Snowdrift Snow Tubing Park Review With Kids

With snow in the mountains, we headed up to check out Snowdrift Snow Tubing Park in Running Springs, CA. Open since 1964, we’ve driven past it for years, but now that we’ve gone, we wish we had checked it out sooner. The park’s a ton of fun with various slopes to choose from, with intensity levels for all ages.

See The Full Detailed Video Below

Snowdrift Snow Tubing Park Visiting Information

• Website:
  • https://www.snowdrift.net/
• Address:
  • 34600 CA-18, Running Springs, CA 92382
  • Be sure to download the map to use offline before heading out just in case there isn’t any cell phone reception in the area. 
• Phone:
  • 866-942-2824
• Dates & Hours:
  • Monday – Friday from 10 am – 4 pm
  • Saturday, Sunday, & Holidays from 9 am – 4 pm
  • Last tickets sold 30 mins before closing. 
  • Hours subject to change due to weather and road conditions and at the discretion of management.
  • We recommend calling them to check their voicemail extension on their “hours and admission” options for current updates or checking their Facebook or Instagram  (@snowdriftsnowtubingpark) beforehand to confirm their business hours. They are usually closed when it is forecasted to rain or snow during their opening hours and will make any announcements on their Instagram between 7-9 am the day of if they will be closed.
• Price
  • $20/person, per hour. Tube is included. Cash only and there is an ATM on-site. 
  • Children 36” or under are free with a paid adult. 
  • Anyone going into the play area must pay even if you don’t plan to snow tube.
• Parking:
  • $10/vehicle. Cash only. 
• Activities:
  • Snow tubing. 
• Time spent:
  • 1 hour
• Places to eat:
  • They do not sell any food at the snow tubing park. 
  • Neo’s Pizza House (32000 Hilltop Blvd, Running Springs, CA 92382)
  • Rocky’s – Delis, sandwiches, hot dogs (32150 Hilltop Blvd, Running Springs, CA 92382)
• Pet allowed:
  • Only service animals within ADA guidelines.
• Stroller friendly:
  • No
• Restrooms:
  • Yes, porta potties. They are located inside and outside of the snow park. If they run out of toilet paper, just kindly ask an employee to refill it. There are no hand washing stations so bring some hand sanitizer.

Extra info

• What we observed:
  • Traffic was terrible. It took us 3 ½ hours to get from our house to us tubing down the hill. The last 11 miles on the 330 Hwy to 18 Hwy took 2 ½ hours.
  • If we were to make another trip to Snowdrift, these are the things we would do to avoid the traffic and save time:
    • Call Snowdrift the day before to confirm their hours.
    • Pack gear, food (breakfast and lunch) and get gas the night before so you can leave early in the morning. 
    • Check road conditions the night before and before you leave in the morning on this link: https://kbhr933.com/big-bear-roads/ Snow chains were not required on our trip. 
    • Check your GPS and leave early enough so you can arrive at the snow park at least 1 hour before it opens. That way this will give you a buffer if you run into traffic. We would prefer to be in less traffic and arrive earlier so we can relax. Plus it will give you time to fill out the waiver, put on your snow gear, snack, and use the restroom before entering the park. 
    • Eat in the car before you arrive but be careful with car sickness on the windy roads. We were in traffic so we had no issues. 
    • If there is a line getting into the parking lot, use that time to put on your snow clothes. The wait was 20 mins when we arrived at noon. They only let one car in when one car goes out. 
    • If there is a line to pay for admission, send someone to stand in line and fill out the waiver (bring a pen) while the rest of the group gears up. It took us 30 mins to get through the line. 
  • Best to leave any loose belongings in the car. Parking is nearby if you need to grab anything. 
  • You are given time stamped wristbands when you pay. It is prorated after the first hour when you exit the park. 
  • There are no tables or seating areas. Everyone rested on their tubes. 
  • You must snow tube laying belly down and everyone including kids must ride on their own tube. 
  • There are smaller slopes that are kid friendly. The slope ranges from beginner, intermediate and advanced. 
  • They have a different size tubing for adults and kids. Not all tubes are equal. Best to find one that is more inflated. 
  • Why we choose this snow tubing park:
    • They had no height requirement so our youngest daughter (age 3) was able to join us. Other parks required a minimum of 40-42” in height. 
    • This snow park was the cheapest option and one hour was plenty for us. 
    • This location was much closer than Big Bear and we were able to make it up there without chains. 
  • Always have a set of snow chains in your car during winter travel in the mountains.
  • Make sure to pack extra food, water, blankets, cash, portable toilet, and Suds2go hand wash, and fill up your gas tank just in case you run into traffic or road closure. 
  • Mobile phone signal is limited.

things to bring

• Clothing:
  • Check the weather before you go. The weather can be changeable; layered clothing and closed toe shoes is a must. The temperature was in the mid 30s for us. 
• What we packed:
  • Snow chains for the car, sunscreen, sunglasses, external phone charger, snow gear (beanie, jacket, pants, gloves, shoes), helmet, bag to put the wet clothes, extra clothes to change afterwards, hand sanitizer, car activities/entertainment for the kids, meal, snacks, fruits, veggies, and water.
• Ways to save money:
  • Pack your own food. Borrow snow gear from friends/family or you can buy affordable snow gear from Target and Costco.
    • Target’s Cat & Jack 3-in-1 jacket and snow bib. 
• Other places to visit in the area:
  • Santa’s Village
• Follow us on Instagram @thecaliforeigners, YouTube @Califoreigners, TikTok @Califoreigners

What We Said In Our Snowdrift Snow Tubing Park Video

Arriving around 12:30, we paid the parking fee and filled out waivers before entering. Then, at the window, we paid for the initial hour and got timed stamped wristbands noting when the hour was up, with prorated fees starting after that, which you pay when you exit.  If you need more info on Snow Drifts’ current pricing, we linked our blog post in the description that contains all the visitor information you’ll need to help plan your visit.

Once we were in, we had a blast. Starting at the smallest hill, we were excited to get girls comfortable with tubing. Initially, they were scared, but after we skidded to a stop on our first run, they were hooked. We went on 7 or 8 additional runs before they said they were ready for the bigger slopes.

Shooting down the bigger slopes was just as fun and the girls were super excited to be on the bigger slopes. But climbing the stairs holding the girls and their tubes definitely slowed our progress, so after a handful of trips down some medium slopes, we started tackling the biggest one. It was pretty exhilarating, with all of us trying it out at least once.

With our hour coming to an end, we were spent. We initially thought an hour wouldn’t be enough, but with all the running around, the girls were ready to go when the hour hit.

Overall, Snow Drift was amazing. The only drawback was getting there. Driving up into the mountains during the snow season is always rough.  And you’ll want to plan accordingly to alleviate some of that pain. To help, we’ll leave some tips on the drive in the blog post.

Similar Options That Might Interest You

Here are some similar options you might enjoy.

Oak Tree Mountian Village & Slide

Big Falls Trail Snow Play

Mount Baldy Snow Play

See you again with more around California with kids.