The official host of the 1960 Olympic Games, the Palisades Tahoe is a top-tier resort featuring 34 lifts and 6,000 acres of slopes overlooking sparkling Lake Tahoe. Nestled in California’s Olympic Valley, the resort is home to the nearby Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, more than 100 hiking trails, cozy lodges and unique events such as the Alpine Snow Golf Tournament and the WinterWonderGrass music festival.

If you’re seeking the ultimate challenge, Heavenly Ski Resort on the border of California and Nevada delivers double-black diamond slopes and off-the-beaten-path backcountry skiing at Mott Canyon. With views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and Lake Tahoe, paired with 97 runs and 28 lifts, this resort should be on the top of anyone’s list for sensational skiing and snowboarding. 

A hidden gem tucked away in the Martis Valley in North Lake Tahoe, Northstar California Resort is an unforgettable family-friendly mountain getaway. What’s unique about Northstar is its mountain – Mount Pluto, an extinct volcano. There are 100 trails, from beginning to advanced, with the longest run being Logger’s Loop at 1.4 miles. You’ll also find adventure zones for the kids.

Experience the thrill of skiing double black diamond trails such as Hell’s Delight and Bogie’s Slide in the Devil’s Corral. Then, challenge yourself at the Wagon Wheel Bowl, where you can experience panoramic views of the Mountain Village below as you speed down Dick’s Drop or the Notch Chute. Of course, the resort also features trails for beginners. Test your skill at Hay’s Flat or Snowkirk before upping your game on the Whiskey Slide.

Rustic charm meets European elegance at the iconic Sugar Bowl, one of the oldest ski resorts in California and home to the West Coast’s first ski gondola. Located northwest of Lake Tahoe, the resort opened in 1939 and paved the way for California’s dynamic ski culture. Featuring 103 trails, 12 lifts and 1,650 acres of slopes, the resort offers a variety of snow activities, from skiing and snowboarding to backcountry and cross-country skiing.

One of the only ski resorts outside of the Sierra Nevada range is the impressive Big Bear Mountain Resort. Just two hours outside Los Angeles, this snowy southern California paradise holds some of the best terrain parks in the country between two peaks – Bear Mountain and Snow Summit. Feel the thrill of snowboarding and skiing the powdery tree-line slopes. Spend an afternoon tubing at Snow Summit’s Grizzly Ridge Tube Park. Or, enjoy a picturesque hike through the San Bernadino Mountains.

Imagine being able to experience a winter playground in sunny California with views of the Mojave Desert in the distance. At Mountain High Resorts, winter sports and natural beauty collide at one of the most popular ski destinations in the state. Just a 90-minute drive from Los Angeles, this trio of resorts offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing adventures for beginner and advanced skiers. For the kids, Yeti’s Snow Play brings the fun with sledding, tubing and costumed characters.