It’s easy to call Lake Tahoe the last unforked pea on the plate of American snow riding. More and more Tahoe resorts might be mirroring the mainstream, painting a canvas of haves and haves more, but don’t kid yourself: No other resort destination in North America encompasses such a wide array of world class slopes, abundant snowfall, pristine vistas and sparkling amenities. Moreover, there are more chair lifts to ride in the Tahoe Basin than in the entire state of Colorado and four out of five days are sunny. Winter temperatures average around 29 degrees, and when it snows, which is often this early season, the flakes fall thick and fast, piling into soft mounds on the upper portion of discolored mountain peaks and setting the stage for exceptional skiing and snowboarding.

Northstar-At-Tahoe
(530) 562-1010
Snow Phone- (530) 562-1330
www.northstarattahoe.com
2,480 acres
 
Little did George Schaeffer realize some 150 years ago that the site of his logging camp would become terrain to some of the Sierra Nevada’s best skiing and riding. Today, with the help of a dynamic mountain expansion, boarders and skiers rocket down 8-mile-long runs from the backside of Northstar’s Mount Pluto, or carve off-piste turns through stands of lodgepole from the top of Sawtooth Ridge. While the backside of Mount Pluto offers everything from ridgeline cruising to narrow bump trails and steep crankers, the Martis Valley resort’s front side combines lightly forested glades and wide-boulevard groomers that stretch to an expanding base area. Northstar’s family programs are some of the best in North America, but it is the resort’s billion-dollar expansion that is creating the most attention.
 
Last season’s opening of the unparalleled mid-slope Ritz Carlton Hotel firmly jettisoned Northstar into the upper tier of North American luxury resorts.
 
Its new Village delivers an array of signature spots – from high brow eats, après ski fun and plush lodging, each which helps add up to a successful Tahoe vacation experience.
 
What’s New: New features have been added in its terrain parks as well as new rental equipment and improved snowmaking. Northstar has expanded its mass transit program with more parking at its entrance.
 
Best Deal: Northstar offers free clinics for riders and skiers Monday through Friday for intermediates and advanced 13 and older.
 
Don’t Miss: Ice-skating in the Northstar Village is a fun date, especially with free access and skate rentals for only $5.
 
Best Place To Take A Screaming Pottie: Lookout Mountain has deceptive terrain transitions, especially while trucking through its off-piste timbered romps.
 
Insider Tip: Sawtooth Ridge (out of bounds but accessed with patrol permission) offers serene backcountry experience type lines when conditions permit.

More of Tahoe Resorts: A-to-Z

Alpine Meadows
Boreal
Diamond Peak
Donner Ski Ranch
Granlibakken
Heavenly Mountain Resort
Homewood Mountain Resort
Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Mt. Rose
Northstar-at-Tahoe
Sierra-at-Tahoe
Soda Springs
Sugar Bowl
Squaw Valley USA
Tahoe Donner