Travel

From hidden gems to huge names: Here are 11 of California’s finest ski resorts

November 1, 2022

When contemplating California as a vacation spot, many vacationers seemingly first consider solar and surf. However, the Golden State can be a worthy winter vacation spot for these in search of snow.

Head only a bit in from the coast and you will find main mountains with loads of annual snowfall. So, it is no shock that California claims a number of dozen ski resorts, from the smallest of native ski hills to a number of megaresorts that entice vacationers from world wide.

Almost the entire largest resorts are situated within the northern half of the state. With a number of exceptions, most are close to Lake Tahoe or only a bit south within the Sierra Nevada mountain vary. You’ll discover a number of extra in Southern California as properly, together with within the southern Sierras and the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains.

If you wish to commerce in your surfboard for a snowboard in your subsequent California trip, listed here are 11 of the most effective ski resorts to think about within the state.

Heavenly Lake Tahoe

Located in South Lake Tahoe only a minute or two from the shores of the lake, Heavenly is one in all California’s largest ski resorts. This sprawling property — which is owned and operated by Vail Resorts, which means it participates within the Epic Pass — has 4 separate base areas, every with its personal vibe and terrain sort. As a outcome, it serves quite a lot of skier and rider varieties properly. When the solar shines brightly on a cloudless day, the views of the lake beneath are, properly, heavenly.

The resort’s distinctive location proper on the Nevada-California state line means skiers and riders can cross between the states a number of instances in a single day. This location additionally places Heavenly inside strolling distance of a thriving on line casino scene in Stateline, Nevada.

At the casinos, you will discover some offers on lodging, in addition to loads of leisure and apres-ski actions. Marriott Bonvoy members can redeem and earn at two well-located properties on the base of Heavenly’s gondola: Marriott’s Timber Lodge and the Marriott Grand Residence Club, Lake Tahoe.

Palisades Tahoe

North Lake Tahoe is residence to a different California megaresort: Palisades. The resort rebranded to this new identify within the 2021-22 ski season and is one in all 4 ski resorts in California that take part within the Ikon Pass.

Most well-known for having hosted the 1960 Olympics, Palisades continues to draw skiers from world wide. The resort boasts some severely difficult terrain, together with the well-known and often-feared bowls and chutes off the KT-22 peak. Palisades has loads to supply newbie and intermediate skiers and riders, too. It boasts all kinds of terrain, in addition to a thriving base village with slopeside lodging, quite a few actions and a full of life restaurant scene.

The resort is technically two resorts in a single, as Palisades acquired the previously impartial Alpine Meadows in 2012. Previously, the 2 neighboring resorts had been solely linked by way of a shuttle between the bottom areas, however a gondola bridging this hole is below building for the 2022-23 season. The connection will make Palisades one of many largest ski resorts in North America and the biggest in California.

The closest points-friendly resort to Palisades is a slopeside Category 6 World of Hyatt property known as the Resort at Squaw Creek.

Northstar California Resort

Just minutes away from Palisades in North Lake Tahoe is Northstar California Resort. As the primary Tahoe-area resort to be acquired by Vail Resorts (again in 2010), this Epic Pass property has benefited from main infrastructure funding. Northstar’s village is now one of many liveliest of any ski resort in California, with a number of eating places, outlets, an ice skating rink and a movie show.

While it would not have as a lot legendary, super-challenging technical terrain as a number of of its rivals, Northstar has loads of selection for each talent degree. The Backside and Lookout Mountain are favorites of the black diamond-loving crowd. Northstar additionally provides among the most dependable snowmaking operations within the Tahoe space, which has been invaluable in current drought years.

As a full-service mountain resort, Northstar serves each households and luxurious vacationers properly. Its ski college is likely one of the few in California that begins youngsters out as younger as 3. It can be recognized for its premier instructors and an attractive Children’s Ski and Snowboard Center location mid-mountain.

The slopeside Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is probably the most luxurious resort within the Lake Tahoe space, although you will must shell out wherever from 82,000 to 120,000 Marriott factors per night time to remain right here through the winter months. Other close by factors choices embrace the Northstar Lodge and One Village Place, each of which at the moment are affiliated with Hyatt and are listed as Category 6 properties. The Hampton Inn & Suites Tahoe-Truckee, which is situated simply a few minutes down the street from the resort, is an alternative choice that is typically a helpful use of Hilton factors, because it often expenses 48,000 to 60,000 factors per night time for normal rooms in winter.

Mammoth Mountain

Home to the state’s highest ski peak and highest base elevation — in addition to 3,500 skiable acres of each terrain sort — Mammoth legitimately earns its identify. Plus, the huge resort often provides one of many longest ski seasons within the state.

Located within the central Sierras, Mammoth is the biggest ski resort in California outdoors the Tahoe space. It is owned and operated by Alterra Mountain Company and participates within the Ikon Pass.

Like many different giant ski resorts in California, Mammoth provides loads of slopeside lodging, together with the full-service Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth, which has commonplace rooms bookable for 54,000 to 74,000 Marriott factors per night time in winter. It additionally includes a village space with buying and eating that connects by way of gondola to the slopes.

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SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Although Mammoth is the closest main ski resort to Southern California, Angelenos nonetheless should drive 5 to 6 hours to achieve its slopes relying on site visitors and climate situations.

The resort is even nearer to the San Francisco Bay Area, however winter street closures over the Sierras make it a for much longer drive for a lot of Northern California guests. If you’d slightly not try to drive from the Bay Area, take into account flying by way of United Airlines, which provides seasonal service from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Eastern Sierra Regional Airport (BIH) in close by Bishop, California.

Sugar Bowl Resort

Located by Donner Summit en path to Lake Tahoe, Sugar Bowl is the closest main ski resort to Sacramento (a lower than two-hour drive) and the San Francisco Bay Area (a three-hour drive). Its location makes it a well-liked vacation spot for weekend warriors and even daytrippers from the northern half of the state.

Although it would not have the big dimension of Palisades or Heavenly, Sugar Bowl nonetheless provides difficult terrain on par with the most effective in California. It can be very family-friendly, with ski college classes for teenagers and loads of newbie terrain.

While it fiercely maintained its independence for years as Alterra and Vail moved across the California ski scene, Sugar Bowl lastly discovered a contented medium for the 2022-23 ski season. In addition to providing its common season move for guests who solely wish to ski at Sugar Bowl, the resort now additionally participates within the Mountain Collective move for vacationers who go to a number of ski locations every year.

The solely conventional slopeside lodging is The Hotel at Sugar Bowl, which provides eating and ski-on, ski-off entry. However, it is solely out there for Wednesday via Saturday bookings. If you do not thoughts staying about 20 minutes away, take into account the SpringHill Suites Truckee for 30,000 to 80,000 factors per night time.

Kirkwood Mountain Resort

Kirkwood is commonly described as a hidden gem of California’s ski scene. Its location simply south of Lake Tahoe alongside the less-traveled Highway 88 makes it a little bit quieter than among the giant, regional resorts.

On common, Kirkwood will get extra snow than every other ski resort within the state, making it a favourite of significant skiers and riders in search of the most effective situations however not essentially all of the frills. The resort provides a number of slopeside lodging choices and all of the important facilities at its base areas.

Kirkwood will not be as developed as the opposite two Vail-owned Epic Pass/Tahoe-area resorts, and lots of Kirkwood purists would let you know they prefer it that approach. Even although it has a steep and deep status with a number of difficult terrain, Kirkwood’s newbie areas are among the finest in California as properly.

While there aren’t any factors resorts within the space, The Mountain Club — which options modest ski-in, ski-out condos in Kirkwood’s village — is a strong possibility.

Big Bear Mountain Resort

Big Bear Mountain Resort within the San Bernardino Mountains is the biggest ski resort which you can attain in a straightforward daytrip or in a single day drive from a lot of Southern California.

Similar to its Ikon Pass counterpart at Palisades, Big Bear Mountain is actually two resorts in a single. Tickets and passes are legitimate at two base areas on two completely different mountains: Bear Mountain and Snow Summit. The two are situated a few 10-minute drive aside, and skiers can attain them by shuttle.

Snow Summit is lower-key and higher suited to newbie skiers. Bear Mountain is extra action-packed and adventurous, and it provides lots for snowboarders. It’s the one Southern California resort with halfpipes and in addition has a number of terrain parks.

Neither mountain provides slopeside resorts, however the close by all-season trip vacation spot of Big Bear Lake has quite a lot of lodging choices at a number of worth factors, together with Best Western and Holiday Inn outposts.

Snow Valley Mountain Resort

Southern California skiers additionally discover the slopes of Snow Valley (to not be confused with Snow Summit) a handy ski vacation spot, because it’s situated not removed from Big Bear Mountain Resort. In truth, it is a little bit nearer for vacationers from the Los Angeles space, making it a straightforward cease for these touring a number of locations inside Southern California in a single journey.

Snow Valley is a small resort in comparison with the foremost choices within the northern Sierras, however regardless of its small dimension, it provides quite a lot of terrain and lots of ski bang for the buck. The resort has a well-regarded newbie space with a ski college for teenagers in addition to grownup classes. Still, it additionally options loads of black diamonds, particularly when the Slide Peak space again bowls are open. Lift tickets and ski leases price far lower than at among the state’s medium and huge resorts.

The property would not have any slopeside lodging, however skiers can discover some impartial resorts and trip leases within the neighborhood of Running Springs a number of miles down the street.

Bear Valley Resort

Bear Valley is a midsize California ski resort nestled within the central Sierras between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. It has a extra relaxed vibe than lots of the larger resorts and is common with skiers and riders on a price range, in addition to households.

This resort has a reasonably even mixture of newbie, intermediate and superior terrain. It provides lots of the facilities of a bigger resort — from eating to high-speed lifts — at a lower cost than its Tahoe counterparts.

Its village space makes it extra of a full-service resort than many different ski properties its dimension. Though smaller than the everyday villages of bigger resorts, it provides ski-in however is not linked by way of return carry. The Bear Valley Lodge is the one resort within the space, however the village has quite a few trip leases and cabins as properly.

Sierra at Tahoe

A midsize resort within the South Lake Tahoe space, Sierra at Tahoe is thought for its family-friendly and laid-back vibe. There’s no slopeside lodging or large village like among the largest resorts within the state, however Sierra at Tahoe has a fiercely loyal following for good purpose. It provides all kinds of terrain for its dimension and is an effective worth for vacationers on a good price range, particularly households with youthful youngsters studying methods to ski.

Sierra at Tahoe was hit arduous by the Caldor Fire in Lake Tahoe in the summertime of 2021, nevertheless it was in a position to full repairs in time for a partial reopening on the very finish of the 2021-22 ski season. It plans a full opening for the winter of 2022-23.

Badger Pass Ski Area

While Badger Pass cannot compete with most California ski resorts in relation to dimension, its distinctive location makes it a serious draw for a lot of California vacationers. Badger Pass is situated fully inside the boundaries of Yosemite National Park — one in all simply three ski resorts with the excellence of a nationwide park location.

Additionally, Badger Pass provides different winter out of doors actions past conventional snowboarding and snowboarding, akin to cross-country snowboarding, snowshoeing and tubing. Plus, guests can take pleasure in all of the majesty of the Yosemite panorama, a lot of which often is blanketed with glistening snow.

Because it depends fully on pure snow, Badger Pass has a shorter season than many California rivals and may have restricted choices in drought years. It often welcomes guests from mid-December till mid- or late March, however actual opening dates can fluctuate, so remember to verify native situations often when you plan to go to.

You can keep at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, a full-service resort located simply outdoors the park’s southern entrance, which is a few 45-minute drive away. There are additionally the Yosemite Valley Lodge and The Ahwahnee, two choices situated about 45 minutes away from the resort that supply shuttles to the mountain.

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