It’s midwinter and you’re itching for some pow. You don’t have the cash to fly to Utah and you need more than a measly weekend to trek up to Mammoth Mountain. Before you hightail it to Big Bear faster than a deranged Forrester (bless those B&B writers), let us introduce you to a quaint little town that’s even closer and promises to fulfill all of your ripping and shredding desires.
Welcome to Wrightwood, California, an itty bitty village nestled in the San Gabriel Mountains at almost 6,000 ft and a mere 90-minute drive from LA. Almost an hour closer than Big Bear, Wrightwood is the gateway to Mountain High Resort (just six minutes away) which peaks at 8,200 feet, has three mountains to explore and is serviced by a single (bargain) lift ticket — $69 on weekdays, $74 on weekends. With no accommodation on-snow at Mountain High, Wrightwood’s your home base.
Image courtesy of Belinda Gosbee
Image courtesy of @monadailey
Mountain High is a super easy day trip where you can rip out a full eight hours and be back in LA with dinner on the table by 7 p.m. But why not hang around Wrightwood for a couple of nights and be gifted with a tranquility time-out, a huge smack of mountain charm, 11% local craft brews and even 5 cent margaritas. Having just experienced its snowiest January in five years, why aren’t you on the I-15 already?
Here’s how to eat, play, stay and hit the slopes in Wrightwood, CA.
Eat
Village Grind
$
I’ve been coming here to the Village Grind for so many years that it feels like my local. This is your one-stop-shop. Perfect for the pre and après-ski caffeine fix as well as steaming soups, bagels, quesadillas, breakfast burritos, BLTs and chili. But most importantly, there’s beer on tap and even a tiny wine bar set up in the corner. There’s also free wifi and a great patio (often with live music) for those crisp sunny SoCal afternoons. If you’re heading back to LA, definitely load up on hot drinks and snacks here.
Mexico Lindo & Seafood Restaurant
$$
Can anything warm your innards better than Mexican food? Can anything warm your heart quicker than a five cent not-too-sweet margarita?! Mexico Lindo has a huge menu, large portions and even a Sunday all-you-can-eat champagne brunch. The funky space is tucked away in a multi-level cabin which makes for a cozy spot to nestle in after a day on the slopes.
Evergreen Cafe & Racoon Saloon
$$
Conjoined with the The Racoon Saloon, the much loved and aptly named Evergreen Cafe (it’s bright green!) on Evergreen Road offers big old breakfasts that will keep your battery charged for hours. The cafe opens bright and early at 7 a.m. so you can throw back a plate of waffles, or bacon and eggs) and still get first tracks.
Grizzly Cafe Inc
$$
The Grizzly Cafe is everything you want before or after a long day on the mountain. The proper log cabin is complete with a towering stone chimney and a taxidermied bear head. The extensive menu covers breakfast, lunch and hearty dinners, like country fried steak with cornbread and loaded baked potatoes. Eat your heart out.
The Village Grind. Image courtesy of @vanillavillian
Mexico Lindo. Image courtesy of @ajpresley
The Evergreen Cafe. Image courtesy of @salcido_christian
Grizzly Cafe. Image courtesy of @shilohgracetz
Play
The Yodeler Craft Beer Bar & Grill
$$
Every town needs a dive bar, but not many dives have such craft beer menus with 50 beers. There’s an open patio during the day, and at night live music warms the tiny interior. There’s also a menu if you’re still hungry. Tip: Check out Taco Monday.
Evergreen Cafe & Racoon Saloon
$
Finish your meal at the Evergreen Cafe and saunter next door to play some pool, shoot whiskey and hug the jukebox. It may still look like homebase for Santa’s elves on the outside, but tucked in next to the cafe you’ll find respite in this local watering hole. There’s a small separate menu here and the fries are phenomenal.
Wrightwood Brewing Co
$
What else does a small town need if not its own family-run brewery? The Wrightwood Brewing Company averages seven of their own brews, including a Hefe, a blue cut IPA and a porter. Sample the flight or the infamous 11 percent Victoria.
The Yodeler. Image courtesy of @killthebiggun
Image courtesy of @theyodeler
Evergreen Cafe & Racoon Saloon. Image courtesy of @chuckpryor
Wrightwood Brewing Company. Image courtesy of @twobrewsforyew
Ski & Board
Which brings us to the best part—hitting the slopes. Mountain High is just six minutes up the road from Wrightwood but you’ll need to decide which mountain you’re hitting up first. There’s a free shuttle between them so there’s no need to move your car during the day. I always park at the West Resort and use that as home base. Here’s a rundown on each.
The Mountains
West Resort
The West Resort is a great mix of beginner runs and more technical trails as well as a terrain park. Your eating options here are the Bullwheel Bar & Grill, Foggy Goggle; and the Big Pines Base Lodge and outdoor BBQ. On a perfect SoCal winter’s day there’s nothing like sitting right on the snow at the Foggy Goggle and throwing back a couple of beers. Lessons, rentals and a ride shop can all be found here.
East Resort
The East Resort has slightly less trails but they’re long, groomed cruising trails with a 1,600 feet vertical. The East also has additional beginners runs right at the peak of the mountain alongside the Grand View Bistro and the Olympic run—SoCals’ longest, steepest mogul run. At base level you’ll find lunch options at the Gold Rush Grille, Angeles Crest Cafe and Snow Shoe Saloon. Lessons, rentals and a ride shop can also be found here
North Resort
The North Resort is a smaller, family-friendly area that offers a grand tubing park (covered by your lift ticket) and mostly beginner to intermediate runs. There’s always the North Base Lodge for warming by the fireplace as well as rentals and a ride shop, but no lessons.
Image courtesy of @pattchayo
Lift Tickets
Lift tickets range from $69 for weekdays and $74 weekends — bargain! You can also Ski free on your birthday or if you want a mini vacay you can score four days on the slopes for just $42 a day. Lift tickets grant you access to all three mountains as well as the tubing park.
Lessons and Gear Rental
Lessons range from $85 - $99 for first-timers (or $115 if you’d like to try your hand at virtual simulation training!). For those above Level 1, lessons cost around $40. Mountain High has some great deals for noobs such as their Learn to Turn Tuesdays where you get a lesson, rentals, and lower-mountain lift ticket for just $69.
Ski and snowboard rental is available at all three mountains as well as back in Wrightwood. On the mountain, a complete ski package (ski, boot,poles) will set you back $30 and for boarders (board, bindings, boots), $35. Helmets are $5. You will need to put down a credit card with at least $400 available to secure your get-up.
Image courtesy of @mthighsnow
Image courtesy of @mthighsnow
Foggy Goggle Bar. Image courtesy of @kayrian
The writer in her happy place. Image courtesy of Belinda Gosbee
Stay
There’s a multitude of cozy B&B’s, inns and Airbnbs tucked around Wrightwood that should suit every budget and group size.
Canyon Creek Inn
$110 - $200
You know a lodge is tried and true when they have a “Memories Made Here” pillow. Canyon Creek Inn has four uniquely furnished very cozy rooms on a quiet residential street while still being right there in town and in walking distance to the restaurants and bars.
Image courtesy of Canyon Creek Inn
Cedar Lodge
$149 - $199
This one may be called a motel, but the six-room Cedar Lodge is a perfectly cozy cabin for all of your lodging needs. They also offer discounts on lift tickets and rentals. You’re right in town and a convenient one-minute walk away from brews at The Yodeler Craft Beer Bar & Grill.
Image courtesy of Cedar Lodge Motel
Airbnb Whispering Pines Cottage
$205 per night
Nestled on a large private estate amongst the pine trees, Whispering Pines Cottage sleeps two but is uber spacious. This one’s ideal for romantics seeking some solitude between their shredding sessions and comes equipped with fireplace, internet and cable.
Image courtesy of Air bnb
Airbnb - Bear Mountain Ranch
$1,299 per night for up to 15 people
Seeking your own wood cabin turned mansion for the full entourage? Bear Mountain Ranch is tucked away but still close to town and comes with 11 beds, five bathrooms, fireplace, theater room and game room equipped with poker table, pool and video games. Real World Wrightwood, anyone?
Image courtesy of Airbnb
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Belinda Gosbee is an Aussie writer, actress and shredder based in Los Angeles. She hasn’t missed a season in 20 years. Follow her jaunts on twitter @belindagosbee or instagram @gos22
Header image courtesy of Mt High Resort
