Ella Skinner

Sugar Bowl:

Sugar Bowl Resort is a medium-sized, independently owned ski and snowboard resort located in northern Placer County on Donner Summit in the Sierra Nevada mountains, making it the closest major ski resort to Sacramento and the Bay Area. It offers excellent terrain without the overwhelming crowds and long lift lines found at larger resorts like Northstar or Palisades. Unfortunately, the short lift lines and uncrowded slopes come at a price; since Sugar Bowl is an independent resort, it doesn’t participate in popular multi-resort season passes such as the Epic or Icon pass, which helps keep the mountain less busy.

Although the base areas are simple and the food options are more limited compared to larger resorts, they are efficient and convenient for quick breaks between runs, and the compact layout of the resort, with express lifts, makes it quick and easy to get onto the mountain. Sugar Bowl offers a diverse set of terrain with a variety of strong intermediate runs, very solid black diamond runs and great beginner runs. In terms of pricing, Sugar Bowl is cheaper than Palisades Tahoe and most peak rates at Northstar, but more expensive than true small hills like Donner Ski Ranch or Boreal.

Northstar:

Northstar California Resort is an ideal ski resort for families. Located near Truckee and the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe, Northstar provides a great overall experience for skiers and snowboarders looking for a fun, stress-free day!

Northstar’s terrain is largely on the easier side, with a plethora of beginner and intermediate runs. This makes it the perfect resort for newer skiers and snowboarders who are looking to build confidence on wide, well-groomed slopes. 

However, Northstar’s popularity comes with drawbacks; the mountain can be very crowded, especially on the green runs that funnel skiers down to the base of the mountain. Village Run, which leads directly into the Northstar Village, is particularly busy at the end of the day and can be dangerous with many inexperienced skiers and snowboarders sharing the slope.

While it may lack the more extreme terrain of Palisades or Kirkwood, Northstar makes up for it with its accessibility and convenience, along with having one of the best base villages in Tahoe. The Northstar Village offers ice skating, fire pits and a variety of restaurants and shops, making it a popular place to relax after a long day on the mountain. 

Though Northstar is not typically associated with difficult terrain, it still provides plenty of challenging runs for advanced skiers and snowboarders. The Backside offers steeper and less crowded runs, including Burnout, a groomed black, and The Rapids, an ungroomed run that is great for people looking for a long run with plenty of moguls. 

Additionally, Northstar’s terrain park consistently ranks in the top 10 terrain parks in North America. Overall, Northstar is an excellent, family-oriented resort for those looking for a relaxed, reliable Tahoe ski experience. 

Palisades Tahoe:

Palisades Tahoe, formerly known as Squaw Valley, embodies a versatile ski environment. Its complete mountain terrain and wide base village make it one of the most popular mountains in the U.S. However, this comes at a cost, as Palisades is consistently one of the most expensive resorts in the Tahoe region. As a member of the Ikon Pass, Palisades and other mountains offer cheaper year-round access to popular mountains.

For many families, the investment in a Palisades Tahoe experience is justified. Palisades offers a variety of runs catered to skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Off the mountain, the Olympic village provides a variety of restaurants, shops and entertainment throughout the year. Compared to other resorts, Palisades leans more into the Après-Ski vibe, with music nights and disco tubing down the mountain.

The mountain itself is world-class. The terrain ranges from mellow groomers to world-famous technical lines. Whether it be at the top of the Aerial Tram or KT-22, Palisades offers stunning views of Lake Tahoe year-round. Palisades also dominates other resorts in sheer size. It boasts 3,600 skiable acres, which makes it one of the largest in the area. As mentioned above, the lift KT-22 provides skiers with access to some of the most technical chutes in North America, with Chute 75, West Face/Mosley’s and most famously McConkey’s/Eagle’s Nest, which is one of the most famous and challenging runs in the world. 

Don’t worry, though, beginner and intermediate skiers still thrive at Palisades with Shirley Lake Express and Gold Coast lifts offering great blue groomers. 

Kirkwood:

Located on the southern side of Lake Tahoe, Kirkwood offers a great landscape for hard-core skiers. Unlike Palisades and Northstar, Kirkwood is a much smaller resort and doesn’t try to impress with luxury. It caters to skiers who care more about pure skiing than the all-around experience. This emphasis on hard-core skiing is reflected in the price tag as Kirkwood remains quite affordable compared to other resorts in the area and remains on the Epic Pass.

Families visiting Kirkwood will find a more chill environment, free of the bustling crowds inherent to larger resorts. Lift lines are often short, while the restaurants remain calm. That being said, Kirkwood is not a beginner’s paradise. Its terrain is more unforgiving and offers fewer groomed runs than other resorts. Kirkwood is best suited for families who value long, hard days on the slopes rather than a full tourist experience.

Kirkwood’s challenging terrain and consistent snowfall make it truly one of the best mountains in California. The Wall lift gives skiers access to some of the hardest runs in California. The Wall run itself is a double black and is highly regarded as a top run in all of Tahoe. It also features other classic runs like Look Out Janek (double black), Palisades (not to be confused with the resort) and Sentinel Bowl. Although there are fewer beginner and intermediate runs than other resorts, Chairs two, seven and 11 all provide a great spot for proficient skiers.  Unlike other resorts in Tahoe, Kirkwood aims to give skiers an authentic, old-school experience that they’ll never forget.