Northern California Ski Areas

Primarily in the Tahoe Area, these are some of the most popular ski spots that I know of.

1. Squaw Valley USA - The site of the 1960 winter Olympics, this rugged, challenging ski mountain draws visitors from worldwide.
2. Heavenly - Large and scattered, but massive, this mountain has the largest vertical drop in Tahoe by FAR. Many flat areas require long sections of "poling." The South Lake Tahoe location makes this as much a gambling area as a ski town.
3. Kirkwood - This is the San Francisco locals' mountain, with its own access highway, higher elevation, and more snow. Lodging is scarce and pricey and there is less terrain, but proximity and lack of tourists make this a popular spot for Bay Area locals.
4. Northstar - Another popular resort, this mountain boasts a variety of terrain in a beautiful, easy-to-navigate location. Ratings are soft, but experts can still enjoy the abundance of tree runs that the resort offers. The new Ritz-Carlton, built mid-mountain, only reinforces that this is the most high-end resort in Tahoe.
5. Sierra - Northstar's partner mountain on the South Shore offers a variety of terrain and is great for beginners. Experts rave about the off-trail runs, although these are only usable when there is enough snow.
6. Boreal - This beginner mountain also happens to be right off of highway 80, and offers the best snowboard parks in Tahoe. This is popular with locals.