Best Peaks Overall in
The rank-order of California ski resorts we’ve been to based on overall mountain experience.
#1 of 8 in California
MammothMammoth Lakes, CA
Mammoth Lakes, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
72
- Substantial footprint
- Diverse variety of terrain
- World-class terrain park setup
- Breathtaking rock-lined landscapes
- Phenomenal spring-skiing experience
- Variable weather patterns resulting in inconsistent conditions
- Poorly-designed on-mountain signage
- Lift chokepoints at some junctions
This massive resort offers a highly competitive experience only hours from Southern California, although variable weather patterns may not make it the best place to fly to.
#2 of 8 in California
Palisades TahoeOlympic Valley, CA
Olympic Valley, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
72
- Wide variety of demanding expert terrain
- Unique topography
- Lively base village
- Top-notch spring skiing experience
- Large overall footprint
- Wind exposure, especially on beginner and low-intermediate terrain
- Serious congestion issues in some areas
- Variable openings for lower-elevation expert terrain
- Impractical lift link between Palisades and Alpine sides
- Considerable access road traffic on weekends and holidays
Two of Tahoe’s best ski areas have now been linked as one continuous lift-served destination, but the resort still functions as two separate mountains in many ways.
#3 of 8 in California
HeavenlySouth Lake Tahoe, CA
South Lake Tahoe, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
69
- One-of-a-kind mountain aesthetic
- Diverse terrain, including an abundance of glades and intermediate groomers
- Ample mountain facilities
- Size
- Frustrating navigation logistics
- Long, painfully slow lifts in some areas
- Lackluster beginner terrain
- Difficult egress from some expert terrain
This Lake Tahoe area offers some of the most beautiful slopes we’ve seen anywhere. A few logistical problems diminish the resort’s size advantage.
#4 of 8 in California
KirkwoodKirkwood, CA
Kirkwood, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
68
- One-of-a-kind extreme terrain
- Local feel
- Breathtaking mountain aesthetic
- Low crowds
- Snow quality for Lake Tahoe
- Slow lifts in most areas
- Serious wind exposure that leads to regular wind holds
- Many resort areas inaccessible for beginners and intermediates
- Limited on-mountain facilities
- Subpar resort signage
This relatively undeveloped mountain isn’t for everyone, but its striking aesthetic, local feel, and extreme terrain are tough to match.
#5 of 8 in California
Sierra-at-TahoeTwin Bridges, CA
Twin Bridges, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
66
- Top-notch tree terrain
- Excellent freestyle experience
- Local feel
- No on-site lodging
- Expert terrain is unpatrolled and subject to particularly variable openings
While it can’t boast the same crazy lake views, striking terrain, or expansive base village as some other Tahoe areas, this moderately-sized resort offers reasonable prices and a local feel.
#6 of 8 in California
NorthstarTruckee, CA
Truckee, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
65
- Top-tier terrain park experience
- Excellent grooming operations
- Lift infrastructure
- Ease of navigation
- Merely ordinary terrain diversity
- No expert or above-treeline slopes
- Variable glade terrain openings
- Commercialized, moneyed feel
This family-friendly resort offers excellent grooming and a top-tier terrain park, but expert and above-treeline terrain is lacking.
#7 of 8 in California
Sugar BowlNorden, CA
Norden, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
63
- Terrain for all ability levels
- Extremely demanding expert footprint
- Unique, rock-formed landscapes
- Snow quality for Tahoe
- Vintage gondola
- Short vertical drop
- Modest footprint
- Flat runouts in some areas
- Some expert terrain almost never open
This California resort can’t match the acreage and vertical drop of competing Tahoe mountains, but it stands out with trails for all ability levels and an extremely demanding expert footprint.
#8 of 8 in California
HomewoodHomewood, CA
Homewood, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
56
- One-of-a-kind mountain aesthetic, including astonishing lake views
- Excellent glade terrain
- Extraordinary accumulation in good seasons
- Low wind exposure compared to other Tahoe resorts
- Inadequate resiliency measures for bad seasons
- No direct lift operations in some areas on weekdays
- Slow lifts, some of which don’t have safety bars, in many areas
- Very limited on-mountain facilities
- Frustrating traverses to get to or from many trails
While this Tahoe hill can’t hold its own overall against the destination resorts, it boasts an astonishing, one-of-a-kind mountain aesthetic.