California is the third largest state in the United States of America. It is officially nicknamed the Golden State for a lot of reasons; two major ones being – First, gold was discovered in this state in middle 1800s and second, because every spring, golden poppies can be seen swaying in its fields till as far as the eye goes.
Lying on the Western Coast of the country, California is geographically so diverse that if you spend days travelling in the state, you still might not be through with all the spots it is famous for, like the Golden Gate Bridge, its National Parks, beaches and mountains. You will probably be surprised how cold the mountains are in California, so please dress warmly. If you are in need of some new gear, here is a list of the best ski jackets and best base layers for skiers.
The mountains in California house some of the best ski resorts in the world. The top 5 have been shortlisted here.
- Squaw Valley Ski Resort
Squaw Valley Ski Resort lying in the Olympic Valley can be found to the west of Lake Tahoe in Sierra Nevada. It fits into the category of one of the largest ski resorts in all of USA. The Resort also hosted Winter Olympics in 1960. The Resort is especially unique because it has the only funitel within USA. Around 600,000 people frequent the Resort annually.
- Northstar California
Previously called Northstar-at-Tahoe, this Ski Resort is located in Placer County. As the name suggests, it is near the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe. Across 3,170 acres of terrain lie its trails of which 60% are suitable for intermediate level skiers. There are a lot of groomers willing to help and teach the nuanced skills of skiing to even the beginners. 350 inches of snow falls annually at this Resort.
- Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Kirkwood is one of the few resorts that are found towards the southern end of Lake Tahoe. This Resort is especially famous for a skiing terrain that caters largely to advanced skiers. It is different from other resorts because it is open throughout the year. While in winter, people visit it to ski and snow-board, during the summer, people engage in activities such as mountain-biking and hiking.
- Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
This is a medium sized Ski Resort. In the region of Lake Tahoe, this Resort is famous for its rich history. The terrain for advanced skiers is significantly high here and is thus a great option for them. It has a lot to its credit like the fact that it was the first Area to get a chairlift and a gondola lift installed on the West Coast in Africa.
- June Mountain Ski Area
The number one reason why this ski resort is a special favorite of all those from the Southern part of California is that it is in more close proximity to that region as compared to the resorts surrounding Lake Tahoe. Small towns which surround Mono County frequently visit this resort and are also dependent on it for income they earn from tourists. Locals from these small towns and the schools in the nearby areas also use the resort for school ski programs. The resort is also popular with race teams.
