Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area

The quality snow conditions and challenging terrain in the Sonora Pass area provide avid snowmobilers, backcountry skiers, and snowboarders the opportunity to experience extreme winter sports unmatched anywhere in the Sierra Nevada.

At a Glance

Operational Hours: The Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area (BWRA) was designated with passage of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, making it the first winter motorized recreation area in the nation. Over the snow vehicles are permitted between the first Saturday in December until the last Sunday In April and only when the minimum snow depth requirements are met.  The BWRA can open to motorized use once 24 inches of snow depth is measured at the HWY 108/ Leavitt Lake Junction Road. If snow depths fall below 12” at the Leavitt Lake Rd/Hwy 108 junction, or <10% snow coverage at Leavitt Lake, the BWRA will close to motorized use. Temporary closures may occur if snow depths fall below required measurements. The BWRA is open year-round to human powered travel for current conditions and avalanche snow summary please check the Bridgeport Avalanche Center website https://bridgeportavalanchecenter.org
Permit Info: All Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area Permits are free. Permits are self-issue in person at People’s Gate Trailhead on HWY 108 west of the Mountain Warfare training Center, and at Sonora pass. Permits may also be found online at https://bridgeportavalanchecenter.org/permits/
Closest Towns: Bridgeport, California

General Information

Directions:

Easy access right off State Highway 108.

To access from Bridgeport:

  1. Follow Hwy 395 north 17 miles to the Sonora Junction, State Highway 108.
  2. Take State Highway 108 east about 5 miles to Pickel Meadows.
  3. Parking is allowed on the shoulders of State Highway 108, outside of the No Parking zone near the gate.
  4. Early and late season parking (space limited) may be between Leavitt Meadows Pack Station and Leavitt Falls Overlook.

To access from Gardnerville/Minden:

  1. Follow Hwy 395 south 47 miles to the Sonora Junction, State Highway 108.
  2. Take State Highway 108 east about 5 miles to Pickel Meadows.
  3. Parking is allowed on the shoulders of State Highway 108, outside of the No Parking zone near the gate.
  4. Early and late season parking (space limited) may be between Leavitt Meadows Pack Station and Leavitt Falls Overlook.
     

General Notes:

Activities

Skiing/Snowboarding

Permit required?: Y

XC Skiing/Snowshoeing

General Info:

Accessibility
Directions

Easy access right off Hwy 108.

To access from Bridgeport:

  1. Follow Hwy 395 north 17 miles to the Sonora Junction, State Highway 108. 
  2. Take State Highway 108 east about 5 miles to Pickel Meadows. 
  3. Parking is allowed on the shoulders of State Highway 108, outside of the No Parking zone near the gate.

To access from Gardnerville/Minden:

  1. Follow Hwy 395 south 47 miles to the Sonora Junction, State Highway 108. 
  2. Take State Highway 108 east about 5 miles to Pickel Meadows.

Parking is allowed on the shoulders of State Highway 108, outside of the No Parking zone near the gate. 


General Notes
Parking

Parking is allowed on the shoulders of State Highway 108, outside of the No Parking zone near the gate. 


Permits & Regulations

These were determined in Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area Management Plan in order to satisfy the requirements of the Act, Section 1806 (e) Enforcement and California State OHV Laws. 

PERMIT IS REQUIRED OF ALL USERS entering the BWRA (link to BWRA permits)

ALL CALIFORNIA APPLICABLE OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE REGULATIONS ARE ENFORCED- California registration is required, helmets required, appropriate number of riders on machines. 

OBEY BOUNDARIES- It is your responsibility to know riding area boundaries Click here for maps (Link to maps)

PACK OUT TRASH & DO NOT APPROACH WILDLIFE- All visitors this is critical for preserving the natural landscape, wildlife habitat, and keeping wildlife wild!

SEASON OF USE: The first Saturday of December provided there is a minimum of 24” of snow at the Leavitt Lake Road/Hwy 108 junction until the last Sunday of April (April 24, 2011) or earlier when there is less than 12” of snow at the Leavitt Lake Road/Hwy 108 junction.

COMMERCIAL FILMING: Filming (still & motion) for commercial use on National Forest Service Lands requires a Special Use Permit. Please contact: Humboldt-Toiyabe NF Bridgeport Ranger Station 760-932-7070. 
 


Permit required?: Y

Snowmobiling

Permit required?: Y

Related Information

Recreation Areas

Recreation Activities

Recreation Information