Winter
Snow, chains, and winter roads
How to check chain controls, SNO-PARK permits, mountain road closures, winter weather, avalanche warnings, and safe snow-play spots before you drive.
Snow trips are road trips first. A mountain can look beautiful online while the road has chain controls, spinouts, whiteout, parking limits, or a full closure.
Caltrans is the first road check. Then check the exact park, forest, ski area, SNO-PARK, or snow-play area for parking, permits, sledding rules, bathrooms, closures, and crowds.
Simple rule: check the road, check the weather, carry chains when required, and turn around early when the mountain is telling you no.
First moves
- 1
Use Caltrans QuickMap before you leave and again before the final climb.
- 2
Check whether chain controls apply and whether your vehicle, tires, chains, or traction devices meet the posted requirement.
- 3
For SNO-PARKs, check permit rules, plowing, toilets, parking, and whether the lot is full.
- 4
Check National Weather Service winter alerts for the exact pass, elevation, and time of day.
- 5
Bring warm layers, water, food, phone power, shovel or scraper, and enough time to turn around before dark.
Watch for
- 1
All-wheel drive is helpful, but it is not a free pass around posted chain controls.
- 2
A highway can close while you are already out, so check the road home too.
- 3
Do not stop for snow play on highway shoulders, private roads, plowed turnouts, or places signed against parking.
- 4
Avalanche danger, thin ice, tree wells, cold water, and sledding into roads or rocks can make casual snow play dangerous.
Go deeper
Outdoor weather and hazard checks
A last-check guide for weather, smoke, fire, heat, surf, rivers, snow, roads, earthquakes, and the live sources to trust before you leave.
Redwoods, deserts, mountains, and big parks
A practical first stop for redwoods, Sierra parks, desert roads, islands, volcanoes, and the official pages that control roads, permits, weather, and access.