Some of the most beautiful roads that lead to paradise are located in Alpine County, Calif., where there’s said to be not a single stoplight. Named for the alpine like appearance of the 700 square miles of rugged Sierra Nevada mountains, Alpine County also doesn’t have a single incorporated city, features a whopping 2 people per square mile, and enjoys 96% public land ownership, providing few opportunities for major construction and growth. Made up of just over 1,000 residents total, Alpine County locals grin and say that’s why they live there–thank you very much!

Take your “country roads” drive right away if you want to visit this scene shown in the photo. In late October the road between Bear Valley Mountain Ski Resort and Alpine County Courthouse in Markleeville (known for the Death Ride bike competition) closes for the winter due to snow.

Throughout the summer and fall you’ll find patches of snow from the previous winter season, but the big snow machine in the sky begins pouring out the white stuff around November and doesn’t stop sometimes till May. The ski resorts in Alpine County include two California favorites – Kirkwood and Bear Valley Mountain. The roads to both are plowed and kept open, providing the most popular tourist attraction in the region. Celebrity photos of Clint Eastwood and other stars hang on the walls at Bear Valley Mountain Resort, known for its snow!

During the summer boating, hiking, camping, fishing, outdoor sports, and country drives are popular.