Listed below is California's most comprehensive ski guide with 31 ski resorts.
The highest elevation point is Mount Whitney 14,505 ft and the lowest point is Death Valley at -282 ft. California's climate varies from Mediterranean to subarctic. The high mountains, including the Sierra Nevada, have a mountain climate with snow in winter and mild to moderate heat in summer.
Alpine Meadows has a unique kid's programs, holiday races and a family ski zone, the mild mannered among us have plenty of options at Alpine Meadows while Tahoe's most famous open-boundary policy, guided out-of-bounds tours and waist-deep powder through old growth forests are as wild as it gets.
Alpine Meadows features 12 lifts (including one high-speed sixpack) so most of the resort's 2100 skiable acres are easily reached, although a little hiking is required to reach some of the hard-core terrain. But with over 400" of annual snowfall, powder hounds have plenty of incentive to get to those hard-to-reach areas.
As Alpine Meadows is just six miles outside of Tahoe City, lodging options are plentiful and the nightlife is non-stop. As many visitors have said, a trip to Lake Tahoe encompasses more than just great skiing and riding.
Big Bear Mountain Resorts Snow Summit - Bear Mountain
Snow Summit, is located in the San Bernardino National Forest, aims to offer terrain to suit all abilities. Long, gentle gladed runs like Skyline Creek, Mainstream and the Summit run are ideal for new skiers and Ego Trip and Timber Ridge are two of the many choices for intermediates. Experts will find plenty of runs to entertain them among the 35 trails, including steep drops on the Olympic, the Wall and Side Chute.
Big Bear limits ticket sales to a maximum of 7,000 per day. Limiting ticket sales keeps the rental shops and restaurants from getting over crowded.
Boreal is Northern California's first and only all-mountain terrain park. Featuring a superpipe, 100+ park features, and a full boardercross course. Boreal is open from 9am-9pm. Boreal is also great for beginners with inexpensive package deals and beginner park lessons. Boreal also offers the iRide Card: With an iRide card ride two days, and get your third day free.
Located in the beautiful Goodrich Creek valley, Coppervale is easily accessed a short distance south of Highway 36 between Susanville and Westwood. Look for sign on side of road.
A lodge is located at base of slope for warming up, stowing your gear, and eating lunch. Snackbar serves hamburgers, drinks, and more.
Dodge Ridge opened in the fall of 1950 with a chair lift and 3 surface lifts. Dodge Ridge now has 12 lifts with highest reaching a top elevation of 8203ft.
Donner Ski Ranch is located on Historic US Route 40 high atop Donner Summit. With 6 chairlifts accessing 460 acres there is a variety of terrain for all abilities. Come and enjoy the short lift lines and uncrowded slopes for skiing and snowboarding.
Granlibakken Resort, the oldest ski resort at Lake TahoeLodging abounds. From hotels and casinos to inns and motels to condos and chalets, the Tahoe region is jam packed with a variety of options., perfect for beginning through intermediate skiers and snowboarders.
Heavenly is one of the numerous Lake Tahoe region's all-star resorts. From tame terrain to steep vertical makes Heavenly a more popular choice. With over 10,000 vertical feet (the highest in the Tahoe region) and 4,800 skiable acres, there is plenty of terrain to choose from, regardless of skill level. Heavenly receives an annual dumping of 360 inches of snow.
Lake Tahoe lodging abounds including; hotels, casinos, inns, motels, condos and chalets.
June Mountain offers one of the best skiing and snowboarding experiences in California. Experts can choose from steep chutes and bowls, intermediates have a host gentle, rolling trails and wide open runs are available for beginners. Snowboarders have plenty of options as June features two halfpipes and a terrain park.
Kirkwood is a standout in terms of natural beauty and terrain variety, with everything from the greenest greens to hair-raising chutes and cornices. On holiday weekends, it's a non-stop floor show at the top of The Wall, with skiers and riders of all abilities peering over and dropping in. You can stay slopeside at Kirkwood, or drive about 40 minutes from the resort to South Lake Tahoe.
Mammoth by name and nature, the resort's huge size is served by North America's biggest uphill transportation service. A total of 30 lifts are capable of moving in excess of 50,000 skiers per hour. Mammoth Mountain was established in 1950 by living legend Dave McCoy, who retained ownership throughout the resort's spectacular growth to become one of the world's greats.
The resort has early season opening - in the first half of November thanks to a combined effort between its extensive snowmaking system combined with the natural stuff. 30 feet of snow is dumped on Mammoth each season. This abundance also helps the resort to stay open late - usually into June.
Off the ski slopes, the base village of Mammoth Lakes continues to grow, with a dozen or so bars and restaurants and a further dozen or so retail outlets. Activities include ballooning, bob sledding, dog sledding, saunas, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, spa, tobogganing and winter hikes.
Montecito Sequoia Lodge focuses on your entire vacation experience, rather than just accommodations. We offer families and groups an all-inclusive’ experience in a friendly, relaxing environment. Montecito Sequoia offers 20 in winter for tots to seniors. At Montecito Sequoia, we focus on fun, while rekindling a ‘love for learning’ for families and individuals alike.
Montecito Sequoia Lodge is open 365 days a year, and is located on a spacious 42 acres at 7,500 feet elevation on Lake Homavalo, in the Giant Sequoia National Monument, between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Travel Smart Newsletter rates the lodge as one of the top ten family resorts in the country, and it is also one of the top ten getaways for ‘Tiny Travelers’ by The Family Travel Forum. In addition, Montecito-Sequoia XC Ski Resort was selected from 211 Nordic Resorts as #2 XC Ski Resort in the USA and Best in the West, by an independent survey, for 2002-3. In other news, Montecito Sequoia Lodge will be featured in the November 2004 issues of National Geographic’s Traveler, Travel and Leisure and Food and Wine magazines in California Tourism’s eight page advertorial on “Things to do in California in the Winter.”
The MT. SHASTA SKI PARK is located high on the flanks of mighty, 14,162’ high, Mt. Shasta. Discover skiing, snowboarding at one of California’s most unique resorts where you and your family can rest easy and enjoy an affordable winter adventure.
MT. SHASTA SKI PARK provides you with a guarantee! If for any reason you are not completely satisfied, return your ticket within the first hour of your purchase and receive a full refund on your lift ticket!
Mountain High is like 2 ski resorts in one, consisting of two separate areas with entirely different terrain. The East Resort offers 1,600 vertical feet of uninterrupted corduroy plus exciting steeps like the Olympic Bowl, Southern California's steepest, longest bump run. Its highest point provides the perfect setting for the Grand View Bistro, the mountain's gourmet restaurant, surrounded by 40 acres of fantastic beginner terrain.
Mt. Baldy is the Largest and Steepest Resort in Southern California. 26 Runs spanning 3 Mountains covering 800 Acres with 2,100 Vertical Feet located only 45 miles from Los Angeles.
Northstar-at-Tahoe is a very well-rounded resort with plenty of terrain to keep all skill levels happy, as well as a host of off-mountain activities to keep non-skiers and snowboarders smiling all day long.
Northstar's strengths are its wide-open, cruising terrain and its protection from the notorious Tahoe wind. With quality snow and above average weather, Northstar is usually a safe bet for good conditions on questionable days.
Alta Sierra, aka Shirley Meadows, located in the Sequoia National Forest, in the Greenhorn Mountains, is approximately 50 miles east of Bakersfield. The area is used primarily as a day resort, catering to the beginner and intermediate skiers.
While Sierra-at-Tahoe is not the biggest ski resort in the Tahoe area, it is definitely one of the most fun. With a beautiful and secluded mountain, Sierra-at-Tahoe offers something for everyone.
First and foremost are the spectacular views of the lake and surrounding peaks from the top of the mountain, reached via the Grandview Express quad chair. From there, you can explore 2,000 acres of terrain with plenty of options for all abilities.
Snow Valley offers the perfext mix of terrain for all ability levels. A solid mix of beginner trails is mixed in among the blue square and black diamond trails, ensuring that every member of the family can find something to their liking.
Squaw Valley USA boasts over 4000 acres of skiable terrain. Spread over six peaks, and accessed by the most advanced lift system in the world, Squaw enjoys an annual snowpack of over 450 inches, and an abundance of warm California sunshine nearly 300 days of the year.
With Squaw's immense size, it can cater to skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. 70% of the terrain is geared for the beginner and intermediate skier, with wide open bowls and carefully groomed runs. Advanced skiers are treated to vast areas left in their pristine state for a true wilderness experience and some of the most challenging terrain in the world.
Stover Mountain, about a 10 minute drive from Chester, offers eight runs ranging from beginner to advanced, accessed by one of the longest rope tows in the U.S. The 13-acre site ranges from a base elevation of 5,100 feet to 5,600 feet at the top. There is a warming lodge, portable restrooms and packaged foot and bottled water are available for sale.
Long known for its rich history and deep powder, Sugar Bowl is the true essence of the wild west. Sugar Bowl became the first resort in California to go 100% Green with all of our power needs offset with wind credits. Sugar Bowl receives the most snowfall of any California ski area and is the closest major resort to Sacramento and San Francisco.
Located in Truckee, CA, Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area is committed to being “The place for family fun and learning.” Wide-open bowls, uncrowded slopes, great beginner terrain, excellent grooming, and a friendly, courteous staff await you. Our size allows us to deliver that personal touch that the larger ski areas can't always provide.
