Mount Laguna is one of our favorite places to visit for a hiking day trip or camping weekend away. We have spent many weekends enjoying the hiking trails of the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area in beautiful weather. However, after a winter storm rolls through the San Diego area, the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area becomes a hot destination for snow play in the days that follow.
A little over an hour away, San Diego County families flock to the mountains in masses to enjoy the fresh powder. A snow day on Mount Laguna can lead to lifelong memories for your family if carefully planned. Here are some of my tips to ensure a safe and successful day (versus frustration with crowds and parking) while respecting the beauty of the mountains and local community.
In this post, I will cover:
- Things to know before you go
- What to pack for your snow day adventure
- Where to find the best snow play on Laguna Mountain
Table of Contents
SNOW ON MOUNT LAGUNA – KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
LAGUNA MOUNTAIN LODGE WEBCAM
Obviously driving into the mountains in search of a snowy adventure without checking the weather is not a great plan. Weather conditions can change suddenly, so be aware of what is expected. We always check the weather in advance and I love checking the Laguna Mountain Lodge webcam to see real-time footage of what the snow looks like on the ground. The Mount Laguna weather webcam is available year-round and gives you a heads up on current conditions.
CHECK CURRENT DRIVING CONDITIONS
Knowing current weather and driving conditions is a must. Just a few days before our last visit, CHP completely shut down the Sunrise Highway from Highway 8 due to crowds. The roads can be closed due to snow before plowing as well. I HIGHLY recommend checking this info before heading up the mountain. You can read more about our favorite routes up the mountain here.
CHECK THE LAGUNA MOUNTAIN LODGE FACEBOOK PAGE
The Laguna Mountain Lodge Facebook page is another great resource to check before you head up. During the winter, they usually post each morning with a picture of the view, inches of snow on the ground, the current driving conditions, current trail/recreation area closures, and other important info. The Laguna Mountain Lodge Facebook page also shares current links from the CHP and National Forests.
THE LAGUNA MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE PASS
If you are not familiar with Mount Laguna, check out my post about some of the basics to “Know Before You Go.” The US Forest Service requires an “Adventure Pass” to recreate and park in many of the areas on the mountain. Make sure you are prepared to avoid a ticket. A ticket is one way to bring down a fun day and can easily be avoided by planning. Not all areas require an adventure pass, so you can always check here for updated info on what areas require the pass.
WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR SNOW ADVENTURE
The beauty of a day trip after a snowstorm is chances are you can enjoy some beautiful blue sky! Temperatures will still be cooler (like 45-50°), so you definitely want to pack in layers. When planning a family day, I always plan on the kids being hungry and getting soaked at some point. I love having lots of snacks and backup layers. I also plan on something warm for them to put on before we drive home. My son loves taking off his shoes and putting on his cozy socks to warm up with on the drive home. You know your family’s needs best, but here are some of the things I recommend you consider!
PACK FOR COMFORT AND SUCCESS
If you have snow gear for your kids, it is great to bring for a snow day on Mount Laguna! If you don’t have snow gear for your kids, do not panic. Please remember, I am talking about a day trip in sunny weather. If you are planning something more, you should definitely organize full-blown snow gear for your kids. Nothing ruins a day faster than being wet and cold, especially for kids. We have cut some corners for our day trips.
This advice is not for the seasoned snow family, more of the “we live in San Diego and want to be comfortable while we play for the day” family! Target & Amazon have great snow gear options you can order online if you are planning ahead. Also, ask your friends! You may be surprised what you can borrow. Local Targets usually have some great options for hats and gloves in-store that you can order for pickup on your way out of town. Sometimes these adventures need to come together quickly.
SNOW GEAR HACKS FOR KIDS
My son does not have snow boots in his size right now, so we have done thick socks with rain boots or he has also used his hiking boots and been more than happy for the day. I always bring a change of socks in case he falls in a puddle or something so the day doesn’t go downhill. Worst case you can also double layer socks with ziplock bags in between. Again, I am talking about throwing things together for one day in sunny weather! We layer him up in long sleeves, sweatshirts, a jacket, and his snow hat that he loves. We do make sure to bring gloves because our son LOVES a good snowball fight and his hands get cold quick.
For the baby, we layer her up the same. She is not playing in the snow yet, so layers are key for her. We were gifted a cozy suit like this one and it was perfect! Paired with a beanie underneath and she was good to go. I have read these baby booties are amazing for bigger snow adventures or hikes with toddlers. I will update once we get to that stage with our girl.
For the adults, just remember layers. My husband tends to be the one targeted with snowballs the most or getting the most involved in sledding runs. Layers are key. However, he did jeans and Nike shoes during our last visit and was fine. We both do gloves though, because… snowball fights. They can be intense with a seven-year-old.
SNOW PLAY GEAR
If you have a snow sled, definitely bring it! If you don’t, the Laguna Mountain Lodge sells snow gear and sleds to fill in what you are missing. Or just get creative with what you have. We looked around our garage the night before we headed out and grabbed two kickboards that worked great! Very silly but did the trick. I am planning to order a disc like these from my childhood for future trips. If you have snowman accessories, throw those in too. Otherwise, the nature surrounding you will provide you with all you need to create a perfect “Frosty!”
FOOD & SNACKS
When heading to Mount Laguna, we always pack a picnic. There are only two restaurants/bars on the mountain- the Blue Jay Lodge and the Pine House Cafe & Tavern. Due to COVID, these have been closed quite a bit. You can read more about the Pine House Cafe & Tavern in my Mount Laguna post. We are excited to try this restaurant during our next visit, but we have been enjoying picnics (or our campsite) on recent visits during COVID times. We feel a lot more comfortable avoiding crowds during COVID, so picnics have been our go-to! Another option is leaving town through Julian and grabbing food there. The Laguna Mountain Lodge Store also sells a variety of snacks and if you need to grab any snacks.
4WD/AWD/CHAINS FOR SNOW ON MOUNT LAGUNA
If you do not have AWD or 4WD on your car, bring your chains if you want get away from the crowds. If you don’t have chains, it does not mean you cannot enjoy the mountain, you just need to be VERY aware of where you are driving and what the weather is planning next. You don’t want to get stuck! We watched a family venture down the road too far in a Prius and get stuck in the snow. That stress will not lead to an exciting day!
WHERE TO SIT/RELAX
As I mentioned above, we love a picnic. In the snow, you are not just going to throw a blanket down so creative thinking is a must. We had a truck during our last visit, so the bed of the truck was an ideal spot. We saw other visitors with lawn chairs and coffee carafes in the snow. You can always pack a waterproof blanket as a resting place. My favorite was a couple relaxing in their hammock between the trees. Definitely packing our camping hammock for our next snow day on Mount Laguna. If you have young kids, it is nice for them to have a space to sit when they need a rest during snow play.
ROAD TRIP EXTRAS
For general tips on road trips with kids, check out my post on our favorite things to pass the time.
On a less exciting note, we always have Dramamine for Kids packed with us on our way to Mount Laguna. Our son tends to get carsick, and Dramamine has been a lifesaver when we take the windy roads through Julian. Before I knew they had a kid version, we used these vomit bags to prevent messes that can put a stop to your day. Not the most exciting thing to pack, but it only takes a time or two when you don’t have a bag to help you remember to always have one in the car.
As always, plan to pack out whatever you take in when enjoying the beauty of the mountains. We keep extra grocery bags in the back (who isn’t overflowing with them since COVID?!) so we always have a trash bag in the car. I saw pictures of the trash left behind after the recent rush to snow play that shocked me. Don’t add to that problem. Respect the land and local community that is sharing it with us. Be prepared to take everything off the mountain that you bring up!
WHERE TO FIND GREAT SNOW PLAY ON MOUNT LAGUNA
No matter what side of the mountain you drive up, you will begin to see the snow and cars start lining the road. The snow on the Anza-Borrego (East) side of the mountain tends to melt quicker. That side also tends to have cliffs with great views for stopping along the route, but not ideal for snow play, especially with kids.
SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY – IN A SAFE/DESIGNATED PARKING AREA!
EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE DOING THIS AND NOT NECESSARILY IN A LEGAL/SAFE WAY
Although we had a great day earlier in 2020 pulling off the side of the road, I do not recommend this during more crowded times. During this visit, snow was scarce and there was no big rush to the mountains for snow play. During peak snow days, cars will be sticking out all over the Sunrise Highway, groups of people can be seen trespassing and sledding through local’s properties while also setting up large groups on sled runs along the highway. This is not ideal and not appreciated by the local community.
If you choose to pull off the side of the Highway, please make sure you are in an area where parking is allowed and you are parked safely, not halfway in the highway. This sounds silly, but when you see how some people are parking you will understand. Please respect the land and do not trespass on private property. In addition, with the surge of COVID numbers during our last visit, massive crowds on a sled run are not where any of us should be.
OUR PICK: EXPLORE A SIDE ROAD IN A DESIGNATED RECREATION AREA
BY SHORT HIKE OR DRIVE OFF SUNRISE HIGHWAY
During crowded times, I HIGHLY recommend venturing off the Sunrise Highway to a planned destination in a designated recreation area. The roads are plowed fairly quickly, so depending on the amount of snow and conditions, taking a road a small distance off the main Highway does not always require chains. Another option is to park on the Sunrise Highway and walk further down a road (not through private property) away from the crowds. To give you an idea of the conditions, we visited 5 days after a snowstorm that reported 9″ of snow. On the day we visited, the am report was 3″ of snow. You can see how fluffy so much of the snow still was.
*WOODED HILL NATURE TRAIL*
A GEM DURING ANY SEASON
Our favorite spot for snow play is the Wooded Hill Nature Trail. The road to this trail is located between mile markers 22 and 21.5 and has a sign for the Wooded Hill Group Campground and DOES NOT require an Adventure Pass (check here to confirm before you go). It is about .3 miles down the road to the parking for the trailhead. I love this family-friendly hike throughout seasons, (more info about the hike here) and it did not disappoint in winter. It gave us an incredible snow day. I would love to post a picture of the sign for the road, but unfortunately, the cars on Sunrise Highway were piled up all over and the sign was hidden. If you find yourself in a similar situation, it is the second right after passing the Pine House Tavern coming from Julian.
We were able to park right where we were playing and we practically had the place to ourselves. A few hikers and cars passed by and another family was enjoying the snow at the top of the hill. No crowds, no gross snow from people trampling all over it for the last 5 days. We knew we were visiting a little late after the storm and did not know what to expect with snow quality. Some of the main spots on the highway were well trafficked. Having the car close was key with the baby for nursing and diaper changes. In addition, we could picnic, change clothing and take a rest right in the “play zone.” Baby and I were able to hang on the back of the pickup to watch my son and husband sled. It was a great spot that we are sure to return to.
*BIG LAGUNA TRAIL AT PENNY PINES TRAILHEAD*
Penny Pines Trailhead is one of our favorite places to explore throughout the seasons. At this point, Penny Pines Trailhead DOES NOT require an Adventure Pass (check here to confirm before you go). When parking at the Penny Pines trailhead, you can head west towards the Big Laguna Trail out to the Laguna Meadow. This is a bit of a hike, about a mile, so you will be away from your car. Make sure to pack for your adventure (and have what you need to pack it out!) so you are not running back and forth. However, this meadow is beautiful no matter the season and is a great place to get away from the crowds and enjoy a snow day on Mount Laguna!
Have you enjoyed a day in the snow on Mount Laguna? What are your favorite ways to escape the crowds?
