Snow lovers know that much of the ski season delights that await depend on Mother Nature. But California mountain resorts are gearing up for the winter sports season with improved snowmaking and grooming to ensure velvety slopes, as well as pass options, innovative lesson programs and special events to woo snowbunnies.
“Last year was warm — some resorts didn’t open until January,” says Mike Reitzell, who heads the nonprofit Ski California group that represents more than 30 resorts in California and Nevada. Good storms in February and March saved the last ski season. Ski California resorts recorded the highest average snowfall in the nation, with 20 feet of powder falling in February and March alone.
This year, resorts hope to open for the season between late November and early December — check the individual resort websites for up-to-the-minute news on opening day. Weather aside, there will be lots to enjoy on the slopes, whether you ski, snowboard or just clomp around in snow boots and a puffy jacket.
Palisades (formerly Squaw Valley) turns 75 this year, and Boreal and Mt. Rose will mark their 60th seasons. They’re all celebrating with ambitious lineups of concerts, on-hill events and activities for non-skiers, as well.
Parking reservations, whether free or paid, will be needed on weekends and special-event days at Palisades, Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood and possibly other properties. And as for passes, avoid daily lift tickets, if you can. You’ll save with multiple-day midweek admissions, family deals and broad-ranging, multiple resort passes such as Ikon, Epic, Powder Alliance and the like.
Here’s what’s new on the slopes this year. (And if you prefer to get your snowy fun in less slippery, vertical fashion, we have non-ski ideas for Tahoe fun too.)
ASC XC Training Center: This nonprofit snow sports outfit next to Boreal Mountain on Donner Summit is one of few ski areas in the country offering Alpine, Nordic, biathlon and snowboarding programs for athletes and the public; www.asctrainingcenter.org/
Bear Valley Mountain Resort: There’s plenty of change at this Alpine County resort off Highway 4, just west of Ebbetts Pass. New ownership, two new lifts, revamped food service and improved grooming will greet visitors this season. The CaliPass provides access here as well as at Dodge Ridge, Mountain High, China Peak and three days each at 16 Powder Alliance resorts, including Sierra-at-Tahoe. bearvalley.com
Two new lifts will greet snow lovers at Alpine County’s Bear Valley Mountain Resort this season. (Bear Valley Mountain Resort)
Bear Valley Adventure Company: Adjacent to the downhill ski area, this wide-open winter activity center offers 38 miles of groomed cross-country trails for track and skate skiing, as well as snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Lessons for all ages, too, plus tubing and sledding. bvadventures.com
Boreal/Soda Springs/Woodward Tahoe: This trio of resorts under the POWDR banner, all near Donner Summit, offer a variety of experiences. Snowboarding was pioneered at Boreal, which continues to offer extensive terrain park features along with night skiing and a half-pipe. The small Soda Springs resort is ideal for families, with a ski hill, Tube Town and a Planet Kids area featuring a tubing carousel for tots and magic carpet. And Woodward Tahoe, an indoor venue at Boreal’s base, boasts trampolines, indoor skate parks, ramps, drops and foam pits, with a variety of pass deals. Play Forever Fridays return with $25 lift tickets on select Fridays; rideboreal.com.
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Diamond Peak: This community-owned resort at Incline Village on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe offers panoramic views from almost every run and a new, dedicated backcountry gate. diamondpeak.com
Donner Ski Ranch: Generations of kids have learned to ski and ride at this old-school Donner Summit resort. The family-owned ski areas is one of the oldest in California, dating to 1937, complete with the vintage Old 40 Bar Grill serving up everything from pancakes to burgers. donnerskiranch.com
Granlibakken Tahoe: This West Shore property on Highway 89 is primarily a conference center, but it’s also a mini ski resort with a “bunny hill” for skiing, snowboarding and sledding and access to extensive cross-country territory from the back gate. granlibakken.com
Vail Resorts (Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood): Heavenly and Northstar are launching My Epic Gear, which gives members access to the latest ski and snowboard equipment with free delivery or slopeside pick-up and drop-off. Look for new food offerings, too. Kirkwood is planning a slew of special events, as well as advanced coaching and guided backcountry tours. vail.com
Snow lovers head for some Northstar frolic on a bluebird-perfect day at Tahoe. (Vail Resorts)
Homewood Mountain Resort: This iconic West Shore resort will not open this year.
Mammoth Mountain: This mammoth-sized resort in the Eastern Sierra, which is on the Ikon pass, is unveiling various infrastructure improvements this season, including the replacement of Chair 1 and improvements to Chairs 3 and 6. Woolly’s Adventure Summit day lodge will open with 6,000 square feet of facilities, and Tamarack Lodge will celebrate its 100th anniversary. mammothmountain.com
It’s not just downhill skiing that woos snow lovers to Mammoth Ski Resort. Cross-country skiers love it, too. (Dino Vournas for the Bay Area News Group)
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: At 8,260 feet, Nevada’s Mt. Rose boasts the Tahoe area’s highest base elevation and some of the longest continuous vertical skiing in North America. Capital improvements include new food offerings and snowmaking enhancements. skirose.com
Palisades Tahoe: In honor of its 75th birthday, this Tahoe resort is featured in Warren Miller’s “75” extreme skiing movie, which is touring nationally. Updated snowmaking and grooming options are on tap at both Palisades and sister resort, Alpine Meadows. The Toyota U.S. Freestyle National Championships are slated here for March 27-30.palisadestahoe.com
Sierra-at-Tahoe: Daily lift tickets and season passes at this Highway 50 resort, which is a new Ikon and Powder Alliance partner, are some of the best deals in the Tahoe area. Look for repaved parking lots and roadways and refreshed terrain as the resort continues to regain its footing following the devastating 2021 Caldor fire, sierraattahoe.com
Sugar Bowl/Sugar Rush Tubing/Royal Gorge: Home to California’s first downhill ski lift, Sugar Bowl is part of the Mountain Collective. Sugar Rush Tubing offers 10 lanes and a 500-foot moving carpet to return sliders to the top. Sister property Royal Gorge claims to be the largest ski area in North America, with 92 trails spread over 6,000 acres for cross-country skiing, skate skiing and snowshoeing and eight warming huts. sugarbowl.com, royalgorge.com
Lake Tahoe’s Sugar Bowl is a winter sports magnet for skiers and snowboarders. (Dino Vournas for the Bay Area News Group)
Tahoe Donner Downhill and XC: The downhill ski area is small but family friendly (look for a new lodge opening this season), while the cross-country center is one of the most extensive at Tahoe. tahoedonner.com
Badger Pass: Yosemite is wondrously uncrowded in winter, and the Badger Pass Ski Area is wondrous, too. Almost all the runs are visible from the deck at the day lodge, rangers offer snowshoe hikes exploring geology and history, and there is plenty of cross-country territory, too. Some 90 miles of marked trails criss-cross the park. yosemite.com
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