The Best Ski & Snowboard Resorts in California

Ever wonder where's the best place to ski or ride in California? In this blog post we will discuss the best ski vacation destinations in California, where there is no shortage of options. Since everyone wants something different in a mountain vacay, we will recommend a few different ski resort areas based on what they do best. Admittedly, we have not explored every single ski resort in California, but we have been to most, if not all, the big name resorts; including Mammoth, Bear, Kirkwood, Heavenly, Northstar, Palisades, June, Mt. High, and others.

Best Overall Mountain Resort in CA - Mammoth Mountain

We are a bit biased because we live in Mammoth Lakes, but I think most skiers and riders would agree that the best on-mountain experience in the state of California has got to be Mammoth. This place lives up to the hype. Mammoth Mountain has a massive amount of terrain for all skill levels, 3 base areas, world class terrain parks, great snow, great weather, and a long season stretching from mid-November through the end of May and sometimes extending into June or even July. If the sun isn't shining, which isn't often, then it's likely that the mountain is getting hammered by one of the famous west cost atmospheric rivers that can dump 2+ feet in a day. Pow days at Mammoth are amazing because even after the obvious spots get tracked out, you can find plenty of hidden stashes in the trees. The parks at Mammoth are some of the best in the world, so if you want to hit rails, boxes, hips, jumps, wall rides, or gigantic kickers; it's all there.

There are a couple negatives about Mammoth to consider. The main issue is that it can be difficult to get there. The closest major airport is in Reno, NV, which is about a 3 hour drive away. You can fly direct into Mammoth/Yosemite Airport or the nearby airport in Bishop, CA; but air service to this region is very limited. Don't expect a ton of nightlife or food options, you will be getting a true remote mountain town experience. There are always places to grab a bite to eat and there are a few bars open late, but Mammoth lacks the major ski resort vibe, which is kinda cool for some people. Lastly, prepare for wind. Even on the mellowest of days in town, it can be howling at the top of the mountain. 

Best Terrain Parks in CA - Bear Mountain

Although Mammoth Mountain has a well deserved reputation for having the best parks in the world, their park builders seem to be living out their X-games fantasies. I would estimate that upwards of 50-60% of the features are built for expert and pro level riders. So, even though the Mammoth park is epic, we picked Bear Mountain as the best terrain park in California. Bear Mountain may not have tons of natural snow, but they more than made up for that by building a top to bottom park that is creative and super fun. You will see park features there that no other resort has even thought of building. Don't be surprised to see a box slide through a shipping container or a mini-school bus on the top of a hip. They usually don't have many 50 foot kickers, unless they have a big snow year, but they do an amazing job creating a park that is super fun for all skill levels and most features are relatively easy to hit.

Don't get us wrong, Mammoth is still the king of terrain parks, especially if you want to hit massive jumps or tripe kink rails. Even if you can't hit the difficult features, there are a ton of options for the average to advanced rider or skier. Although challenging, there is no doubt that the Unbound parks at Mammoth are well built and extensive, but we gave the winning nod to Bear Mountain for best park because it's just so damn fun to ride.

Best Mountain Experience in CA- Lake Tahoe

The best thing about the Lake Tahoe area is that you can hit multiple resorts in one trip. Ski or ride at Heavenly, Kirkwood, and Palisades all in the same week. Then hit the casinos in South Lake Tahoe or Reno when you're done shredding. Each resort offers their own unique experience. Heavenly, for example, has some of the best views you will ever see while making turns and the bottom of the gondola is only steps away from multiple Hotel/Casinos. It is the largest ski resort in California, but much of the terrain is only rideable on pow days. Oh, and you can ski or ride in two states on the same day (they have a Nevada side and California side to the mountain). Palisades is somewhat similar to Heavenly in that there is an absolute ton of challenging terrain, but much of it is only worth hitting on powder days. Despite that, there is still plenty of groomed trails when it isn't actively snowing and Palisades has a decent terrain park. Like many of the resorts in Tahoe, it has beautiful views, and the newly built gondola that takes you from Squaw Valley to Alpine Meadows (old names of the previously separate ski resorts) is a must ride.

The main problem I have with both Heavenly and Palisades is that there is a lot of flats and cat tracks at both resorts. It's not like the flats are going to ruin your day, but it can be difficult to transition from one part of the ski resort to another. That brings us to our favorite resort in Tahoe, Kirkwood. It is a wild place with much of the terrain going ungroomed the entire season. It is somewhat remote, located about 45 minutes away from the South Lake Tahoe, but it is worth the extra drive time to get there. If you are lucky enough to be there on a pow day, get ready for the time of your life. As you explore further away from the lifts, the mountain starts to feel more like a backcountry adventure than a patrolled ski resort. If you are in Tahoe and it's dumping, go to Kirkwood.

Other Places to Consider

There is a small resort only about an hour from downtown LA called Mt. High that has a nice park set up. We like it because you can ski in morning, go to the beach in the afternoon, and then catch a Lakers game in the evening. June Mountain is quite the gem with the surrounding area often referred to as the Switzerland of California. It is only about 20 minutes from Mammoth and well worth the drive if you are in the area. The views from June Mountain are spectacular and there is rarely a lift line, so you can take lap after lap without ever having to wait.

There are several other great options in the Lake Tahoe area. Diamond Peak, although smaller, is known for having even better views than Heavenly. Northstar does a pretty good job with their terrain park and their on-hill amenities and restaurant options are unrivaled. Lastly, Sierra-At-Tahoe (South Lake Tahoe) and Sugar Bowl (North Lake Tahoe) are both fun if you are looking to get away from the major corporate resorts. They both have a chill vibe, a fun park set up, and excellent terrain on powder days.