Snow Tubing Near San Francisco and the Bay Area

1. Soda Springs Mountain Resort — Soda Springs

Prices vary by day
Soda Springs Mountain Resort is a true winter wonderland for kids! A Mountain Adventure ticket is required for anyone over two years old and grants all-inclusive access to three different areas of the resort: Tube Town, Planet Kids, and Woodward Start Park.

Tube Town is for kids and adults 42" and taller and has up to 10 lanes for snow tubing. There's also magic carpet access that will take you and the snow tubes up the hill much quicker, a snow play zone for younger kiddos to build snowmen, and snowshoeing for all ages. 

For kids under 42", the Planet Kids area has snow tubing carousels for ages eight and under. Young winter sports enthusiasts (under age eight) can test out the bunny slope and get first-come, first-serve gear, like skis and helmets for kids with a shoe size of four or below.

Finally, Woodward Start Park is for kids, also eight years old and younger, who are just starting out skiing or snowboarding in a safe environment with learning boards and foam blocks. Snow tubes are included with a Mountain Adventure ticket and personal sleds and tubes are prohibited.  

2. Boreal Mountain Resort — Soda Springs 

Prices vary by day
Boreal Mountain Resort is home to Tahoe Tubing, where anyone 42" inches or taller can go snow tubing. A magic carpet will take snow tubers up the hill, and tubes are complimentary with the cost of admission, which must be purchased online in advance. Personal sleds and tubes are not allowed. This snow tubing near San Francisco spot occurs in 90-minute slots. 

3. Leland SnowPlay — Pinecrest 

$25 - $49 per person
Snow play is what it's all about here, with large hills for snow tubing and lifts that tow you and your tube 60 feet in just a minute or two, allowing for more tubing time. The height requirement is 44" inches to go snow tubing on the big hills and use the lift service. 

There's also a kiddie hill for younger snow bunnies under 44' inches tall, complete with a magic carpet lift where little ones can go snow tubing and sledding. Tubes and sleds are included with the price of tickets. 

4. Palisades Tahoe — Olympic Valley 

Prices vary by day
The height requirement for snow tubing at Palisades Tahoe is 40" inches tall. Snow tubing occurs in 55-minute limited sessions and begins at the top of the hour. 

There's snow tubing during the day, but then you can amp up your adventure of snow tubing near San Francisco with disco tubing! This family-friendly experience has lanes lit in neon at night during limited winter evenings with a DJ playing music, and flashing lights. The same rules apply for disco tubing, where riders must be 40" tall, and disco tubing occurs in 55-minute sessions. Tickets for disco tubing must be purchased online. 

In addition to snow tubing, there are many other winter activities at Palisades Tahoe, like an aerial tram ride that takes you over the picturesque landscape of Lake Tahoe to High Camp. An aerial tram ticket also includes free admission to the Olympic Museum. 

 
Snow tubing in Yosemite? Yes, please. Photo courtesy of the Badger Pass Ski Area

5. Badger Pass Ski Area — Yosemite National Park 

$30 per person
Yosemite National Park is already one of California's gems. Add snow tubing and other winter activities to this nature utopia, and you'll enhance the experience even more. Family-friendly snow tubing at Badger Pass Ski Area has a height requirement of 42" tall. There are two timed sessions for two hours a day, and tubes are provided. 

Snow tubing in Yosemite is more affordable than other places on the list, and part of that reason might be because the hills are smaller, and there's not a conveyor belt to take you to the top. Other winter activities at Badger Pass Ski Area include skiing, a ski school, and snowshoeing. Badger Pass has only one of three ski lifts that operate within a national park.

Available shuttle service occurs to and from Yosemite Valley and Badger Pass. Don't forget that there's a vehicle entrance fee for Yosemite National Park, and reservations are required to enter the park beginning in February. Tire chains will also be necessary in the winter months. 

6. Adventure Mountain — South Lake Tahoe 

Prices vary by days of the week and heights 
There's a designated tubing area at Adventure Mountain where kids of all heights can participate in two-hour sessions. This particular resort can get a little pricey as you have to pay a resort entrance fee in addition to a tubing area fee. You can save money by going on a Tuesday or Wednesday, though, as up to two kids tube for free on both days with a paid adult. 

RELATED: Things To Do in Lake Tahoe with Kids 

 
Play in the snow all day! Photo courtesy of Nyack Snow Park

7. Nyack Snow Park — Emigrant Gap 

$25 per vehicle
While most places on this list provide snow tubes and have resort fees, Nyack Snow Park is an exception. It's essentially a big open snow play area where you can bring your own sled or snow tube and play in the snow for the day as long as you like. Nyack Snow Park would probably make a great first introduction to snow for younger kids as it's affordable, and you can go at your own pace.  

The nearby Nyack Shell and General Store have supplies like snack options and snow vessels such as saucers and sleds for purchase. Tire chains are also required for non-four-wheel drive vehicles.

8. Tahoe Donner — Truckee 

$15 - $32 per person
The snow play area has a range of activities for kids, from snow tubing and sledding to an area for building snowmen and having snowball fights. For snow tubing, riders must be 36" inches tall. Younger children under 36" inches can go sledding with an accompanying adult, making this a fantastic choice for kids who aren't quite tall enough for snow tubing but want to participate in winter fun. Children three and under also receive free admission but still need a reservation. 

Another perk is that you can bring your own food and drinks, though there is typically a food truck on-site. The tubes and sleds are included with admission, and advance reservations are encouraged.  

9. Hansen's Snow Tube & Saucer Hill — South Lake Tahoe 

$40 per hour 
Snow tubing sessions are one hour long, and the cost applies per person for anyone ages five years old and up. Bring cash, as it's cash-only for admission, and snow tubes and saucers are provided. Children four and under can go snow tubing for free with a paying adult. 

10. Tube Tahoe — South Lake Tahoe 

$15 - $70 per person
Snow tubing is what they do at Tahoe Tubing, and there are rental options for all ages. Kids as young as ages three to five can even go snow tubing when riding with a paying adult. Snow tubing takes place for an hour and a half sessions. There's even night tubing that occurs on limited winter evenings. For an additional cost, older kids ages thirteen and up might be into the thrill-seeking of snow tubing with a Big Air Jump. 

11. Heavenly Mountain Resort — Stateline, NV 

Prices vary by day
To get to the snow tubing at this resort, you'll need to pay for a scenic gondola ride over Lake Tahoe, as the snow tubing action is at the top of the gondola. Be forewarned that this experience can be pricey. In addition to paying for the gondola ride, there's an additional fee for snow tubing. 

The classic snow tubing experience is the 3-slide pass, which includes three sliders per rider with a height requirement of 42". There's also an option for an unlimited pass. Kiddos under 42" can go snow tubing on the mini tubing pass for unlimited rides. 

12. Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort — Twin Bridges 

$40 - $65 per person
Sierra-at-Tahoe has Blizzard Mountain for snow tubing near San Francisco. Sessions are for an hour and a half during specific timeframes and include a tubing lift ticket and tube rental. Children under 42" receive free admission with a paid adult. 

There's also an all-day snow play option with a sledding hill that doesn't include snow tubing. 

13. Tahoe Snowmobiles & Tubing — Stateline, NV & South Lake Tahoe

$55 per hour for snow tubing
For a simple snow tubing experience, Tahoe Snowmobile has one-hour timed sessions for anyone over three years old. Kids under 42" should ride with an adult, and two adults can swap out turns on the tube during the session. 

In addition to snow tubing, there's also the thrill of snowmobile rentals to take on a scenic track. Older teens aged 16 can drive a snowmobile with an accompanying adult. Children aged five and up are also allowed on the snowmobile if the helmet fits and must ride behind an adult. Snowmobile sessions are 30 minutes, and four people can alternate turns during the session, with up to two people riding one snowmobile at once. 

There are two Tahoe Snowmobiles & Tubing locations. The Stateline location is much more accessible and walkable from the Casino corridor and Heavenly Village. It's recommended to walk as there is no on-site parking. The South Lake Tahoe location is more remote but less crowded with on-site parking. A snowmobiling and snow tubing combo is recommended at the South Lake Tahoe location, whereas for just a snow tubing experience, the Stateline location is recommended. 

Sledding Near San Francisco and the Bay Area 

Although many of the above places do have sledding as an additional activity, the below places don't have any snow tubing but do have sledding and other winter experiences. 

14. Tahoe City Winter Sports Park — Tahoe City 

$5 - $15 per person for sledding; Prices vary for other winter activities
The family-friendly sledding hill is suitable for all ages and includes the sleds. Each sledding session is for an hour and a half. In addition to sledding, the park is full of winter entertainment. There's also snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and an ice skating rink. Advance reservations are recommended. 

15. Granlibakken Tahoe — Tahoe City 

$25 - $35 per person
Sledding takes place in 90-minute sessions, and sleds are included with the price of admission. There's also the unique experience of night sledding on select winter nights with music and lights. Other available winter experiences include snowshoeing, skiing, and snowboarding. 

Know Before You Go Snow Tubing Near San Francisco

• Confirm that places on this list and roads are open. Spontaneous closures are common when winter storms occur.
• Tire chains are encouraged and sometimes required when traveling to places on this list. 
• Wear appropriate cold weather waterproof gear, gloves, and snow shoes. 
• Bring extra clothes and shoes as kids may get wet and cold during snow play.
• Even though you'll be playing in the snow, it's still possible to get sunburnt, so don't forget to pack the sunscreen.
• Hydrate with water, regardless of outside temperatures. 
• Lake Tahoe tends to get the most snow in the months of February and March.