Please note that many roads, due to winter weather conditions, make many areas at higher elevations difficult to access. Please check road conditions before making a trip and always be prepared for cold weather emergencies. Skiing Cross country skiing is popular throughout The Plumas National Forest. The many lakes throughout the forest offer ample opportunties to ski gentle slopes while viewing the diversity of broad meadows and dense groves of trees. The elevation of the entire region is high enough to allow cross country skiing generally from November to April.
Many areas are remote and difficult to access during winter months.
Johnsville's ski area, located within Plumas Eureka State Park, is a great place for downhill and nordic skiers. This site, which dates back to 1860, is the oldest recorded sport skiing and ski racing area in the entire western hemisphere. Early day long board ski racers strapped on skis to fly down the 2600-foot run at more than 90 mph. Today, the ski bowl features beginner to advanced runs and is generally open from mid-December through April. Snowmobiling Not only is snowmobiling popular around most of the lakes in The Plumas National Forest, the OHV designated areas during the summer months provide excellent snowmobiling trails during winter months.