Coldstream Adventures for snowmobile tours or go off-roading at the China Wall Staging Area.

Of course, the county is most notorious for their unparalleled ski offerings. For all levels, the world-famous Lake Tahoe area is the perfect place to hit the slopes. Head to the largest cross country ski resort in North America, Royal George, for a backcountry experience, or visit Soda Springs for a more casual option.

Placer County encompasses a wide variety of unique cities, towns and census-designated places in northern California, including:

Lincoln
Auburn
Loomis
Rocklin
Granite Bay
Roseville
Foresthill
Colfax
Dutch Flat
Tahoma
Tahoe City
Carnelian Bay
Tahoe Vista
Kings Beach

An interactive map on the website has been provided to support travelers in planning their upcoming trip. Please remember to travel responsibly at all times and respect our local environment, including making sure to leave no trace by packing out what you brought in. To learn more on how to venture through Placer County safely, visit visitplacer.com/travel-responsibly.

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Visit Placer is the destination marketing agency that promotes, markets and provides resources for domestic and international leisure travel to Placer County, a 1,400-square-mile destination along the I-80 corridor in Northern California. Described as a “continent within a county,” the county encompasses a widely diverse geography, boasting unique locales from high-mountain ski town Olympic Valley, sitting alongside Lake Tahoe, to the lush and forested community of Foresthill. Visit Placer invites travelers to visit, discover and savor the county responsibly.

For more information on Placer County, log onto the Visit Placer website at https://visitplacer.com