Best spots for free (or nearly free) snow play

One of the great things about Northern Nevada in the winter is its proximity to so many outdoor recreation snow spots.

In addition to about two dozen major ski resorts, Carson City is also within easy driving distance of several undeveloped but definitely fun snow sites perfect for snowmobiles, cross-country skiing, snow-tubing and sledding.

During a recent return trip from Sacramento, my 11-year-old daughter and I decided to check out a few of the free sledding sites along Interstate 80.

After passing through Auburn, we began the climb from the foothills into the Sierra Nevada range.

The first place we spotted was a relatively tame series of hills adjacent to a gas station at Nyack. Here, we discovered a half-dozen children and parents gliding down the slick snow on their snow-saucers and sleds.

While the hills weren't large, they were ideal for smaller children, who squealed with delight as they slid, slightly out of control, down the gradual inclines.

After a brief stop to enjoy the mounds, we continued to the next site we could find, which happened to be off the Cisco Grove exit. Here was a snow-covered hill that had a bit more gravitas.

It was steeper, wider and infinitely more entertaining, and attracted not only more sleds but older kids.

My daughter thought this looked like it was probably the best free spot to sled that was off the interstate.

As we continued on our journey home, we spotted other good snow terrain.

Some of the best spots are the semi-developed Sno-Park sites offered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

Along Interstate 80, there are three Sno-Parks, which are basically snow play areas with cross-country ski trails and snowmobile trails and snow-cleared parking lots. California has some 21 Sno-Parks.

The Sno-Parks are not free but they are reasonable. A day pass can be purchased for $5 (or $25 for a season pass). For information, call the Sno-Park hotline at (916) 324-1222.

I-80 has three Sno-Parks. Yuba Gap (on the south side of I-80) is open to sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing but not to snowmobiles.

A bit farther east is the Sno-Park at Donner Summit (take the Castle Peak exit beyond the Boreal Inn frontage road).

Here, the ski trails are on the north side of the freeway. Snow play, cross-country skiing and some snowmobiling are allowed.

The Donner Lake Sno-Park is on the south side of the Donner Lake exit on Donner Pass Road at the Donner Memorial State Historic Park. Here, trails lead to the lake. The area is primarily open to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Of course, I-80 is not the only place to find good sledding areas.

After we made our way from Truckee to Reno, my daughter reminded me that her two favorite free sledding spots are, respectively, at the intersection of U.S. 50 and Nevada State Route 28 (near Spooner Lake) and on the mountainside opposite Tahoe Meadows at the top of the Mount Rose Highway.

The U.S. 50/State Route 28 sledding area, about 12 miles west of Carson City, has a fairly steep hillside that offers some great rides on sleds and snow-tubes.

The Mount Rose site, about 15 miles south of Reno via State Route 431, is another steep hillside with acres of open, smooth, snowy ground perfect for fast rides on saucers, sleds or tubes.

Naturally, she made me promise to take her to one or the other on our next trip.

n Richard Moreno is the author of "Backyard Travels in Northern Nevada" and "The Roadside History of Nevada."