Boreal Mountain Playground

Located on scenic Donner Summit, Boreal Mountain Playground offers snow activities for everyone. Ski, snowboard, sled and play in the snow. Whatever your pleasure, you will discover a fun atmosphere, super-friendly employees and a host of special activities for all levels.

Boreal Mountain Playground has nine lifts and 36 runs. The base elevation of the mountain is 7,200 feet and the summit is 7,701 feet, making for a vertical drop of 501 feet. The longest run is one mile. Boreal averages 400 inches of snowfall annually (576 inches last season). The terrain is rated 30% easiest, 55% more difficult and 15% most difficult.

Boreal Mountain Playground offers everyone a top-of-the-mountain experience and spectacular views! The long meandering novice trails on Sunset and Sunrise Boulevards are perfect for children and beginners. In fact, beginners can keep coming back to Boreal and receive a free lesson until they do get a top-of-the-mountain experience!

Lift tickets are free for children under four and seniors 70+. The Nugget beginner chairlift is free for beginners and children when the mountain is 100% open.

And, Boreal has a cash back guarantee on lift tickets if your experience is not top notch within your first 30 minutes.

When you want a change of pace, visit the Playland Sledding area and ride a saucer down the sledding lanes or spend some time in the Snowplay area with friends and family.

Main Mountain Trail Map

Activites

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

Snowboarding

Boreal's freestyle parks are open to skiers and snowboarders of all ages and levels.

The children's park is called "The Zoo" and is located off of the Nugget chairlift. The family park is called "The Zoo Too" and is located off of the Lost Dutchman chairlift. Both of these parks offer gently rolling terrain variations that are lots of fun and perfect for all levels of skiers and boarders.

Advanced skiers and boarders can challenge the gravity-defying Jibassic Park, Halfpipe or Night Line Park and enjoy nonstop fun while polishing their skills.

NEW! Donner Ski Ranch Interconnect

California's first interconnect with Donner Ski Ranch. Just add $5 to the purchase of an all-day ticket and you will be able to ski and ride two mountains.

Western Ski Sport Museum

Located in the Base Lodge, this museum chronicles the evolution of the sport and the equipment. The museum is open between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Admission is free!

Ski Instruction and Equipment Rentals

Boreal is committed to making learning to ski and snowboard easy and fun. Over 29,000 people learned to ski and snowboard in the Boreal ski programs during the 1997-98 season! This year Boreal is implementing the Primary Movements teaching methodology. By using the Primary Movements system and state-of-the-art shaped ski equipment, every skier now has the potential to excel out of the beginner stage and become an intermediate and advanced skier faster. Skiers and boarders ages 13+ can choose from the "EasySki Learn to Turn" and "Skill Improvement Package" programs. Skiers and boarders ages 8-12 can choose from the "EasySki Learn to Turn," "Explore the Mountain" and "FreeRider Camp" programs. Halfpipe Camps rip every Saturday, conditions permitting. Private lessons and Telemark and Halfpipe/Freestyle clinics are also offered. Boreal has a well-stocked ski and snowboard equipment rentals shop.

Mountain Lodge and Restaurant

The Base Lodge at Boreal offers guests easy and convenient access to foods and beverages. There is a cafeteria, barbecue on the deck and a bar. The convenient Family Meeting Center is a nonsupervised area with play stations and changing tables for moms and dads who are taking care of little ones. There are rental lockers for storing your belongings.

Animal Crackers Children's Snow School

Success and lifetime memories is the philosophy behind the Children's Snow School programs. The innovative Quick-Skills method incorporates fun activity with state-of-the-art equipment at every level from beginner to advanced. Children are active, out on the mountain, riding the chairlift, learning new skills and exploring the parks designed just for little ones. The Animal Crackers program is for skiers ages 4-6. The Snow Rangers program is for skiers ages 7-10. Half and full-day programs are offered and include lift ticket, rental, helmet and lesson. Full-day programs include lunch. Private lessons are available for skiers ages 3-10 and snowboarders ages 5+. Reservations are recommended.

Kids Karnival

Join Crackers the Bear for the Kids Karnival the first Sunday of every month. Enjoy fun skiing activities and games for children and parents.

After the snow season, come back and enjoy a Boreal Mountain "summer" Playground!

Logistics

Hours

Once the lifts are running, Boreal Mountain Playground is open for skiing daily between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Twilight Skiing is in effect between 3:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. nightly, weather permitting.

Ticket Sales

Tickets go on sale daily, one-half hour prior to lift operations. Twilight Skiing tickets go on sale at 3:30 p.m. Twilight Skiing is free with the purchase of a daytime lift ticket.

Pricing

Boreal Mountain Playground 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

(530) 426-3666

24-hour Snow Phone

(530) 426-3666

Equipment Rental

Ski and snowboard equipment rentals on-site.

Physical Address

Boreal Mountain Playground
19659 Boreal Ridge Rd
Truckee, CA 96161

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:
U.S. HWY 395 south to U.S. HWY 50 west
58 miles, 1.25 hours

From South Lake Tahoe:
SR 89 north to Truckee, I-80 west to the Castle Peak exit
57 miles, 1.0 hours

From San Francisco:
I-80 east to the Castle Peak exit
170 miles, 3.0 hours

From Sacramento:
I-80 east to the Castle Peak exit
80 miles, 1.5 hours