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.

Soda Springs
530.426.3901
SnoPhone-583-426-3666, ext#1
www.skisodasprings.com
200 acres
 
Stories of Dick Buek still abound at Soda Springs. He was called the “Mad Dog” of Donner Summit. An enthusiast, some said mindless, slave of gravity, Buek, a two-time National Downhill champion and 1952 Olympian, thought nothing of tucking the steepest of slopes. It was at Soda Springs that Buek learned the joy, insouciance, and madness that stamped his life. “Mad Dog”, the run named in honor of Buek, remains one of the resort’s bare-boned delights.
 
Situated atop Donner Summit, ten minutes off of Interstate 80, and less than two hours drive from Sacramento, Soda Springs was casting a spell over vacationers long before Dick Buek when in 1931 its first customers herringboned up its flanks to make swooping turns over wide-open terrain.
 
In 1935, rope tows were installed and Soda Springs became a popular location with members of San Francisco society who traveled by ski train excursions to enjoy the record-breaking snowfalls of the Donner Summit area.
 
While Soda’s 200 acres qualifies it as only a nugget-size resort by today’s Tahoe standards, its pitchy terrain and an emphasis on families have transformed the resort’s small-area reputation to that of a skier’s mountain that also has great value. Cheek by jowl to adjacent Sugar Bowl’s Mount Lincoln, Soda’s ridgeline commands views of Lake Van Norden and the spine of the Northern Sierra.
 
Two double chairs and two surface lifts access wide-open slopes. A one-price ticket gives the guest access to snow tubing, skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and snowshoe trails. And if you haven't skied or boarded enough during the day, your lift ticket gets you several more half-price hours of skiing afterwards under the lights at nearby sister resort Boreal. Soda Springs offers California’s largest tubing operation. The resort boasts four tubing flumes each designed with banked turns, rollers, and giant dips. Two tubing lifts allow for plenty of howling times down the flumes. Soda Springs is also the perfect place for birthday parties, corporate functions, fundraisers, family reunions or special occasions. Soda Springs offers the only "Rent A Resort" package in the Sierra. The entire area, including grooming, lift operators. Ski patrol, lodge facilities, and sundeck may be rented for the day.
 
What’s New: Expanded snowmaking; A new “Planet Kids Snowplay Park” for children 10 and under.
 
Best Deal: The Family Pass includes 2 adult season passes and unlimited skiing for children 5-12 for only $399.
 
Don’t Miss: Soda offers mini snowmobilers a circular track for kids ages 6-12. Helmets are provided - $10 for 10 laps.

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