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Snow day

Six places to go to play in the snow

Abigail Peterson,

The best way to recharge in winter is to reconnect with yourinner snow angel. No matter where you make your home in the West,you’re never more than a few hours’ drive from a place where thewhite stuff runs soft and deep. Declare a day off, and pack up thered plastic saucers, warm clothes, and a thermos of hot chocolate.These are our picks for great snow play.

CALIFORNIA Big Bear Snowplay. 10-4daily; day pass $18. 42825 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake;909/585-0075.

CALIFORNIA Echo Summit Sno-Park, Eldorado National Forest.10-dusk Mon-Fri, 9-dusk Sat-Sun; day pass $5. South of U.S. 50 atEcho Summit; 530/644-2324.

COLORADO Snow Mountain Ranch/ YMCA of the Rockies. Opendaily, call for hours; $10 tube rental, $5 sled rental. 1101 CountyRd. 53, Granby; 970/887-2152.

NEW MEXICO Capulin Snowplay Area, Cibola National Forest.9:30-4 Fri-Sun, weather permitting; $3 per vehicle. 1 mile north ofthe Sandia Peak ski area, off State 536; 505/281-3304.

OREGON Santiam Sno-Park, Willamette National Forest. Opendaily; $3 per vehicle Sno-Park permit available at DMV offices andlocal stores. Off U.S. 20/State 126 at Santiam Pass, 43 milesnorthwest of Bend; 541/822-3381.

WASHINGTON Lake Wenatchee State Park tubinghill. 8-dusk daily; Sno-Park permit $8. 21588 State 207,Leavenworth; 509/763-3101.

Follow these links for more ideas on where to spend your snowday ― or weekend!

To ski inpeace
Yosemite inwinter
Wintertracks
Hey dudes
Things to doin the Rockies
Wind Riversolitude
Grand Mesa
On track inthe Methow Valley
Winterwonderful