Mountain Review: Mount Shasta Ski Park
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.
Mountain Review: Dodge Ridge
The closest ski area to the Bay Area offers lower traffic than Tahoe, but it’s hurt by limited snowmaking and outdated lift infrastructure.
Mountain Review: China Peak
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.
Mountain Review: Bear Valley
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.
Mountain Review: Palisades Tahoe
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.
Mountain Review: Sugar Bowl
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.
Mountain Review: Mammoth
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.
Mountain Review: Homewood
While this Tahoe hill can’t hold its own overall against the destination resorts, it boasts an astonishing, one-of-a-kind mountain aesthetic.
Mountain Review: Northstar
This family-friendly resort offers excellent grooming and a top-tier terrain park, but expert and above-treeline terrain is lacking.
Mountain Review: Sierra-at-Tahoe
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.