The charming mountain town of Wrightwood, California is a cozy retreat for Southern Californians looking for a quick escape from the city. Wrightwood offers mountain cabins, the Pacific Crest Trail, a variety of great restaurants and small town boutique shopping. Situated in the San Gabriel Mountains near the Angeles National Forest right on the border of San Bernardino County, Wrightwood is less busy than its winter destination neighbor Big Bear, and boasts Mountain High Ski Resort, which is the closest ski resort to Los Angeles.
Check out our short list below of favorite Wrightwood spots for your winter trip to the mountains!
Stay
We love the eclectic bed and breakfast, The Rhinestone Rose Inn. Located about 5 minutes from Downtown Wrightwood, this woodsy chic B&B is a favorite for guests seeking winter wellness. Services include a sauna, hot tub and personal massage treatments. Each of the three rooms are differently themed; the Angeles Suite is the premium guest room, complete with an outdoor veranda.
For a modern mountain experience, check out the new Applewood Inn right up the street from the center of town. Applewood Inn is bright and spacious and has been newly converted and now open to the public. Their six rooms can be rented separately or all together and guests share communal spaces such as the country kitchen, dining room, gathering room, porches and balconies, and outdoor patio.
Eat
Lunch at The Grizzly Cafe for a big selection of nicely-prepared American fare, plus the added bonus of a charming boutique shop at the entrance for a “eat & shop” mix.
Do dinner at Mexico Lindo for great mexican food and killer margaritas
Do
The Blue Ridge Trail is a scenic and steep hike in the Big Pines area, right next to the Mountain High entrance and adjacent to the Pacific Crest Trail. Make sure to catch the weekly farmer’s market every Friday for a fun immersion into local mountain life.
Play
Zipline @ Pacific Crest will show you a great time high up in the mountains of Wrightwood, even in the winter months where ziplining in the snow takes on a whole new level of thrill.
Mountain High Ski Resort is the perfect place for families looking to learn to ski for the first time. Offering affordable lessons and rentals, Mountain High loves to show kids (and novice adults) the ropes with easy runs and patient teachers. If skiing is still not on your winter agenda, Mountain High has an entire snow tube park where families can snow-play safely and grab some hot cocoa for the drive back home.
6 Natural Wonders You’ve Never Heard of in the Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert is full of secrets and surprises. This remote desert in San Bernardino County is situated between Los Angeles and Las Vegas and accessible to the south from I40 or to the north from I15. The Mojave is the driest desert in North America and also boasts the lowest absolute elevation and the highest maximum temperatures in North America. It’s a National Preserve and is considered the high desert as opposed to its nearby desert neighbor, Joshua Tree National Park. If you’ve been, you know the majestic and arid beauty it holds, but did you know about these six incredible sites?
