Northstar Ski Resort
Conveniently located halfway between one of North America’s most magnificent mountain towns and possibly the world’s most beautiful alpine lake, Northstar is a ski destination that should be on every skier and snowboarder’s bucket list.
Northstar California, previously named Northstar at Tahoe, sits by the north shore of Lake Tahoe and is just 200 miles from San Francisco. The resort is home to a whopping 3,000 acres of vertical drops, intense downhill terrain, a cross-country center, on-site logging, an 18-hole golf course plus so much more.
With an ambiance unlike any other, Northstar provides upscale shops and dining along with an iconic slopeside lodge, which boasts a 5-star rating . Despite all of these luxurious features, Northstar has remained a resort destination for families, thanks in part to their unique, laid-back style. Some guests have even mentioned Northstar’s village being similar to a picturesque Disneyland Resort.
Northstar Mountain Master Plan
One feature that sets Northstar apart from any other ski resort is their Mountain Master Plan, first announced in 2012. This detailed plan consists of on-mountain improvements and additional recreational activities. Although the plan was announced years ago, final changes have not been determined. The guiding light for these improvements over the next couple of decades will be guest feedback. That being said the committee has made maintaining the current resources of the mountain a high priority. A few proposed reforms include improvements to existing ski terrain and facilities, new ski terrain, lifts, skier facilities and added recreational opportunities.
The Mountain
Northstar’s ski experience is nothing short of impressive, thanks in part to the resort having invested nearly 1 billion dollars into creating a premier snow sport experience.
Northstar has exactly 3,170 acres of skiable terrain that is a decent mix of beginner (13%), intermediate (60%) and advanced (27%) runs. For the most advanced skiers, their largest vertical drop of 2,280 feet cannot be overlooked. Couple this with their terrain parks, which include a 22-foot Superpipe designed by Olympian, Shaun White and you’ve got a mountain experience few can find elsewhere. The resort currently has 20 lifts and sees an average of 350 inches of snowfall a year. Not to worry if 350 inches doesn’t sound adequate because Northstar has the largest snowmaking system in the area, producing 50% of their coverage.
For those who are interested, Northstar offers a number of lessons – beginner, intermediate, expert and private. Beginner lessons focus to instruct skiers on how to glide across the snow in a controlled fashion, how to wedge stop, the mechanics of skiing and what the sport is all about. Their intermediate lessons take skiers out to the Blue runs and get them prepared to transition to the Black runs by improving their form and learning new techniques. Lastly, the expert runs help advanced skiers read and understand various terrain, which better prepares them for changing conditions and off-trail skiing.
With their luxury dining and shopping areas, long list of winter activities and their Mountain Master Plan, Northstar Ski Resort is a ski area that ranks highly amongst our list of top resorts. Don’t forget to have Ship Skis send your gear ahead of time when scheduling the perfect Northstar Ski Resort vacation. Visit www.ShipSkis.com to learn more about Ship Skis and to get a quote on shipping your equipment.