Snow day

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