About Squaw Valley, California
If you’re someone who’s looking to experience ski terrain and a culture, made famous by ski heroes of the past, then a Squaw Valley ski vacation should be right up your alley. Plus, this Lake Tahoe ski resort offers plenty of lodging and dining options to suit everyone's off-mountain interests.
A lot of skiing’s best and brightest moments have happened at Squaw Valley. The first televised Olympics took place at Squaw Valley in 1960. The resort, whose chairlifts were an engineering masterpiece in their day, propelled the North American ski industry into world-wide recognition in a time when Europe was considered the best place to ski. Squaw Valley is also considered one of the birthplaces of extreme or big mountain skiing thanks to its iconic lines off of Squaw Peak. Many pro-skiers and snowboarders call Squaw home, and on any given day you can see them “ripping” legendary lines from the chairlift. Squaw was the late Shane McConkey’s stomping grounds, and you can still experience his fun-loving legacy on a Squaw ski vacation.
Stay
... in beautiful North Lake Tahoe
Ski
... legendary runs on some of the most dramatic terrain in the Sierra
Travel
... by flying into Reno International Airport
Enjoy
... a diverse offering of activities and dining options
Explore
... the steeps off KT-22
Taste
... delicacies from fine restaurants in both Olympic Valley and Truckee
Treat
... yourself to a relaxing afternoon in the high altitude pool at High Camp
Experience
... "Squallywood" by riding up the KT-22 chair on a powder day
Ski Squaw Valley
With so many current and past ski legends calling Squaw home, you can imagine that the terrain trends towards expert. Similar to Jackson Hole, Squaw is a skier’s mountain, meaning it’s best enjoyed by hardcore skiers and snowboarders. Experts have options ranging from the fun, groomed steeps of the Women’s Downhill trail to a multitude of chutes, couloirs, huge cliffs and cornices that litter the resort’s ridge-line boundary between KT-22 peak and Granite Thief. The cool thing about Squaw is that all of these legendary lines are right below the chairlifts, so everyone can experience the “Squallywood” show. If you’re looking to get extreme, there are few resorts that can offer challenge-seekers what Squaw can.
Intermediates will also be pleased with the entirely-blue run area between Solitude chairlift and Shirely Lake Express. And beginners will find they too can enjoy watching the daring feats up on the mountain thanks to the Gold Coast Express chairlift, which carries skiers nearly all the way up to the 8,700-foot Emigrant peak, and accesses a myriad of green runs. First time adult and children skiers or snowboarders have two world-class beginner zones at the base of the resort, ensuring they learn in a comfortable environment. Park skiers and snowboarders will also be pleased to know that Squaw partners with Snow Park Technologies to design and build state-of-the-art terrain parks, from the challenging Gold Coast parks with their nearly 30 features to the Snoventures Start Park at the base of the mountain.
Best known for:
Luxury Vacation
Expert Skiing
Intermediate Skiing
Mountain Stats
Skiable Area:
6000
acVertical Drop:
2851
ftSnowfall:
0
in
Current Weather
38°F
High:31°FLow:27°F
Current Conditions
- Last24Hrs:
0 in
- Last48Hrs:
5 in
- Base:
24 in
What the experts are saying
Great snow, awesome mountain for experts!
Best resort ever!
I went there for the first time ever last year. Wow, what a fun place.
Awesome Snow
Great spring skiing is this massive resort. We had feet of snow when we were there, can't wait to go back.
EXPERT REVIEWS (1)
- 4.0Family Vacation
- 3.0Nightlife
- 4.0Dining
- 4.0Accommodations
- 3.0Budget Vacation
- 4.0Activities
- 4.0Luxury Vacation
- 3.0Beginner Skiing
- 5.0Intermediate Skiing
- 5.0Expert Skiing
- NRTerrain Park
- NRShopping
- 4.0Spa
- 4.0Access
- 3.0Ski-in Ski-out
Key:
1=Poor 2=Fair 3=Average 4=Good 5=Excellent
Reviews
Great snow, awesome mountain for experts!
Good
Squaw Valley is an absolute mecca for expert skiers, with morethan 6,000 skiable acres. Most of the terrain is intermediate or advanced, so there's not a whole lot there for beginners, but there is a bonus: the ski school, and all the beginner terrain, begins on the top of the mountain, so you don't have to miss the views! The gondola will take you right over the area that inspired Walt Disney's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, so even if you're not a skier, it's worth the ride up! Don't forget to check out the Olympic Museum, too, as Squaw Valley hosted the 1960 Olympic Winter Games.
The village area is undergoing some renovations that will make it even more beautiful, but there are lots of different lodging options that are available! The ski school, as previously mentioned, is fantastic, and it's a breeze getting your gear at the rental shops in the village. After a long day, don't forget to check out Rockers and the Plumpjack Hotel for a great apres scene!
Best to go mid-week for fewer crowds, as everyone drives in from all around California to ski Squaw on the weekends.
