View more California Ski Resorts and Mountains.
California may be renowned for its sandy beaches, but just as beautiful are its snowy mountain tops. Throughout the state, California boasts some of the best places to find snow, whether you enjoy downhill skiing or cross-country skiing. Each winter, Californians head for the mountains to take advantage of some of the world’s best skiing and find new places to introduce novice skiers to the sport as well. Check out 10 of the best skiing spots in California.
Mammoth Mountain is famous for its slopes. The mountain offers everything from bunny runs for kids and novices to serious trails for experts. It’s no wonder that Mammoth attracts skiers from all over the globe that look forward to open season on Mammoth Mountain.
As one of the top ski resorts in the country, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is a perfect spot to plan a snowy vacation and learn how to ski. Families and groups can enjoy ski lessons of different levels and time off the slopes as well.
Tahoe South is home to numerous resorts and ski spots. For decades, Tahoe South has been a prime place to learn to ski or to learn new tricks, season after snowy season. It’s a home to generations of year-round residents as well as families that visit every year to teach the sport of skiing to new family members.
Snow Valley is where people head when they’re newbies to skiing and want to spend a day on the slopes. It’s perfect for parents that want to teach their kids to ski but still want to get some runs in for themselves. There are often specials on the website and the resort is constantly upgrading with new attractions.
Kirkwood was developed into a ski resort back in the 1960s and has continued to offer skiing ever since. Before it was a ski resort, Kirkwood was a stopping point for adventurers passing through the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Now there are resorts, events, and more activities to enjoy the snow during ski season.
Homewood is a beautiful ski resort in the Tahoe region. Dedicated to preserving the surrounding environment, Homewood has won awards for its ability to provide great skiing while maintaining the natural beauty of the area. Cafés, accommodations, skiing and more are all part of the winter season at Homewood.
For many kids living in California’s valleys, Big Bear is their first experience with snow. Gentle slopes make it a great place to learn to ski and there are a variety of other winter activities and a rugged town to walk around after a day on the slopes.
Located nearby the historic town of Truckee, Northstar offers a ski school, ski trails and more mountain adventures to keep you occupied by day. At night, head into the town for dinner or stay on the mountain for after ski skating and s’mores.
Cross-country skiing tends to be popular in Northern European countries, where it’s a mode of transportation during the winter, but it doesn’t get a lot of popularity in the States. Check out Royal Gorge, the largest cross-country ski resort in the country, set in the beautiful region of Tahoe.
Mt. Baldy is somewhere between the far away mountains and the closest spots for skiing from the city, making it a prime location as you can opt for a day trip or an overnight stay. There are ski lifts and lots of trails to cover skiers of all ability levels. Mt. Baldy is somewhere between the far away mountains and the closest spots for skiing from the city, making it a prime location as you can opt for a day trip or an overnight stay. There are ski lifts and lots of trails to cover skiers of all ability levels.
