Once a Lake Tahoe ski resort with a modest amount of terrain and a few shops and restaurants at its mostly barren base, Northstar became a ghost town when nightfall arrived.
There was no reason to stay longer; Northstar was the ultimate day tripper. In the early evening hours there was no available dining, entertainment or lodging – it was basically skiing the modest terrain all day and head back home.
It’s been approximately 26 years since significant changes began to transform this once humble, rustic resort into a vibrant European-style pedestrian village. Due to all the expansion that took place, Northstar is now a ski resort where one parks the car upon a multi-day arrival and doesn’t typically need it again until departure day.
Family-friendly is a description that often accompanies the Northstar name. In certain spots on the mountain, the Truckee resort provides spectacular views of Lake Tahoe and the valley below. The gorgeous scenery is one of the many reasons Northstar is beloved by families, sizable groups and individuals who make it their home for multiple days at one of the many convenient lodging locations.
“We try to keep everything we do family-friendly,” said Northstar spokesperson Dennis Baggett. “We have an excellent ski school, offer the lively Village experience, and the dining is at your fingertips. But we also want the many groups that come here to feel comfortable as well. Northstar is a nice, relaxed resort where everyone can have an enjoyable, chill experience.”
That enjoyment is overflowing after the recent snowfall gave Northstar some monumental powder days. Like all Tahoe ski resorts, Northstar benefitted from storms (Feb. 17-20) that dumped 80 inches (nearly 7 feet) of snow at its summit in the four-day period. And more is coming this week. As of Feb. 24, Northstar had accumulated 250 inches of snow for the 2025-26 season.
Northstar by Numbers
- Year opened: 1972
- Average snowfall: 350 inches
- Lifts: 20
- Trails: more than 100
- Highest elevation: 8,610 feet
- Base elevation: 6,330 feet
- Vertical drop: 2,280 feet
- Skiable terrain: 3,170 acres
- Beginner runs: 13%
- Intermediate runs: 60%
- Advanced/Expert runs: 27%
Northstar Transformation: Purchased by Booth Creek Ski Holdings in 1996, four years after taking over the company it entered a joint venture with East West Partners and expansion plans were set in motion.
When the much-anticipated arrival of the 21st century took place, one of the resort’s initial undertakings was addressing the absence of more diversified terrain and its reputation as “flat-star” – due to its lack of challenging runs.
Northstar added 200 acres of expert, gladed terrain (open spaces with scattered trees) on Lookout Mountain in the early 2000s, accessed by a high-speed quad. A short time later, The Backside opened, giving the resort a second location for more advanced skiers and riders. The resort also added nine new lifts and the Highlands Gondola in subsequent years.
After providing more terrain and lifts, next on the agenda was the creation of the Village at Northstar. The centerpiece for the Village – a gorgeous 9,000 square-foot skating rink – was completed in 2004. It was surrounded by two impressive lodging structures. Iron Horse and Great Bear lodges were upscale accommodations with imposing views of the Village.
Expansion and development plans in the Village continued for another four years. Northstar kept constructing more amenities, adding the gondola building at the base of the mountain and more lodging accommodations – Hyatt Vacation Club, Catamount and Big Horn Lodge in 2008.
One year later, the elegant Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe opened at its majestic mid-mountain location at around 7,000 feet elevation. It gives guests direct ski-in/ski-out access to a variety of runs designed for all levels.
Of course, with Northstar’s luxurious infrastructure and the rising costs associated with skiing nationwide, the price structure is now off the charts compared to when the resort first opened in 1972. That year a Northstar adult lift ticket was $8, rental equipment went for $7.50, and a resort room for the night was $30.
Anyone skiing four or five times this season would be wise to purchase an Epic Pass, which is good for Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood, and many other Vail Resorts. This season the Epic Pass ranges from $849 (local pass) to $1,099 (full pass). A single day lift ticket at Northstar can cost roughly between $155 midweek to $275 on weekends.
Modest Lodging Remains: Take your pick on the diverse Village lodging. There’s something for everyone, ranging from the no-frill rooms at the Timber Creek Lodge to a more luxurious stay at the Hyatt, which offers studios, 2-or-3-bedroom residences with a full kitchen, fireplace and private balcony, plus additional amenities.
Longtime Northstar visitors might recall the modest Timber Creek Lodge was completed in 1976. Centrally located just below the main Village area and a short walk to the Big Springs Express gondola, the now renovated condos still exist – lofted one-bedroom hotel style rooms that can sleep up to four people and include a small balcony.
Nothing fancy about the Timber Creek rooms, but it’s the time-honored adage that has always applied – location, location, location.
“Having just spent a night at the Timber Creek Lodge, I could not have been happier with the convenience,” said Craig Vandegrift, who was visiting Northstar in early February. “I loved the location because I could walk a few steps in the morning for a fresh brew coffee drink (at Vous) or go to the Village area after skiing for a beer or something to eat. It’s tough to beat that location in terms of accessibility.”
The Vail Influence: In 2010, Vail Resorts purchased Northstar from Booth Creek for $63 million and promptly renamed it Northstar California. Headquartered in Colorado, the company also owns two other Tahoe ski resorts, buying Heavenly in 2002 and Kirkwood in 2012. Overall, Vail Resorts operates 42 ski resorts in four countries.
Improvements continued to take place at Northstar under the Vail ownership, including expanded terrain, sophisticated snowmaking and grooming equipment, lift infrastructure, dining and retail options, ski lessons, rental services, and more.
The Vail group also initiated a cool ritual five days a week that no other Tahoe ski resort offers – TOST. Thursday through Monday, skiers and riders congregate down East Ridge run near the top of Comstock lift at 2 pm for a champagne toast. The first 150 people receive a free four-ounce pour that’s a fun break in the ski day and a way celebrate with other guests.
“People love TOST. We feel like it is a real community-building event,” Baggett said.
The Village Vibe: Regardless if you are arriving with wobbly legs from a day on the slopes or the urge to ski or ride just isn’t your jam, the Northstar Village is a terrific place to go skating, do some shopping, enjoy a meal, or just hang out.
Need a jolt of good coffee in the morning to kickstart the day or keep you going in the afternoon? The Village has two locations. The Coffebar opens at 6 am and delivers an Italian café experience and serves breakfast and lunch. Service at Vous starts at 7 am and the cafe serves Lavazza organic blend coffee, specialty espresso drinks (cappuccinos, lattes), pastries, and assorted bites.
Need a cocktail or a non-alcoholic drink to take the edge off as the afternoon meanders into evening? There are two bars in the Village available with some tasty drink concoctions ready for consumption.
If something sweet is the goal, the free “S’mores O’Clock” in the Village arrives every day at 4 pm throughout the winter season. Pick up a S’mores package and roast the marshmallows at one of the five fire pits located around the skating rink.
Of course, one of the primary lures when visiting the Village is skating, where people of all ages and abilities circle around the large rink. Bring your own skates and the experience is free (skate rentals cost $20). Even if skating is not your thing, the rink serves as an intriguing and sometimes comical people-watch location.
There is no shortage of restaurants in the Village. Got a favorite food type? Chances are it’s available. The choices are numerous, including Mexican, sushi, pizza, Italian, steakhouse, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, and even Happy Hour bar bites.
And if none of those dining options seem enticing, arguably the best Northstar restaurant is located at mid-mountain, where the picturesque Ritz-Carlton resides. The Manzanita is the jewel of Northstar restaurants, offering a gorgeous setting for a fine-dining experience.
“There’s nothing like dinner at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton at Northstar after a day skiing with family and friends,” Vandegrift said. “The Manzanita restaurant has a wonderful atmosphere. Its food selections, coupled with the extensive wine list and outstanding service, is the perfect closure to a fantastic ski day. I give the restaurant five stars for providing an outstanding experience.”
Grooming and Zooming: OK, you’re a guy or gal who loves to ski or ride the groomers. Arguably, Northstar offers the largest variety and number of groomed runs among all Lake Tahoe area ski resorts.
The expansive Northstar terrain measures 3,170 skiable acres and features 20 lifts and two gondolas that access more than 100 trails. The resort lists 60% of its trails as groomers (13% beginner, 27% expert) and understands that’s what many skiers and riders expect of a day on its slopes.
“We groom more than any other resort in Tahoe. Our grooming is top-notch,” Baggett said. “We believe that Northstar was the first resort in Tahoe to groom its runs. There’s a history here with our grooming and we’re proud of that.”
It means enough to Northstar that it meticulously has its workers do “summer grooming” – clearing stumps, logs and various debris from its trails, feeling it’s a benefit when ski season arrives and its groomed runs are easier to maintain.
“I just returned from a 27-year pause on downhill skiing as well as less than a year from Achilles tendon repair,” Vandegrift said. “There were no disappointments with the nicely groomed runs. Northstar was perfect for my return to skiing. I was little nervous, but quickly found my way and safely skied for two days on outstanding terrain.”
One of its most notable blue runs is Logger’s Loop, the resort’s longest trail at 1.4 miles from top to bottom. It’s steep in some areas, but wide enough to comfortably go down without feeling overwhelmed.
“Our blue, intermediate runs have great range, from easy to more difficult,” Baggett said. “Families or groups can ride up a lift like Comstock and all take different runs, depending on their ability level, and still meet at the bottom of the lift.”
More Diversity than its Reputation: A frequent gripe is Northstar’s terrain variety falls short of other Tahoe-area resorts. Although groomers are a large part of Northstar’s popularity and it has fewer challenging runs that some other Tahoe ski resorts, it’s misleading to believe the resort has no difficult terrain, even though it has zero double black diamond runs.
Lookout Mountain features multiple demanding expert runs that intermediate skiers and riders may want to avoid. The Backside region is more conducive to intermediates who want to sample the steep groomers that are listed as expert runs. On most days, a mogul run is part of The Backside terrain.
One common transportation complaint on the mountain is the primary route from the Backside to Lookout requires crossing under the Link lift, which may be intimidating for some. And it’s also inconvenient to ride the slow, archaic J-bar Link lift to the Lookout location.
The real attraction for advanced skiers and snowboarders is the trees – and there’s lots of them on Lookout Mountain and The Backside. In some areas the trees are widely spaced and in other spots they are tightly grouped and more difficult to navigate.
Green trails are primarily located in the Village and Arrow areas, where slow zones and family learning areas are clearly marked. There are no green trails in the upper mountain areas.
Safety-bar-mounted trail maps on several lifts help skiers and riders locate and develop a plan of where to go next.
Just for Kicks: There’s a dedicated lift – Vista, located at mid-mountain – that’s extremely popular with snowboarders and skiers who want to experience the thrill of rails, jibs, boxes, small to large kickers, and more.
There are also Burton progression parks with beginner-friendly obstacles to help riders gain confidence. At the bottom end of Vista lift is a 13-foot halfpipe that naturally offers its own distinctive challenges for skiers and riders.
Northstar has received multiple awards for its innovative terrain park design and features that are intended for all skill levels. The resort has a dedicated page to help terrain park visitors develop a safe plan and build their skills.
And on an historical note, three-time Olympic snowboarder Shawn White had a 22-foot halfpipe built to his specifications at Northstar in 1996. The creative and iconic champion frequented Northstar for several seasons to develop new daring tricks in a private setting.
