Northstar-At-Tahoe

High in the mountains, nestled amid Alpine forests and pristine meadows, a secluded resort waits to escort you into a world of adventure. Northstar is a scenic haven sprinkled with forests of evergreen and aspen that rests beneath skies of brilliant blue. The bright sunshine and crisp mountain air will energize you. The higher you climb, the better the vistas that stretch for miles and miles. The world's most beautiful Alpine Lake glistens a short distance away. The winter's abundant snow offers first-class skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

Test your skis. Grab your board. Adjust your shades. Take off! Twelve lifts, including four express quad chairs, will soar you above leg-burning moguls and long, well-groomed runs that go on and on for 2,420 skiable acres. The 66 tree-lined trails, half with snowmaking, offer terrain to suit everyone's style -- 25% beginner, 50% intermediate and 25% advanced. Northstar machines groom one to three runs between 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. daily for fresh afternoon tracks.

The base elevation of Northstar's Mt. Pluto is 6,330 feet and the summit elevation is 8,610, making for a vertical drop of 2,280 feet. The longest run is 2.6 miles. On the backside of the mountain there are eight, mile-long advanced runs and 220 acres of off-piste terrain that await advanced to expert skiers. Guided snowcat tours are offered daily to the north side of Lookout Mountain, challenging expert skiers and snowboarders with another 200 acres of ungroomed, off-piste terrain. Snowcat tours offer a sneak peek at three newly cut runs on the site of a new chair to be added summer 2000.

Main Mountain Trail Map

Activities 

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

Snowboarding

The entire mountain is open to snowboarders who love twisting and shouting on the specially groomed runs with fun-in-the-sun terrain features. Show your stuff and ride with the best of them. Or put in a few practice runs until you master the terrain. When you need to regroup, the Epicenter is a fun place to hang, listen to tunes and catch the daily video of local riders.

Northstar-at-Tahoe's Terrain Parks were recently rated in the Top 5 in North America by Ski Magazine. Check out Lake Tahoe's longest continuous Terrain park as well as Pinball and Martis Landing off the Vista Express chair, the Gully off Lookout and Jibbom off Comstock Express. From dragon tails to magic moguls, these runs are a pure blast. The Ground Zero Terrain Park has two halfpipes and terrain features.

Northstar-at-Tahoe offers FREE snowboard lessons daily to intermediate and advanced riders ages 13 and older. Whether eager to learn a new trick or lay down a better carve, your guide will gladly lead you to knew skills in this 1 3/4 hour session.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is a great alternative to cross-country skiing. Enjoy traveling in the winter snow without learning the skills of skiing. You can snowshoe all 65 kilometers of the cross-country trail system and the entire mountain! You can rent snowshoes at the Cross-Country Center. Call (530) 562-2475 for more information.

Cross-Country Skiing

There's something to say about taking off on your own and leaving the rest of the world behind. Whether you're on an escorted tour with a small group of friends, or solo on the trails, you will love the serenity and beauty of exploring the surrounding forest.

Northstar offers 65 kilometers of groomed trails for track skiing and skating. The trail system is near downhill slopes for telemarking enthusiasts. The scenic trails include views of Lake Tahoe. Warming huts and picnic tables are located throughout the trail system.

You can rent equipment in all three cross-country styles for all ages and abilities and sign up for lessons at the Cross-Country Center. Call (530) 562-2475 for more information.

Polaris Park

This exciting "after dark adventure" headquarters has been redesigned to be more convenient to the entire family. Polaris Park is open on weekends and holiday periods for nightime activities. Guests will be able to experience all Northstar has to offer under a canopy of stars. Ride the halfpipe. Try out twin-tip skis. Snowshoe. Tube. Sit around a bonfire. You can also take the spirit indoors and enjoy a ski beverage and light food, listen to music and participate in crazy games. Polaris Park is located at the Lodge at Big Springs.

Tubing Hill

Snowtubing will be serviced by two different pull lifts this season. Both are located conveniently adjacent to the Gondola and Lodge at Big Springs and allow for a super ride and great vista points. Riders must meet a height requirement and children under five must ride with an adult.

First Tracks

The early bird gets "fresh snow" with Northstar's First Tracks program. First Tracks skiers and boarders begin their morning at 7:45 a.m. on the front side of the mountain. When the gondola opens to the public at 9:30 a.m., the early birds already have burning quads. First Tracks is available weekends and holidays.

Recreational Racing

Recreational racing is offered daily between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  Sign up at the Toyota Race Arena at the top of the Main Street run off the Arrow Express quad chairlift.

Free Ski & Snowboard Lessons

Intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders ages 13 and older seeking new skills and fresh insights may participate in Northstar's Vertical Improvement Program. These completely free 1 3/4 hour lessons are offered daily throughout the season every hour between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. You will be invited to join others at your same skill level looking to break out of a rut or just see a little more of the mountain.

Ski Instruction and Equipment Rentals

Tune up your style with private and group lessons. Northstar's professional Ski and Snowboard School's staff of 200 instructors is one of the most innovative in the West. Programs are designed to smooth out your turns and put you back in control, whether you are a first-time skier/rider or a seasoned expert, ages 13+. Choose from Starkids for children ages 5-12 to advanced and specialty clinics for women, men and seniors. A variety of free skill improvement group clinics are offered daily on-mountain. Northstar has a well-stocked ski and snowboard equipment rentals shop.

Mountain Lodge and Restaurants

Northstar offers guests easy and convenient access to a variety of dining options. The newly remodeled Lodge at Big Springs is an on-mountain cafeteria where you can also enjoy pizza and barbecue and choose indoor or outdoor seating. On mountaintop, the rebuilt summit Deck & Grille offers Sante Fe Grille, Santa Maria BBQ, microbrews and outdoor seating on a 5,000 square foot deck with views of Lake Tahoe. This season Northstar has added 120 new indoor seats allowing visitors to enjoy the best food in the Sierra's in all weather. At the Cross-Country Center, the Nordic Café is open for lunch. In the Village, there are several more dining options.

Minors' Camp Child Care Center

Minors' Camp is a state-licensed child care center that is open daily between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. during the winter season for children ages 2-6. Children must be toilet trained to enroll. Parents must remain on Northstar premises while a child is enrolled. The center's experienced personnel will create a stimulating environment that will fascinate your child all day long. Supervised full and half-day sessions include recreational and educational activities, lunch and snacks. Learn-to-ski options that include equipment are available for children ages 3-6. Call 530-562-2278 for reservations. Parents! Trained instructors offer a FREE hour of tips on skiing with your kids at
2:30 p.m. Sunday through Friday.

During the Winter, Northstar-at-Tahoe also offers snowmobiling tours.

After the snow season, come back and enjoy a Northstar-at-Tahoe summer!

Logistics

Hours

Once the lifts are running, Northstar-at-Tahoe is open for skiing daily between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Ticket Sales

Tickets go on sale daily at 8:15 a.m. Half-day tickets go on sale at 12:30 p.m.

Pricing

Northstar-at-Tahoe 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) 562-1010

24-hour Snow Phone

(530) 562-1330

Equipment Rental

Ski, snowboard and snowshoe equipment rentals on-site.

Ski Shuttle System

Northstar operates a FREE shuttle service on a daily basis from December 13 thru April 5 from locations at Incline Village, Crystal Bay, Kings Beach and Tahoe Vista. The Truckee Trolley provides transportation to Northstar from a variety of Truckee locations on the half hour.

Information: (530) 562-2257

The Northstar shuttle connects with the Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) which offers bus transportation on the North Shore between 6:30 am and 6:30 p.m. daily. Buses are equipped with ski racks. Call for routes and schedules.

TART: (800) 736-6365

Northstar offers FREE group shuttle transportation for 20 passengers or more from the North and South Shores, Truckee, Reno and the North Shore docking point of the Hornblower Paddlewheeler.

Group Reservations: (530) 562-2265

Physical Address

Northstar-at-Tahoe
100 Northstar Drive
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:
SR 395 south to U.S. HWY 50 west
58 miles, 1.25 hours

From South Lake Tahoe:
SR 89 north, SR 28 north, SR 267 north to six miles north of Truckee
45 miles, 1.0 hours

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

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