Northstar, California, USA
Northstar, located to the north of Lake Tahoe, was overlooked in the past due to its lack of accommodation and amenities. $60 million of investment has resulted in the development of a new base village complete with luxurious apartments and hotel style rooms. Centred around the outdoor ice skating rink are a range of restaurants and boutiques.
Northstar is a wonderful resort for intermediates as a full 60% of its terrain is designated as such. Due to the 2007 expansion, many black diamond slopes were added into the mix. Those who just like to go fast can rip down the north-facing slopes of Lookout Mountain on Northstar's longest steeps: Stampede, Prosser, Boca, and Martis. The adventurous head for the Backside for bumps, drops, and glade-to-glade tree skiing. Some of Northstar’s black runs might be colored blue at Squaw Valley, but not those on the Backside. Northstar has 18 lifts and one gondola serving 2,490 acres. Skiers must ride a gondola from the Village to the day-lodge ski base area. Some may find this trip annoying, but you only have to do it once, and lines are almost nonexistent.
Base elevation: 6,330 ft / 1,912 m
Summit elevation: 8,610 ft / 2,624 m
Terrain: 3,000 acres
Average annual snowfall: 350 inches / 889 cm
Number of Lifts: 19
Number of Trails: 93
Longest Run: 1.4 miles (Logger’s Loop)
Parks & Pipes: 7 terrain parks + 1 pipe
Trail Classification: 13% beginner / 62% intermediate / 25% expert
Transfer Time: San Fransisco 3 hours / Reno 30 mins
Northstar can also brag having the Ritz Carlton resort as the most upscale accommodation in the whole Tahoe basin. It even has its very own gondola connecting it to the Village at Northstar.
Base elevation: 6,330 ft / 1,912 m
Summit elevation: 8,610 ft / 2,624 m
Terrain: 3,000 acres
Average annual snowfall: 350 inches / 889 cm
Number of Lifts: 19
Number of Trails: 93
Longest Run: 1.4 miles (Logger’s Loop)
Parks & Pipes: 7 terrain parks + 1 pipe
Trail Classification: 13% beginner / 62% intermediate / 25% expert
Transfer Time: San Fransisco 3 hours / Reno 30 mins
Northstar can also brag having the Ritz Carlton resort as the most upscale accommodation in the whole Tahoe basin. It even has its very own gondola connecting it to the Village at Northstar.
Kids Ski Free
Many resorts offer free ski passes and ski equipment rentals for children.
