Squaw Valley

Squaw Valley is a ski heaven and one of the biggest winter tourist destinations in all of California. It is located in the Sierra Nevada and is known for its beautiful slopes, world-class ski resorts and its stunning mountainous terrain. Ski season typically starts in late november and takes in approximately 600,000 skiers every year. But not only is it known for its bountiful snowfall each year, but Squaw Valley hosts a myriad of events, including film festivals, wine tasting and live music concerts.

Historically, Squaw Valley is the site of the 1960’s Winter Olympics. Since then, it has flourished as one of Lake Tahoe’s busiest family vacation spots. The city itself hosts over 4,000 acres of snowy/rocky terrain. For the skier, it provides 33 chair lifts sprinkled across slopes of all levels of difficulty. Those who venture to its quarters can also take part in its many ski and snowboard lessons and rent a myriad of wintery equipment. And in the summer, Squaw Valley offers a variety of summer activities and miles of steep hiking trails.

For those visiting, the city has plenty of slope side lodging with balconies opening up to magnificent views. The Village at Square Valley is one of the most popular and expensive lodging venues in the city. In a way, it is its own little neighborhood, complete with european style rental homes, quaint little stores and also offers a myriad of nice, charming restaurants. People flock here for weddings, work meetings and a countless number of other activities. For those looking for a cheaper accommodation, Squaw Valley Lodge sits at the base of Squaw Valley and is in close proximity to swimming, hiking, golf, rafting, shopping, dining and spa treatment. Both venues are a great place for a vacation with the family.

Is it possible to be in love with a place? Maybe it's the rugged peaks above treeline. Perhaps it's the steep terrain and tree-lined gullies. It could be the night skiing. Or maybe, just maybe, it's the quaint village setup that is so accessible to families and apres-ski bums alike. But whatever it is, Squaw Valley seems to have something that the rest of the Tahoe resorts do not.

There is a magic in the air here of a high alpine environment that is prevalent both day and night. The mountain feels far more secluded, far more remote, and far more adventurous than its neighbors, even though it is closer to San Francisco than Northstar. Perhaps this is why they decided to host the 1960 Winter Olympics here.

Unfortunately, the quality of skiing is reflected in the price, and this is one of the first mountains to close when the wind gets bad. But there is something special about Squaw Valley that none of the other mountains can quite touch.