Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Nevada Mountains offer the best slopes and trails for skiers and snowboarders, although
snow conditions have been unreliable in recent years due to unusually low winter snow-
fall.
Ski season runs from late November or early December until late March or early April,
although this depends on weather conditions and elevation. All resorts have ski schools,
rent equipment and offer a variety of lift tickets, including cheaper half-day and multiday
versions. Prices vary tremendously, from $45 to $115 per day for adults; discounts for chil-
dren, teens and seniors are typically available. 'Ski & stay' lodging packages may offer
big savings.
Best Places for Snow Sports
Around Lake Tahoe
For sheer variety, the dozen-plus downhill skiing and snowboarding
resorts ringing Lake Tahoe are unbeatable. Alongside world-famous ski resorts such as
Squaw Valley
, host of the 1960 Winter Olympic Games, you'll find scores of smaller opera-
tions, many of them with lower lift-ticket prices, smaller crowds and great runs for beginners
and families.
Royal Gorge
,
near Truckee, is North America's largest cross-country ski re-
sort. Family-friendly 'sno-parks' offer sledding hills and snow play.
Mammoth & June Mountains
Mammoth Mountain is another darling of downhill devotees
and usually has the longest ski and snowboarding season. Beginning and intermediate ski-
ers and snowboarders hit the less-crowded slopes of nearby
June Mountain
.
Yosemite National Park
In the glacier-carved winter wonderland of Yosemite National
Park,
Badger Pass
welcomes families and beginning skiers and snowboarders. California's
oldest ski resort, it's also a launch pad for cross-country skiing and snowshoe treks, and
kids will love the snow-tubing hill. You can snowshoe or cross-country ski among giant se-
quoias elsewhere in Yosemite (
Click here
)
, as well as in
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National
Parks
.
Northern Mountains
Mt Shasta Board & Ski Park
is popular with families.
Nearby Los Angeles
Even sunny Southern California gets in on the snow action at Big
Bear Lake (
Click here
). Palm Springs' aerial tramway whisks you into the
San Jacinto
Mountains
, where the whole family can rent snowshoes or cross-country skis.
