Best Peaks Overall in
The rank-order of California ski resorts we’ve been to based on overall mountain experience.
#1 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 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 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 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 in California
Sierra-at-TahoeTwin Bridges, CA
Twin Bridges, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
66
- Diverse bowl and 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 in California
NorthstarTruckee, CA
Truckee, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
65
- Excellent grooming operations
- Easily skiable woods
- High-speed lifts
- Unique terrain park experience
- 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 in California
Bear ValleyBear Valley, CA
Bear Valley, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
63
- Varied and surprisingly challenging terrain
- Impressive views
- Isolated feel with low crowds
- Unique and interesting mountain layout
- Dated lift infrastructure and facilities
- Poor resiliency in key mountain areas
- Large proportion of terrain footprint is not lift-served
This Northern California resort has interesting terrain for skiers and riders of all ability levels as well as a unique and isolated feel, but it lacks the infrastructure to fully compete with the best resorts in the state.
#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.
#9 in California
China PeakLakeshore, CA
Lakeshore, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
59
- Low crowds
- Sunny slopes
- Solid intermediate-to-advanced terrain for the size
- Easy access from Fresno
- Slow lifts
- Limited beginner terrain
- Variable snowfall totals
- Lift ticket prices
While it’s no substitute for a true destination ski resort, this Central California mountain offers admirable terrain variety within a convenient driving distance of Fresno.
#10 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.
#11 in California
Dodge RidgePinecrest, CA
Pinecrest, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
55
- Ease of access from Bay Area
- Family-friendly footprint
- Lower traffic than Tahoe resorts
- Primitive snowmaking system, leading to inconsistent terrain openings
- Slow lifts
- No on-site lodging
The closest ski area to the Bay Area offers lower traffic than Tahoe, but it’s hurt by limited snowmaking and outdated lift infrastructure.
#12 in California
Mount Shasta Ski ParkMcCloud, CA
McCloud, CA
MOUNTAIN SCORE
52
- Views of the Southern Cascades, especially up toward Shasta itself
- Surprisingly reliable cover thanks to large snowmaking system and deep snowpack
- Diverse selection of intermediate terrain, including glades and short bowls
- Easy access to great backcountry
- Lack of true advanced and expert terrain
- Slow lifts
- So-so grooming
- Separate peaks make for short lappable vertical drop
- Major hassle to get to and from new expansion area
The only decently-sized California ski area north of Tahoe offers limited lift lines and stunning views of the Southern Cascades, but it’s hurt by uncompetitive infrastructure and a bizarrely-integrated recent expansion.