Alpine Meadows Ski Resort

Located in the Tahoe National Forest at Lake Tahoe's North Shore, Alpine Meadows Ski Resort is known for its 'mild side' and its 'wild side' because of its Open Boundary Policy. The resort is open from mid-November into May and offers skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and winter hiking on the mountains and the back bowls.

Whatever your personal adventure zone, with plenty of natural snow and nightly grooming, these mountains are ready to rip. As you glide up the mountain, your adrenaline will be pumping. As you slide off the lift, you'll swallow your heart as you inhale the inspirational vistas. The possibilities sprawl across 2,000 acres of diverse terrain on two mountains. Wide-open bowls for easy cruising. Solitary trails through the trees. Drop-ins to the steep and the deep.

This is a resort where skiers and boarders can graduate to off-piste terrain, mastering skills along the marked runs and then slowly stretching to ski the trees, unmarked runs and hike-to bowls. 

Alpine Meadows has 13 lifts and 100+ runs and trails. The base elevation of the mountain is 6,835 feet and the summit is 8,637 feet, making for a vertical drop of 1,802 feet. The longest run is 3.0 miles. The average snowfall is 402 inches. The resort rarely needs to employ it's snowmaking machines which can lay down two to four feet on all the runs. The terrain is rated 25% easier, 40% more difficult and 35% more expert.

Main Mountain Trail Map

Back Bowl Trail Map

Activities 

For more information about activities at Alpine Meadows, see our directory or visit Alpine Meadows . 

Snowboarding

Alpine Meadows welcomes snowboarders with open arms. The machine-made terrain parks feature hits, jumps, spines, banks and table tops. The natural terrain areas have creek gullies and natural halfpipes and quarterpipes. Check out Alpine's halfpipe park and its two terrain parks -- for little kids and one for big kids.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoers are welcome at Alpine Meadows. As a partnership with the Tahoe National Forest Service, Alpine offers marked trails that begin near the lodge and meander through the old-growth forests around the base of the mountain. Atlas snowshoe rentals are available on-site.

Backcountry Hiking

At Alpine Meadows you can enjoy and off-the-beaten-path hiking adventure. Alpine's Adventure Zones provide an experience similar to backcountry, within the patrolled ski area boundary. Alpine's open-boundary policy allows guests to exit and enter the ski area at will to access thousands of backcountry acres in the Tahoe National Forest.

NEW! Alpine High Adventure Tours

Guided by a Level III instructor, this tour offers advanced skiers and snowboarders an experience like no other. The runs accessed will not be found on any map. The tour includes lunch and shuttle transportation back to the main lodge from remote areas.

Ski Instruction and Equipment Rental

Adult programs include group lessons, special interest clinics and private lessons. Snowboarders are invitied to participate in group lessons. A variety of programs are offered for children to help them develop their natural sense of adventure. The Tahoe Adaptive Ski School has helped thousands of students of all ages to meet the challenge of skiing with a disability. Adaptive skiing instruction is by appointment only. Call 530-581-41651. Alpine Meadows has a well-stocked ski and snowboard equipment rentals shop.

Master's Race Course

Challenge yourself to become a better skier, skiing gates under the guidance of experienced racer/coaches! Starting December 6, three-hour race training clinics will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily.

Mountain Lodge and Restaurants

Alpine Meadows offers guests easy and convenient access to a variety of dining options. The base lodge includes a full-service restaurant, cafeteria, deli, boulangerie and a large sundeck. The Chalet is an on-mountain, full-service restaurant that is perfect for midmountain breaks. And at the base of Sherwood chair in the back bowls, the Ice Bar offers a snack bar. You can enjoy great tunes and a laid-back atmosphere in the cocktail lounge.

Family Ski Zone

At last there is a safe haven to learn to ski and gain confidence before venturing out with the ski demons! The Family Ski Zone is a moderate slope for those who wish to ski or snowboard with family and friends at a leisurely, relaxed pace.

Parents' Lounge

The Parents' Lounge is a great indoor play alternative for little kids, featuring indoor jungle gyms and play themes. Kids can romp and parents can recline, or vise versa!

NEW! Sun Kid Surface Lift

The new Sun Kid beginner surface lift is 80 feet in length and resembles the moving sidewalks found in many airports. It offers a mellow first-lift-experience for kids and novices.

Kids Camps

The Little Mountaineers Kids Camp is a great program for kids ages 4-6. The Junior Mountaineers Kids Camp is for kids ages 7-12.

After the snow season, come back and enjoy an Alpine Meadows summer!

Although the ski resort is closed during the summer, the Tahoe National Forest is open to picnickers, hikers, mountain bikers and wildflower gatherers.

Logistics

Winter Hours

Once the lifts are running, Alpine Meadows is open for skiing between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily.

Spring Hours

During the spring, Alpine Meadows is open for skiing between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. daily.

Ticket Sales

Tickets go on sale daily, one-half hour prior to lift operations. Half-day tickets go on sale at 12:00 noon.

Pricing

Alpine Meadows provides a wide variety of ticket programs and options to fit your vacation plans. There is sure to be a ticket option just right for you.

Information

(800) 441-4423
(530) 583-4232

24-hour Snow Phone

(530) 581-8374

Equipment Rental

Ski, snowboard, snowshoe and snowblade equipment rentals on-site.

Ski Shuttle System

The Alpine Meadows Shuttle transports skiers from the main road to the mountain base. Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) offers bus transportation on the North Shore between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. daily. Buses are equipped with ski racks. Call for routes and schedules.

TART: (800) 736-6365

Physical Address

Alpine Meadows Ski Resort
2600 Alpine Meadows Road
Alpine Meadows, CA 96146

Directions

By Plane
Frequent commercial service by most major and regional carriers to Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

All-Weather Highway Access

From Reno to South Lake Tahoe:
SR 395 south to U.S. HWY 50 west
58 miles, 1.25 hours

From South Lake Tahoe:
SR 89 north to Tahoe City, 6 miles northwest
44 miles, 1.0 hours

From San Francisco:
I-80 east
200 miles, 3.5 hours

From Sacramento:
I-80 east
120 miles, 2.0 hours