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Best Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding in California : South

This list represents the most popular backcountry skiing & snowboarding in California : South (learn more about Top Trails). Use this list to plan your next California : South backcountry skiing & snowboarding trip. Select a state and/or activity below to find even more top trails.

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#1. Mount Whitney

  
The Mountaineers Route is the distinctive couloir on the northeast face and shoulder of Mount Whitney. It is readily seen from Highway 395 and the town of Lone Pine. In the winter and spring it is a c…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Lone Pine , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 16 miles    BestBackcountry Skiing & Snowboarding Trail - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#2. Sawtooth Peak

  
The Monarch Lakes are nestled in a beautiful lake basin just below Sawtooth and Mineral Peaks at an elevation of 10,400 feet. Sawtooth Peak is a favorite of summer climbers and is equally enjoyable to…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Visalia , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 10 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#3. Florence Peak

  
Florence Peak is the tallest peak in the ring of summits high above Mineral King Valley and has two fine ascent and descent routes from its summit. One route is via Farewell Gap and the Bullfrog Lakes…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Visalia , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 12 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#4. Mount Williamson

  
In the Sierra Nevada, Mount Williamson is second in height only to Mount Whitney, 6 miles to the south, and the size of its massif is exceeded only by that of Mount Shasta, one of the largest stratovo…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Independence , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 14 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#5. Birch Mountain

  
Birch Mountain is one of seven east-side summits included in this guide. The other east-side summits included in this guide are Dunderberg Peak, Bloody Mountain, Mount Morgan (North), Mount Morgan (So…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Big Pine , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 12 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#6. North Palisade

  
North Palisade is one of the classic peaks of the Sierra Nevada, and the fourth highest peak in California. All routes to the summit require advanced mountaineering skills on rock, snow, and ice. The…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Big Pine , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 14 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#7. Mount Irvine and Mount LeConte

  
The large Meysan Lake basin is ringed, from right to left, by the four impressive summits of Mount Irvine, Mount Mallory, Mount LeConte, and Lone Pine Peak. A base camp at Meysan Lake is a good locati…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Lone Pine , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 12 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#8. Tableland

  
Pear Lake Hut is, by far, the nicest backcountry hut in California and makes an excellent base camp for day tours into the Tableland and some of the finest intermediate ski cruising terrain in Califor…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Visalia , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 20 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#9. The Thumb

  
There is no better ski summit in the Sierra. The scenery, alpine setting, rugged terrain, glaciers, cirques, and skiing are all superb. The distinct profile of The Thumb, the glacier at the base of th…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Big Pine , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 14 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#10. Mount Kaweah

  
The circumnavigation of the Kaweahs takes the ski mountaineer over the western portion of the High Sierra Route, a classic trans-Sierra traverse. This may be the most demanding multi-day trip in the g…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Visalia , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 48 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#11. Mount Brewer

  
Mount Brewer is the dominant peak in a region of dominant peaks. Within a 4-mile radius of Mount Brewer there is a cluster of superb peaks, each exceeding 13,000 feet, that are highly prized among cli…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Fresno , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 28 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#12. University Peak

  
University Peak offers excellent ski descents from two different approaches. University Pass and the Southeast Couloir, via Robinson Lake, provide fine descents from near the summit. The North Couloir…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Independence , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 18 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#13. Vandever Mountain

  
The glacial cirque between Vandever Mountain and White Chief Peak contains excellent skiing. This north-facing cirque holds the snow the longest of any of the routes in the Mineral King area. There wa…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Visalia , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 10 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#14. Striped Mountain

  
This trip’s 7,700-foot climb is an arduous endeavor, but it offers numerous options in addition to the excellent ski/snowboard descent of Striped Mountain. The Taboose Pass area offers plenty of slope…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Big Pine , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 16 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#15. Mount Sill, Northwest Couloir and L-Shaped Couloir

  
Mount Sill is the most massive peak in the area, with one of the best views in the entire Sierra Nevada. Its profile is striking and dominates the skyline. The two ski/snowboard descents described her…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Big Pine , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 14 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#16. Mount Sill, Glacier Creek Cirque

  
The circumnavigation of the Palisades is a arduous ski mountaineering mini-expedition through some of the most rugged alpine terrain in the Sierra Nevada. From the east, the Palisades form an impregna…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Big Pine , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 32 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#17. Mount Pickering

  
The Rock Creek and Sky-Blue Lake area is a skier’s paradise. A week here would not be sufficient to ski the major summits and couloirs in the area. Joe Devel Peak has an impressive couloir (30–35 degr…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Lone Pine , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 18 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

#18. Mount Gold

  
As is the case with University Peak, Mount Gould’s neighbor to the south, the best time to ski Mount Gould is in the spring before or immediately after Onion Valley Road is opened to Onion Valley. The…
From the guidebook "50 Classic Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Summits in California"
Independence , CA - Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding - 16 miles   
Published by The Mountaineers Books

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