2 hours 30 minutes from L.A.
Hikers and skiiers began using the area currently known as Mountain High back in the 1920s, with extra attention being paid in 1929 when construction began on the world's largest ski jump at the time in an attempt to attract a bid for the 1932 Winter Olypics. Mountain High is one of the oldest ski resorts in the country; during its first year of operation in 1937, skiiers were hauled up the mountain with a rope tow and in 1960, the cost of a lift ticket as $1.50 a day. Today, the resort is split into three different areas along the 2, with lift tickets valid at each area and shuttles running among them. The North Resort functions as a ski school, tubing and snow play area for beginners; the East Resort has longer runs and more open terrain for alpine snowsports; and the the West Resort (the most popular of the three) is for more advanced skiiers, with much of its terrain dedicated to the Faultline Terrain Park, plus tree trails. The longest run at Mountain High, Goldrush, is 1.6 miles and the longest run in Southern California.
Lift tickets $59–$119