Wander the West

Thousand Trails: Snowflower Preserve

	Snowflowers

June 2006

Thousand Trails, Inc. is an organization that has purchased land over the years in recreation areas and developed these lands into recreational preserves. The Snowflower Preserve (named after a flower-like fungus that grows there) is located in the Donner Pass region in an area known as Yuba Gap. During the spring, summer, and fall months the park is primarily used by members who pay annual dues and therefore have access to any of the numerous parks nationwide.

The park offers three RV and tent camp areas for owners only and three large member areas. There is plenty of parking for ‘day use only’ people as well. There is a wonderful large recreation lodge and kitchen that serves snack and lunch food and has games, reading, music and social events for members. Outside there are several horse shoe pits, shuffle board courts and basketball, volleyball, and ping pong. There is an outdoor pool, again for member use only.

The Snowflower Lake is stocked each spring with trout and the fishing can be quite good. Permits are $5 per day and can be purchased at the Country store on site. The catch limit is 3 per day, but you can catch and release as many as you like. Barbless hooks are recommended for this.
The Surrounding area is literally chocked with recreational opportunities including hiking, mountaineering, fishing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, skiing, snowshoeing and sledding.

In the winter the Snowflower Preserve becomes one of California’s largest snow parks for winter recreation and is open to the general public. Average snowfall is over 20 feet annually and cross-country, backcountry, and alpine skiing are abundant. Sledding is also very popular and on most weekends the preserve can be full of people from Sacramento, San Francisco, and Reno enjoying the snow.

If you’ve ever wanted to visit the Northern Sierra Mountains and stay for a week or two, you might consider membership with Thousand Trails and staying at the Snowflower Preserve.

Snowflower Preserve Photo Gallery

- Eric Davis