California

Heavenly North Bowl Express: An Upgrade, But Half-Baked

This high-speed quad upgrade brings more convenient service to advanced-level trees, but the lack of a replacement for the out-of-base Boulder lift limits its effectiveness.

Skiing, Wine, & Spirits: What to Drink, Based on Which Destination You Hit

Our team has partnered with a wine and spirits expert to identify the perfect complements for your next destination trip

Northstar Comstock Six-Pack: An Unflashy But Effective Upgrade

This Tahoe resort’s second six-pack lift brings capacity and reliability enhancements to what’s arguably its most popular terrain zone.

Vail Resorts Epic Lift Upgrades: A Comprehensive Effectiveness Breakdown

We analyze why Vail Resorts pulled the trigger on many of its recent lift investments—and why it may have passed over some much-needed opportunities.

What’s New at Every Destination Ski Resort: 2023-24

Over the past few years, ski resorts have absolutely exploded with new investments. And this upcoming season is perhaps the craziest one yet—across the North American ski scene, more than 30 major ski resorts are in for some sort of serious upgrade.

Palisades Tahoe Terrain Zones Ranked: Forgettable to Must-Hit

This iconic California ski resort offers legitimately standout terrain, but you’ll have to navigate your way through some less-than-enjoyable areas first.

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.

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The closest ski area to the Bay Area offers lower traffic than Tahoe, but it’s hurt by limited snowmaking and outdated lift infrastructure.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Northstar

This family-friendly resort offers excellent grooming and a top-tier terrain park, but expert and above-treeline terrain is lacking.

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.

Kirkwood

This relatively undeveloped mountain isn’t for everyone, but its striking aesthetic, local feel, and extreme terrain are tough to match.

Heavenly

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.

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.

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.