Northstar California
Wide groomed runs and a village base area make this one of the most welcoming mountains for first-timers and families.
Mountain stats
- Base elevation
- 6,330 ft
- Summit elevation
- 8,610 ft
- Vertical drop
- 2,280 ft
- Skiable acres
- 3,170
- Lifts
- 20
- Trails
- 100
- Night skiing
- No
- Pass affiliation
- Epic
- Day ticket (descriptive, not a quote)
- dynamic Epic resort; ~$120-250 window rate
Beginner-friendliness (heuristic)
Welcoming to beginnersOur own 1–5 read of the terrain, not an official rating.
Terrain mix
- Beginner 13%
- Intermediate 60%
- Advanced 27%
Advanced includes expert terrain. Vendor figures; may not total 100%.
Ready to hit Northstar California?
Build a full trip plan with weather, driving directions, road conditions, and where to stay.
Plan a trip hereLift tickets
Book a Northstar California day ticket online through Viator, a third-party reseller — prices may differ from buying directly at the resort.
Book lift tickets · Viator (opens in a new tab)Official links
Resort maps
The village map is Northstar's interactive resort map — village, lifts, and lodging pins in one view.
Parking
Reservation requiredVillage View lots need weekend/peak reservations until ~1pm (free with 4+ occupants). The large Castle Peak lots stay free daily with a shuttle to the village.
Reserve parking at Northstar California(opens in a new tab)Reservation/info link, not live availability. Policies, prices, and dates change each season; confirm on the official page before you drive.
Roads & conditions
Always check road status before you drive. Chain controls can close passes with little warning.
Caltrans QuickMap ↗(opens in a new tab)Weather at Northstar California
Base 6,330 ft · Summit 8,610 ft · NWS grid point elevation: 6,467 ft
NWS point forecast for this resort's coordinates, treated as a heuristic. Always confirm on the official mountain report.
- This Afternoon81°F · Mostly SunnyWind 5 mph
- Tonight59°F · Mostly CloudyWind 0 to 5 mph
- Monday81°F · Mostly SunnyWind 0 to 10 mph
- Monday Night57°F · Partly CloudyWind 0 to 5 mph
- Tuesday80°F · Partly SunnyWind 0 to 10 mph
- Tuesday Night58°F · Partly CloudyWind 0 to 10 mph
- Wednesday81°F · Mostly SunnyWind 0 to 10 mph
- Wednesday Night56°F · Partly CloudyWind 5 to 10 mph
Gear for your day at Northstar California
The essentials worth having before you hit the mountain.
Affiliate disclosure: some links here are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Insulated Snow Jacket
Quiksilver Highline Pro GORE-TEX Jacket
Top of Travis Rice's signature Quiksilver line, the shell he rides in the backcountry.
Insulated Snow Jacket
Burton [ak] Cyclic GORE-TEX Jacket
Burton's pro-built [ak] line, the brand Chloe Kim and Zeb Powell ride for.
Insulated Snow Jacket
Jones Shralpinist 3L Jacket
From backcountry legend Jeremy Jones' own brand: storm gear built for big lines.
Waterproof Snow Pants or Bibs
Burton Covert 2.0 2L Insulated Pants
The everyday insulated pant from the brand Chloe Kim and Zeb Powell ride for. Thigh vents let you dump heat on the stairs.
Waterproof Snow Pants or Bibs
Quiksilver Travis Rice GORE-TEX Pro Bib
The bib half of Travis Rice's Quiksilver kit, built for the same days as the jacket.
Waterproof Snow Pants or Bibs
Patagonia Storm Shift Pants
A straightforward GORE-TEX resort pant, backed by Patagonia's repair program.
Waterproof Snow Gloves
Dakine Leather Titan GORE-TEX Glove
Flagship glove from Dakine, Kai Jones' gear sponsor.
Waterproof Snow Gloves
Hestra Army Leather Heli Glove
The big-mountain standard. On more pro freeride hands than any other glove.
Waterproof Snow Gloves
Crab Grab Cinch Mitt
Zeb Powell's glove sponsor, and the most fun mitts on the hill.
Snow Goggles
Smith 4D MAG
Smith is Kai Jones' optics sponsor, and the BirdsEye lens shows the landing under your feet.
Snow Goggles
Quiksilver Travis Rice Signature Goggle
Travis Rice's own signature goggle line.
Snow Goggles
Oakley Flight Deck
The X Games park staple. Massive field of view, fits over glasses.
Mid Layer (Fleece or Light Puffy)
Burton Crown Weatherproof Full-Zip Fleece
Water-resistant bonded fleece. The easy-on, easy-off layer that also survives the walk from the car.
Mid Layer (Fleece or Light Puffy)
Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket
Synthetic fill, so it keeps working when it gets damp. Packs into its own pocket when you shed it.
Mid Layer (Fleece or Light Puffy)
Arc'teryx Atom Hoody
Coreloft synthetic insulation that stays warm wet, and breathable enough to leave on all day.
Snow Helmet
Smith Vantage 2 MIPS
Flagship lid from Kai Jones' helmet-and-goggle sponsor. MIPS + Koroyd, BOA fit.
Merino Wool Ski & Snowboard Socks
Le Bent Cody Townsend Pro Series Snow Sock
Signature sock designed with big-mountain pro Cody Townsend of The Fifty.
Merino Wool Ski & Snowboard Socks
Darn Tough Ski/Snowboard OTC Socks
Lifetime warranty, quick-dry merino.
Waterproof Duffel Bag
Dakine EQ Duffle 70L
The ski-town workhorse from Kai Jones' bag sponsor.
Waterproof Duffel Bag
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 55L
Bombproof weather-resistant build with lifetime repair.
High-SPF Sunscreen
Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Face Stick
Mountain staple that won't sweat off mid-run.
High-SPF Sunscreen
Supergoop PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50
The daily-wear favorite.
Insulated Water Bottle
Hydro Flask 32 oz Wide Mouth
The standard for all-day insulation.
Safety & who to call
Ski patrol handles the resort. Past the ropes (hiking, snowshoeing, sidecountry), it's the county's search and rescue team instead. Here's how to reach each one at Northstar California.
On the mountain: ski patrol
- Telling the nearest lift operator or any resort staff is the fastest way to reach patrol. Note the closest trail sign or lift-tower number so they can find you.
- For a life-threatening injury or anyone unresponsive, calling 911 dispatches patrol just as fast. Keep the injured person still and warm. Don't move anyone with a possible head, neck, or back injury. Cross skis uphill to flag the spot.
Ski patrol is dispatched internally and doesn't publish a direct public number, so reaching them through staff or 911 is the fastest verified path.
Hiking, snowshoeing & sidecountry (outside the resort)
Once you're past resort boundaries, ski patrol has no jurisdiction. The county search and rescue team takes over.
Placer County, CA
Placer County Sheriff's Search and Rescue keeps a dedicated line, plus a Tahoe City substation for the local area. For anything urgent, 911 dispatches the same team fastest.
Northstar California guest services
(530) 562-1010(non-emergency)Nearest hospitals & urgent care
- Directions to Truckee hospital (opens in a new tab)
Truckee hospital
10121 Pine Ave, Truckee, CA 96161, USA
- Directions to Tahoe Forest Hospital (opens in a new tab)
Tahoe Forest Hospital
10121 Pine Ave, Truckee, CA 96161, USA
- Directions to Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care (opens in a new tab)
Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care
10121 Pine Ave, Truckee, CA 96161, USA
- Directions to Kaime, Melissa MD, FACP (opens in a new tab)
Kaime, Melissa MD, FACP
Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center 10121, Pine Ave, Truckee, CA 96161, USA
Nearest facilities by distance via Google Places. Confirm hours and ER status before you go. This isn't a substitute for calling 911.
Where to stay near Northstar California
4 curated properties nearby
Guides for a Northstar California trip
6 guides picked for this mountain
- Staying in TruckeeA real mountain town rather than a resort strip, with fast access to the north-shore mountains and the I-80 corridor.
- Ikon vs. Epic Pass: Which Covers More of Tahoe?A resort-by-resort breakdown of which Tahoe mountains fall under Ikon, Epic, or neither, so you can pick the pass that actually matches where you want to ski.
- The Best Tahoe Resorts for Beginners, RankedA narrative ranking of Tahoe's most welcoming mountains for first-timers, using the same terrain data as our resort comparison tool.
- I-80 or US-50? Choosing Your Route to TahoeThe two ways over the Sierra serve different sides of the lake. How to pick the corridor that matches where you're actually staying.
- Tahoe Ski Resort Parking, Explained (2026–27)Which resorts require weekend reservations, what they cost, and the carpool and arrive-late loopholes: every policy with its official link, on one page.
- What to Pack for a Tahoe Ski TripThe full list, sorted by what the conditions actually demand, so you're not buying a forgotten item at resort prices.
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