NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE
TheTahoeWeekly.com
Know Before Visiting Carry a face mask at all times & use it when close to others or indoors. Masks are required for everyone in California and for most counties in Nevada regardless of vaccine status as of press time for this guide. | covid19.ca.gov, nvhealthresponse. nv.gov Some resorts may require proof of vaccination for ages 12 and older for indoor dining. Buy a pass for the best deal. Purchase all tickets, rentals and lessons in advance online. There will be limited or no on-site sales. Some resorts may require ordering food in advance online or through an app. Download ski area apps in advance of visiting. Be prepared & dress for being outdoors all day, including eating outdoors.
note:Clair Tappaan and Grover Hot
Avoid long traffic lines and limited parking by taking shuttles or public transportation to ski areas.
Springs State Park will not be open for the 2021-22 winter season.
biathlon
cat skiing
10
dog friendly
gondola
food
hot springs
Stay home if you’re not feeling well or have been in contact with someone not well.
nordic ski
camping
tubing & sledding
back-country access
night skiing/ snowshoeing
back-country huts
ice skating
ropes course
mini snowmobiling
fat tire biking
snow shoeing
long boarding
downhill skiing
Courtesy Nevada Nordic
Carry a credit card. Many resorts use cashless systems.
December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022
NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE
Courtesy Auburn Ski Club Courtesy ASC Training Center
asc training center
50 20
30
NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED
% of terrain
SKI.BIKE.RUN
kilometers
25 # of trails
20 grooming
25km warming huts
1
Events Dec. 31 | NYE Night Race Jan. 9 | Snowshoe Thompson Classic March 26 | Nordic Skier X The ASC trails are open to the public with the 25km trail system groomed nightly to competition standards providing an always-perfect snow surface. Wide, overlapping loops accommodate all abilities with a lot of terrain options that keeps skiers no more than 5km from the lodge. At 7,200 feet elevation, its season is the longest in the Sierra. Night skiing | ASC is introducing cross-country night skiing for the 2021-22 winter season as part of a
pilot program with 1km of lighted trails available Wednesday and Friday until 7:30 p.m. through early January. Regular trail passes are also good for night skiing. ASC is in the planning stages for a permanent project to install highintensity LED lighting on 2.3km of cross-country trails in 2022 with plans for another 3.88km in the future.
Connect with Friends. Connect with Nature.
Day passes & equipment | Day passes are available for purchase in the lodge office. For the 2021-22 season no daily rental equipment will be available due to supply chain issues. Call ahead for updates. n
Groomed trails with Lake Tahoe views
asctrainingcenter.org
FREE skiing for youth and 70+
Lessons, clinics, and rentals
tahoexc.org | 530.583.5475
bijou community park
kilometers
4 warming huts
0 Bijou Community Park features 4km of marked trails that is mostly flat and great for beginners centrally located in South Lake Tahoe. Free access | There is no fee for skiing or snowshoeing. No rentals or services are available on site. Fun for all | The park features a historic railroad exhibit, skateboard park and fenced dog park. n
(530) 542-6056, cityofslt.us
Visit www.asctrainingcenter.org to learn more about our Nordic, Biathlong, Snowboarding, and Alpine opportunities for youth and athletes of all levels. Interstate 80, Castle Peak exit · 530-426-3313 · info@asctrainingcenter.org 11
NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE
TheTahoeWeekly.com
Know Your Snow BY T I M H AU S E R M A N
B
ack in 2007 I wrote the book “Cross Country Skiing in the Sierra Nevada.” The most fun section to write was about the different names we come up for the types of snow encountered by cross-country skiers in the Sierra. Here is an abbreviated version that is geared toward skate skiers. Boilerplate | This is that rock-solid, shiny-as-a-piece-of-quartz snow. Snow might be a misnomer as it is closer to ice. Boilerplate occurs early in a ski season when there has not been that much snow and the little amount there is fell a few weeks ago. And it is cold. This icy snow is hard to edge and requires you to ski on top of your skis. It can be downright dangerous, especially on steep downhill sections. The only way to avoid boilerplate conditions is to ski later in the day when it has had a chance to soften up. Better yet, stay home and pray for snow.
This icy snow is hard to edge and requires you to ski right on top of your skis. It can be downright dangerous, especially on steep downhill sections. The only way to avoid boilerplate conditions is to ski later in the day when it has had a chance to soften up. Hardpack | One step softer from boilerplate is hardpack. While still firm and icy, you can usually get a bit of an edge and are less likely to slide off the trail into a tree. In springtime, hardback is often called crusty or morning crust. Skiers who like hardpack call it fast as in: “Yeah, the conditions were fast this morning.” Skiers who don’t like hardpack call it boilerplate. Firm | Next up on the firmness scale is firm. For skate skiers, firm is usually pretty good skiing and for striders, as long as the terrain is not too difficult, it can be good skiing, as well. Soft and Buttery, Silk, Butter, Just Right, Awesome, Corn | The better the snow for skiing, the more names it has. For cross-country skiing, this is as good as it gets. Not too hard, not too soft, but right in the middle. Goldilocks, who obviously was a big cross-country skier, thinks it is just right. Often snow will be hardpack, then firm, then just perfect as the day pro-
12
Courtesy NLTRA
gresses. Silk snow is fast but forgiving and will always put a smile on your face. The problem with just right snow is that it often doesn’t last long. Once the snow becomes flawless it will soon change to soft and sticky. In the morning, you may encounter several different types of snow. Hardpack in the shade of the trees, soft and buttery where the sun just hit, and soft and sticky in the areas that have been sunny all morning. Soft and sticky | Once the sun really hits the snow it can get sticky. The right wax can help but it’s best to be off the trails before the snow brings your skis to a halt. The initial phase of soft and sticky snow is still fast and fun to ski in, but as the hours progress and the temperatures rise, the snow slowly turns into the dreaded … Glob, mashed potatoes, glue | This is the snow that really fits its name. Soft, dirty, sticky, gluey, messy — yuck. It’s best to avoid if possible. This snow is also known as Sierra Cement. It is once again time to pray for snow. When your prayers are finally answered and a big storm brings in a fresh new load (also known as a major dump) it is time to experience several other types of snow. Powder or groomed powder | During or right after a big storm, the snow is cold and dry: beautiful but slow conditions for a skate skier. This is the time to classic ski or if you ski both downhill and cross-country, this is the day to hit the downhill slopes (except for the fact that everyone else in the world will be at the downhill slopes). If there has been more than 1 foot of snow and the trails have only been groomed once or twice, you may punch through with your
skis not staying on top of the snow. Slow, slow, slow. It is, however, a great workout and if the snow is really coming down, it can be spectacularly beautiful, but don’t expect to set any speed records. Firm powder | A day or two after the powder, when the snow has been groomed at least a few times, you will find firm powder. The downhill resorts call this packed powder and they still call it packed powder three weeks later when it has progressed to boilerplate. While firm powder is not as fast as hardpack, it has sped up a bit and you will no longer punch through the snow. This is a great time to be skiing — especially if the trees are still laden with snow and the air is crisp and cool.
OTHER TYPES OF SNOW Off-piste skating | Skate skiing is best done on groomed skating lanes, except for a brief period when the off-piste (offtrail) conditions set up perfectly. If it hasn’t snowed in a few weeks and it is freezing at night and above freezing during the day, a flat meadow can firm up to the point where you can ski around without sinking. Be sure to take full advantage of these blissful conditions. Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area’s Antone Meadows (off Red) and Stump Meadows (off Gold) are good choices for off-piste, along with Tahoe Meadows off Highway 431, Meeks Meadows on the West Shore and Van Sickle BiState Park on the South Shore. Sun Cups | Late in the spring, after lots of warm days and cold nights without any new snowfall, the snow surface can start to look like a giant golf ball. The sunny flats and slopes are covered with little round dimples known as sun cups. They can be
anywhere from a few inches deep to 1 foot or more. Skiing across a meadow full of sun cups is a rough and bouncy affair, sort of like water skiing outside the wake on a rough day. Since sun cups occur late in the spring when much of the snow has melted, they are nature’s way of telling you to tune up your mountain bike. Frozen ruts | In the spring, skiers, snowshoers and dogs make deep tracks in the mashed potatoes during the day. These ruts then freeze overnight. At groomed ski areas an evening groom of the trail deals with this problem. This is perhaps the worst snow condition. The ruts catch your skis and are treacherous. Sugar | If snow has been groomed many times and the temperatures are still cold you get sugar. It looks and acts like fresh sugar granules (except it will not improve the taste of your coffee). Skiing downhill or on the flats in the sugar can be fun, but if it is deep and you are going uphill it can be a struggle.
Plan Your Day Early winter | If there has not been that much snow for a while and the days are cold, watch out for boilerplate. Ski later in the day when the snow has had a chance to soften up and hope for a big dump. Midwinter | After a big storm, you might want to stride the first day and skate after that. Springtime | Get out early, but not too early. You want to make sure you enjoy that brief period of butter but be close to home by the time it turns to glob. n
December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022
& marina
state park
Courtesy Donner Memorial State Park
Courtesy California State Parks
historic resort
donner memorial Courtesy Camp Richardson
camp richardson
NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE
67 20
13
NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED
% of terrain kilometers
kilometers
16+
35
Events Feb. 18 | Donner Relief Expedition
# of trails
# of trails
Donner Memorial State Park has more than 16km of trails throughout the park. Although the trails are not groomed, visitors can make his or her own route to Schallenberger Ridge, Coldstream Canyon or along the shores of Donner Lake.
5
6+
grooming
grooming
no
10km
warming huts
warming huts
Camp Richardson’s Mountain Sports Center provides 10km of groomed and marked trails for beginners to experts.
Donner Party anniversary | The park is named for the infamous Donner Party that was trapped on or near the grounds of the present-day park during the winter of 1846-47. This winter marks the 175th anniversary of those tragic events. Read more about the Donner Party in Tahoe Weekly’s ongoing series available at TheTahoeWeekly.com. Click on Donner Party under the Explore Tahoe menu.
0
resort and along the shores of Lake Tahoe. The Beacon Bar and Grill and General Store are both open for the winter. n
Several trails head out from the center looping through the open forest to the shores of Fallen Leaf Lake. Two other shorter trails meander through the grounds of the
parks.ca.gov camprichardson.com
Free trail access | Access to the trails is free; parking is $5 for the winter. Dogs are welcome but must be on leash and are not allowed on marked ski trails. Annual parking pass | Purchase a Tahoe Regional Parking Pass for $75 good at all the state parks in the Tahoe region for a year. Available in the museum or at parks.ca.gov. Donner Project | The Sierra State Parks Foundation is fundraising to restore the more than 100-year-old Pioneer Monument at the park. Donate at sierrastateparks.org. n
parks.ca.gov
kirkwood cross country Courtesy Granlibakken Tahoe
granlibakken tahoe
75 25
& snowshoe center 60
20
20
0 NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED
NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED
% of terrain
% of terrain
kilometers
kilometers
7.5
80
# of trails
# of trails
2
Events Dec. 31 | New Year’s Eve Celebration
grooming
1.5 miles warming huts
1
Cross-country skiers and snowshoers can explore the historic resort’s 74 acres. Follow a 1.5-mile trail around the property and a groomed access trail to Paige Meadows (flat-groomed, without stride-skiing tracks) when weather and snow conditions permit. All tickets for skiing, riding and tubing must be purchased in advance online. Family Fun | The resort offers popular tubing lanes served by
snowmaking systems along with the Benny the Bear snow play area, which is open daily in the winter. Skiing & Riding | The ski hill and ski school are open Friday to Sunday during the season and daily during holidays. There is also a Nordic trail around the property and an access trail to Page Meadows. Kids sled free | Kids younger than 3 sled for free. Treetop park | The Tahoe City Treetop Park located at the resort offers aerial adventures for ages 5 and older. n
17 grooming
80km warming huts
3
Events Dec. 31 | Torchlight Parade TBA | Banked Slalom Jan. 29-30 | Freeride Junior Tour
Kirkwood is for the avid adventurer looking for back-country opportunities with a range of clinics and private guides.
Offering 80km of groomed trails at 7,800 feet, Kirkwood features three interconnected trail systems and two trailhead facilities with parking areas.
Masks | Face coverings will be required in indoor settings including in restaurants, lodging properties, restrooms, retail and rental locations, and on buses. Face coverings will not be required outdoors, in lift lines, or on chairlifts or gondolas, unless required by local regulations.
Fat Bikes | Rent a fat bike or bring your own to explore three interconnected trail systems. Dogs welcome | Dogs are allowed on the High Trail located behind the Kirkwood Inn and the Outer Loop on the meadow. Kids ski free | Kids ages 4 & younger ski free. Expedition: Kirkwood | Expedition:
granlibakken.com
kirkwood.com
Dining | Guests will be required to book a reservation to eat at many onmountain restaurants. As well, guests 12 and older will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations to dine at indoor, on-mountain quickservice (cafeteria-style) restaurants. n
Courtesy Kirkwood Mountain Resort
0
The Donner Relief Expedition will reenact the 1st Relief Party mission to save the pioneers from Feb. 14 to 18. | forlornhope.org
NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE
TheTahoeWeekly.com
Snow Trails
Courtesy LTCC
ltcc nordic center
SKI TOURING, SNOWSHOEING & SNOWMOBILING Explore more snow trails at TheTahoeWeekly.com. Click on the Winter tab under the Get Outside menu. See the Events calendar for guided snowshoe treks.
CABIN CREEK TRAIL Easy to moderate
Marked route follows old logging roads and Cabin Creek Road for 3 to 6 miles. The terrain has gentle, rolling slopes. Cabin Creek Road south of Truckee on Highway 89. The unmarked trailhead is 1 mile from the highway. Limited parking is available in a road cut, when plowed.
DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK Easy | (530) 582-7892 or parks.ca.gov
The park is mostly flat and open year-round. Skiers can enjoy the forests and boulder fields, glide down to the lake and meander through the park. Unmarked, 9.6-km, skier-packed trail starting near the Emigrant Trail Museum. For the more adventuresome, glide over the hills into Coldstream Canyon. Parking fee. TART
LITTLE TRUCKEE SUMMIT
Easy to advanced | (530) 994-3401 or fs.usda.gov Marked routes with 110 miles of groomed trails follow roads to Webber Lake and Yuba Pass, Rim and Ridge Loops, Bald Ridge Loop and Treasure Mountain, Pass Creek Loop, Independence Lake Loop, Meadow Lake Loop and Jackson Meadow. Trailhead at Jackson Meadow Road, 14 miles north of Truckee on Highway 89. Overnight camping OK in parking area. Heavy use.*
PETER GRUBB HUT & CASTLE PEAK
Moderate to advanced | clairtappaanlodge.com A marked Nordic ski trail begins at the Castle Peak/Boreal interchange on Donner Summit off Interstate 80, west of Truckee. Take the Castle Peak exit and follow it for one-quarter mile to the intersection for the trailhead to the north. Follow unmarked trail to Peter Grubb Hut. Overnight parking available at the Sno-Park*. For overnight stays at the hut, call (530) 426-3632 for reservations.
POLE CREEK TRAIL SYSTEM Easy to strenuous
Unmarked trails follow roads along Pole Creek and Silver Creek Drainages. Trailhead 6 miles south of Truckee on Highway 89. Some parking on west side of highway.
TAHOE MEADOWS Easy to advanced
On Mount Rose high above Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Meadows offers an expansive area where skiers can stretch their legs. Head up Highway 431 from Incline Village until you reach the meadows before the summit. South side designated for skiers and snowshoers, while the north side is designated for snowmobilers. Heavy weekend use.
WEST SHORE
BLACKWOOD CANYON Easy to advanced
The meadows in Blackwood Canyon offer a great place to get into the wilderness off Highway 89 on the West Shore. Follow Highway 89 south from Tahoe City and park at the Kaspian Recreation Area. Skiers can glide along the road (not plowed) or through the meadows. Snowmobilers should follow the road about 2.5 miles, then take a left across the bridge and continue up Barker Pass Road to large open areas, steep bowls and many roads. Limited parking.*
The Ed Z’berg/Sugar Pine Point State Park is a spectacular spot to cross-country ski or snowshoe among the dense forests of the West Shore or along Lake Tahoe’s shores. The park offers more than 18 km of marked ski trails. Three groomed trails begin at the campground, 9 miles south of Tahoe City, with two skier-packed trails on the lake side of the park, accessed from the Day Use entrance. Winter camping available. Guided tours and programs. Parking fee. TART
Easy to moderate
Steep canyon and side slopes at lower end of trail with 7 miles of groomed access. Upper elevations feature ridges and bowls. Route follows Rattlesnake Road to Magonigal Summit. Trailhead at Cisco Grove exit north off Interstate 80.*
Developed for beginners, this well-marked series of trails allows skiers to explore the area. Terrain is mostly flat and is good for the entire family. Take Highway 89 to Cathedral Road and park in the Sno-Park. Marked trails start at the parking lot with three trails near Fallen Leaf Lake. On the lake side of Highway 89, follow the road to access the Tallac Historic Trail.*
Brockway Summit off Highway 267 offers an abundance of areas to ski with turnouts on both sides of the highway where Nordic skiers and snowshoers can follow logging and utility roads. For snowmobilers, the best access and limited parking about one-quarter mile north of Brockway Summit below the top of Highway 267 on the Truckee side. No groomed trails, but many old lumber roads exist. Take a good map, as it’s easy to become turned around.
PAGE MEADOWS Easy to moderate
Ski or snowshoe along an old road that meanders through a forest and into a cluster of meadows. Take Highway 89 south from Tahoe City, then turn right on Pine Avenue and right on Tahoe Park Heights Road. At the crest of the hill, take the middle fork, which becomes Big Pine Road, then take a left on Silver Tip. The parking area is at the top of the road.
warming huts
0
Dogs are welcome; dogs must be leashed at trailheads and in parking lots. The center offers a variety of day and season passes. A grooming report and trail map are available online.n
ltccnordiccenter.weebly.com
nevada nordic
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
TAYLOR CREEK
Easy to advanced
5-7km
Easy to moderate | (530) 525-7982 or parks.ca.gov
RATTLESNAKE
BROCKWAY SUMMIT & MARTIS PEAK
grooming
The Nordic Center on the campus of Lake Tahoe Community College provides 5 to 7km of groomed trails for classic and skate skiing with views of Freel Peak and Job’s Sister. The center is operated by volunteers, and trails are groomed two to three times a week.
SUGAR PINE POINT STATE PARK
Sno-park on the south side of Highway 88 at Blue Lakes Road. Much of Hope Valley is open to snowmobiling, but some areas are not; stay in designated areas. Ungroomed routes to Willow Creek (8.5 miles) and Tamarack Lake (1 mile) and groomed routes to Blue Lakes (11.5 miles) and Forestdale (3.5 miles). Stage from Hope Valley Sno-Park.*
NORTH SHORE
5
Meeks Meadows on the West Shore off Highway 89 offers a vast area to ski. The trailhead is across from the Meeks Bay Fire Station; look for the log cabin with red trim. Follow the U.S. Forest Service road or meander through the meadow and down to Meeks Creek.
An unmarked route follows the road to the creek bottom. Lateral roads offer many side trips. Trailhead at Sagehen Summit on the west side of Highway 89, 8 miles north of Truckee. Limited parking.
Easy to advanced
# of trails
Easy | fs.usda.gov
HOPE VALLEY
CISCO GROVE
5-7
MEEKS MEADOWS
SAGEHEN SUMMIT Easy to moderate
kilometers
Courtesy NevadaSki Nordic Courtesy Johnsville Bowl
TRUCKEE
Easy | (530) 573-2600 or fs.usda.gov
MT. ROSE SYSTEM kilometers
17 # of trails
9+ grooming
17km SPOONER SYSTEM kilometers
LOST SIERRA
YUBA PASS
Easy to advanced | fs.usda.gov The route north from Yuba Pass off Highway 49 is popular for snowmobilers, and shares the trail system with Nordic skiers for the first mile before branching off. For skiers and snowshoers, the route goes north for 2 miles with views of the Sierra Valley, then leads west for 1 mile and rejoins the snowmobile trail. For a short loop, go south (a left) on the snowmobile route back to Yuba Pass. Alternately, you can continue west through a meadow for 1.5 miles, then head south (a left) onto the Lunch Creek Ski Trail 1.25 miles, then north (a left) on 3 Knobs Trail for 1.5 miles. 3 Knobs Trail ends back at the snowmobile trail. Snowmobilers can head north from the branch 1 mile in and travel through Gold Lake Highway. Then, head south to Bassett’s or north to Gold Lake. This route offers a variety of terrain and beautiful views of the Sierra Buttes and the Lakes Basin. More than 100 miles of trails. Take Highway 89 north of Truckee, and then take Highway 49 to Yuba Pass. Trailhead parking is 6 miles east of Bassett’s Station.*
8 # of trails
5+ grooming
8km
Nevada Nordic is a nonprofit organization bringing a groomed cross-country ski presence back to the state of Nevada. Trails are offered at several locations in the region and are groomed and open depending on conditions. Donations are needed to continue to offer groomed trails and may be made online. Tahoe Meadows | Trails are operated at Tahoe Meadows near the Mount Rose summit off Highway 431 with 17km of groomed skating and striding trails, including grooming up to Chickadee Ridge this year. The Lower Loops will be closed in February to protect Goshawk breeding area. Dogs are allowed on the trails, but owners must pack out all dog waste.
* SNO-PARK PERMIT REQUIRED; (916) 324-1222 OR OHV.PARKS.CA.GOV/SNOPARKS.
14
nevadanordic.org
Parking is available along Highway 431 on either end of the trail system. There is no parking fee and detailed driving instructions are available on the website. Spooner Lake | Eight km of trails are groomed by volunteers at Spooner Lake State Park on the East Shore. Trail access is free but there is a $10 parking fee. New groomer | New for the 2021-22 season, the nonprofit was purchased a new Pistenbully 400 Snowcat and a new classic track setter to ensure pristine classic tracks at the Tahoe Meadows system. Grooming updates | Visit facebook. com/inclinemeadowsxc. n
December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022
north tahoe
NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE
name top line Courtesy NTPUD
regional park
name cont’d second line
30
60
10 NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED
WINTER ADVENTURES
% of terrain
FOR ALL AGES & ABILITIES
kilometers
6
Events Fridays | Sunset Snowshoe Tours Jan. 14, Feb. 20 & March 4 | Snowshoe Star Tours Jan. 17-April 16 (select dates) | Full Moon Snowshoe Tours
grooming
6km warming huts
The North Tahoe Regional Park offers 6km of groomed trails for skating and classic skiers, as well as snowshoeing and walking. All the trails are open to dogs.
0
Sledding | Sledding and snow play is allowed throughout the park. Both the larger sled hill near the soccer field and the smaller children’s sled hill near the entrance are available for public use. Sled rentals not available. Snowshoe tours | Guided snowshoe tours are offered through Tahoe Adventure Company including
at the NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK
full moon, sunset and star tours. | tahoeadventurecompany.com Treetop Adventure Park | The adventure park offers a treetop rope, platform and zip line tour with nine courses for all abilities for ages 5 and older. | tahoetreetop.com Free access | Access is free, but parking is $5 parking fee or visitors must have a NTPUD Resident Sticker or Park Supporter Sticker.
Cross-Country Skiing Snowshoeing Tahoe TreeTop Adventure Course Year-Round Soccer Field
Year-round soccer | The NTPUD also maintains the region’s only yearround synthetic turf soccer field and is cleared of snow as conditions permit. Grooming updates | Visit the North Tahoe Recreation & Parks on Facebook and Instagram for weekly updates. n
6600 DONNER RD., TAHOE VISTA, CA 96148
northtahoeparks.com
northtahoeparks.com
cross country telemark and snowshoe center 47
32
21
name top line Courtesy Northstar Cross Country
northstar california
name cont’d second line
TAHOE’S BEST XC
NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED
% of terrain kilometers
35 # of trails
20 grooming
35km warming huts
2
Events Until March 26 (Sat.) | Live Music Dec. 29-March 5 (select dates) | Snowshoe Stargazing Tours Dec. 31 | New Year’s Celebration Jan. 1-March 12 (select dates) | Twilight Snowshoe Tours Northstar California provides 35km of Nordic terrain right in the middle of a world-class downhill ski resort. Northstar is one of the few resorts offering a full line of downhill telemark equipment and instruction, along with fat tire bike rentals. Snowshoe Tours | Enjoy guided Snowshoe Stargazing Tours lead by Tony Berendsen or guided Twilight Snowshoe Tours on dates throughout the season.
northstarcalifornia.com
Kids ski free | Kids 5 and younger ski free. Masks | Face coverings will be required in indoor settings including in restaurants, lodging properties, restrooms, retail and rental locations, and on buses. Face coverings will not be required outdoors, in lift lines, or on chairlifts or gondolas, unless required by local regulations. Dining | Guests will be required to book a reservation to eat at many onmountain restaurants. As well, guests 12 and older will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations to dine at indoor, on-mountain quickservice (cafeteria-style) restaurants. n
TAHOE DONNER CROSS COUNTRY SKI CENTER VOTED BEST CROSS COUNTRY SKI AREA IN NORTH LAKE TAHOE + TRUCKEE
6 YEARS IN A ROW
Over 100 km of groomed trails across 3,000+ acres of diverse terrain 65 trails climbing as high as 7,729 ft Pristine grooming for skating + classic skiing
Professional ski school offering lessons, programs + clinics Top-of-the-line rental + demo gear The best XC-specific facility in Tahoe, including cafe, bar + shop
VISIT TAHOEDONNER.COM/XC FOR MORE INFORMATION 15
TheTahoeWeekly.com
plumas-eureka state park
resort at squaw creek
70
20
Courtesy Resort at Squaw Creek
NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE
10
Courtesy Johnsville Ski Bowl
NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED
kilometers
12 # of trails
8
Events Jan. 16, Feb. 20 & March 20 | Longboard Revival Races
grooming
12km
Plumas-Eureka State Park in the Lost Sierra offers 12km of groomed trails for skating and classis skiers, along with three designated snowshoe trails that are snowmobile groomed. The trail system is managed by Plumas-Eureka State Park Association volunteers and trail maps are available at each trailhead. Visit plumas-eureka.org for grooming report, a trail map and information on the trails.
warming huts
0
% of terrain kilometers
10 # of trails
8
Free trail access | The use of the trails is free, but donations are requested to maintain the trails for $5 per day or $20 for the season.
grooming
10km
Longboard races | The Plumas Ski Club hosts the Historic Longboard Revival Races each year at the Plumas Eureka Ski Bowl at Johnsville in the park. The races are open to everyone. Check in advance before visiting at plumasskiclub.org for details and conditions. n
warming huts
1
parks.ca.gov
Resort at Squaw Creek offers 10km of groomed Nordic trails for a quiet refuge from the crowds of Olympic Valley where the views of the mountains are spectacular with cross-country and snowshoe rentals available onsite.
the Sun Plaza deck at the base of the slopes to check gear back in.
Self-service ski check | Guests staying at the resort can drop off ski equipment with the bell staff, who will deliver it to the ski check for storage. A ski attendant will be available for assistance. Guests may retrieve equipment with the ski check before heading to the slopes. At the end of the day, use the ski valet on
Ice skating | Glide around the resort’s outdoor ice rink with a view of Olympic Valley’s six peaks. Rentals for figure and hockey skates, as well as helmets, are available. n
Sledding | Enjoy a day of sledding on the designated hill beyond the Resort chairlift. Sleds can be rented at the Recreation Center.
squawcreek.com
Courtesy Sierra State Parks Foundation
sugar pine point state park Courtesy Royal Gorge
royal gorge
32
50 18
NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED
kilometers
140 # of trails
92 grooming
140km warming huts
8
Pam Emmerich | NTPUD
% of terrain
20 # of trails
One of North America’s largest cross-country resort, Royal Gorge offers six distinct trail systems featuring eight warming huts across 6,000 acres and integrated with the Village at Sugar Bowl. From classic striding to cross-country skating, snowshoeing and dog trails, Royal Gorge offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy scenic winter adventures with some of the finest views in the Sierra. The resort also celebrates its 50th anniversary this season. Lift tickets & rentals | All trail passes, rentals and lessons need to be purchased in advance online again this season.
royalgorge.com 16
kilometers
Dog trails | Royal Gorge offers 30.1km dog-friendly trails with a ticket office located at Van Norden Trailhead to access the dog trails. Check conditions in advance to ensure the dog trails are open and groomed. Dogs are only allowed on designated trails in the Van Norden Meadow. Dogs are not permitted in Summit Station lodge or on the deck. The Royal Gorge | One of the most breathtaking experiences in the Tahoe Sierra is skiing to The Royal Gorge. The Gorge is one of the natural wonders of the Sierra – a 4,417-foot-deep gorge that is the namesake for the ski area.n
5 grooming
no warming huts
0
Events Jan. 15, Feb. 12 & March 12 | Full Moon Snowshoe Tour The Ed Z’berg/Sugar Pine Point State Park is a spectacular spot to crosscountry ski and snowshoe along the dense forests of the West Shore or along Lake Tahoe’s shores. The park offers more than 20km of marked trails for all levels. However, the five trails are not groomed and are user packed. A trail map is available on the website. The park is also a popular sledding location. Free trail access | Use of the trails is free; it is $5 to park. Dogs on leash are allowed only on the paved,
parks.ca.gov
cleared paths; they are not allowed on the trails, the beaches or in the Nature Preserve. Restrooms are available in the parking lot. Winter camping | Sugar Pine Point is one of the only winter campgrounds open year-round in the Tahoe area, offering 16 campsites on a first-come, first-served basis. Annual parking pass | Purchase a Tahoe Regional Parking Pass for $75 good at all the state parks in the Tahoe region for a year – D.L. Bliss, Donner Memorial, Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point, Emerald Bay and Kings Beach State Recreation Area. Available at parks.ca.gov. n
December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022
tahoe city
NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE
Winter for Fun Everyone!
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Courtesy California State Parks
winter sports park
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2 grooming
4km+ warming huts
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The Tahoe City Winter Sports Park offers ice skating, sledding, crosscountry skiing and snowshoeing and is a great spot for family fun.
Dual trail access | Passholders to Tahoe XC also receive a free trail access pass to Tahoe City Winter Sports Park.
Tickets | Reservations for recommended in advance for all activities, with limited day tickets available. Season Passes are also available.
Kids ski free | Kids 14 and younger receive free access to the trail system.
Trail access | The park provides 4km for both skating and striding, as well as a snowshoe loop/walking trail. Dogs are allowed on the trail system.
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING · SLEDDING SNOWSHOEING · ICE SKATING
ADVANCE RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE ‘21-22 SEASON
Limited walk-ups will be permitted, but not guaranteed.
Webcam | Check out the webcam of the action on the ice rink at tcpud. org/winter-webcam. n
RESERVE ONLINE AT
TCPUD.ORG/WINTER Visit tcpud.org/winter for more Know Before You Go tips, details on sessions, season passes, and reservations.
wintersportspark.com
tahoe donner
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cross country
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530.583.1516 251 NORTH LAKE BLVD. TAHOE CITY
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Cozy Up.
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NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED
% of terrain kilometers
100+ # of trails
65 grooming
100km+ warming huts
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Events Dec. 31 | New Year’s Eve Snowshoe Tour March 27 | Sierra Skogsloppet
Lessons | Group lessons are back in addition to private lessons for skating and striding this season, along with cross-country ski programs and clinics.
Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center offers more than 100km of world-class trails open to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The resort also offer 7km of dog-friendly trails (dog season pass is required). Fat biking is no longer allowed on the trails.
Snowmaking | A snowmaking project was started at the ski area in 2021 but was not completed due to supply chain issues, heavy smoke from wildfires and early winter storms causing frozen ground. The resorts plans to offer snowmaking for the 2022-23 season.
Grooming & trails | Tahoe Donner has expanded its grooming fleet with new Pisten Bully 400 machines. And summer trail improvements will allow more snow to hit the trails for better coverage and grooming.
Assisted skiing | Ski for Light, which provides a cross-country skiing experience for the blind and visually impaired, will offer a guided outing from Feb. 26 to 28. Volunteer guides are needed. | Apply srsfl.org n
tahoedonner.com
Après-ski Snowshoeing Bonfires Cozy Cabins Hot Food Stiff Drinks This is How We Do Winter. Come on By. Wylder Hotel Hope Valley 14255 CA-88 Hope Valley, CA 96120 530.694.2203 wylderhotels.com 17
NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE
TheTahoeWeekly.com
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Courtesy LTCC Courtesy Wylder Hope Valley
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wylder hope valley Daphne Hougard | Tahoe XC
tahoe xc
NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED
% of terrain kilometers
50 # of trails
21 grooming
50km warming huts
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Events Jan 17 | Old Skool Klassic Ski Race Jan 23 | Pass Holder Pancake Feed Jan 30 | Tahoe Rim Tour Feb. 13 | Shooter Bowl Laser Biathlon Relay Feb. 14 | Valentine’s Day Ski Feb. 24-27 | Alpenglow 20k Race March 6 | The Great Ski Race Tahoe XC was recently named the 2nd Best Cross-Country Ski Resort in North America in the USA Today Readers’ Choice awards. The nonprofit ski area offers stunning lake views along the trails making it one of the area’s best spots for cross-country skiing. Fat tire bikes are not allowed on the trail system. Expansion project | The Tahoe XC expansion project was approved by the TCPUD Board of Directors in late February to relocate the base area
from its current location to property next to the North Tahoe Middle & High Schools and reconstruct the historic Schilling Lodge on the property to serve as the new main lodge with rentals, a cafe, lockers and community meeting areas. The project still needs approval from Placer County and the TRPA before it can move forward. | tahoexclodgeproject.com Ski free | Youth ages 18 and younger ski for free, as well as seniors ages 70 and older.
kilometers
70 # of trails
11 grooming
20km warming huts
0
Dog trails | Dogs are allowed on the 9km of dog trails only. Trail cam | Navigate to all the web cams, weather and snow gauge by clicking the camera icon on the top corner of the website. n
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Nordic ski and snowshoe trails will once again be groomed in Hope Valley for the 2021-22 season. Wylder Hope Valley, which purchased and renovated the former Sorenson’s Resort in Hope Valley, has also started grooming local trails. Rentals available | Stop by The Ski Shop inside Wylder Hope Valley’s General Store to rent crosscountry skis or snowshoes. Joyce Coker, former owner of Hope Valley Outdoors, joined Wylder’s team in 2020, bringing her extensive crosscountry and back-country knowledge to the resort.
Free trail access | Enjoy free access to 11 trails including trails leaving from Wylder, as well as along Highways 88 and 89 including trails to Burnside, Grass and Winnemucca lakes. Trails maps are available at The Ski Shop and online. Parking permits | Trail access is free but most of the trailheads are in the Hope Valley Wildlife Area and require a California Department of Fish & Wildlife Lands Pass, which is available online and from participating vendors. There are no permits available at the trailheads. | (800) 565-1458, wildlife.ca.gov Winnemucca Lake access | The Winnemucca Lake Trail requires a California Sno-Park parking pass available for purchase online or from participating vendors. Permits are not available at the trailhead. | (916) 324-1222, ohv.parks.ca.gov n
(530) 721-2015, wylderhotels.com/hope-valley
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consulting & software development
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Events Dec. 31 | New Year Snowshoe Tour Dec. 31-Feb. 20 (select dates) | Eastern Sierra History Talks Ongoing | Live music Ongoing | Moonlight Snowshoe Tours