Alpine Meadows Ski Resort

Situated between Truckee and Tahoe City, you'll find this ski resort that is equally perfect for families and back-country skiers. It merged with the well-known ski resort Squaw Valley in 2011. You'll find beginner zones as well as wide-open bowls for adventurous skiers and riders, and challenges for really every ability level.

More than 100 trails spread across a skiable terrain of 2,400 acres, so you certainly won't get bored. Beginners can call 25 percent of all trails their own, while intermediates will appreciate that 40 percent of the runs are designated for them. This leaves 35 percent expert skiing runs and a blast for everyone looking for a thrill! With an average snowfall of 450 inches per season you can almost be sure to have powdery snow welcoming you on every ski day.

Starting from the base area that has an elevation of 6,835 feet, you can take the Subway Chair which gives you access to the Subway beginner area, or Meadow Chair to hit the Meadow beginner area. Every other lift in the resort only caters to intermediates and experts needs. One option is the Hot Wheels Chair which brings you higher than mid-mountain. From here you can ski blues and one black and when you're halfway down you can grab Scott Chair which gives you a ride to the Scott's Peak at an altitude of 8,289 feet.

As soon as you've made this trip you will have tons of tree skiing at your disposal. Black runs like Gentian Gully and Lower 40 Face will bring you back to the base and you can pick up quite a few challenges along the way.

Lifts that also give you a convenient ride up from the base are Roundhouse Express, Summit 6 Express and Kangaroo Chair. The Tiegel Poma lift also starts from the base but only services the terrain park. All of these lifts feature blues and blacks only. The name of the Alpine Bowl Chair speaks for itself. It whisks you up the mountain to all the bowls and steeps.

Alpine Meadow features three terrain parks. Tigel Terrain Park even has its own conveyor belt lift. This one is great for those who are new in the world of freestyle skiing and riding. Kangaroo Rigde Terrain Park is accessible by Summit Six Express lift and gives advanced freestyle skiers everything they could possibly ask for. Shreadows Terrain Park has intermediate features.

Nobody has to ski on an empty stomach at Alpine Meadows. Hideaway Cafe at Subway Chair Lift features delicious breakfaswt and lunch offers. Early Ups is another good breakfast spot.

To fill up halfway through your ski day stop at Meadows Café right at Alpine Meadows' Lodge. A broad offer of burgers, pizza, soups, salads, pasta and Mexican dishes caters to everyone's taste. If you fancy a typical American BBQ, Stoked Oak is the place to go.

Homesick for the Alps? Check out The Chalet, a Bavarian-style beergarden where you get sandwiches, beers, and Swiss raclette cheese. If you're just looking for a snack on the go, grab something at Treats Cafe.

Experts can't miss the bowls and steeps off Alpine Bowl Chair. 

The Olympic Valley is just a few minutes away and boasts some great non skiing activities. A fun activity for every age, but especially for children is the Sky Jump. Learn to do a somersault for that extra kick.
The Olympic Museum takes you back to the 1960s when the world famous sport event took place in Squaw Valley.

Squaw Valley's SnoVentures Activity Zone, also in the Olympic Valley features mini snowmobiles for kids. And while the little ones race around the course, parents can stay in the SnoVentures Lodge and enjoy drinks and awesome food. Dog sledding and Snowshoeing are other fun winter activities. Those are especially great to get to know the area and the beautiful surroundings of Tahoe City. Shopping is always a great alternative if the weather conditions are less than great. Right at Alpine Meadows you'll find Estelle Sports.

Alpine Meadows has some great hangouts for happy hour but if you want the extended offer you should check out Squaw Valley! The Alpine Bar at Alpine Meadows has always six different beers on tap. You can also come here for outstanding cocktails.

Located at the base of the Sheerwood Chair, you'll find the Ice Bar where you can grab a hot or cold beverage and some hearty snacks like sausages and other grilled treats.

The Last Chair Bar is situated at the Main Lodge and serves a huge diversity of après favorites like nachos and chicken wings. The party there starts right after lift closing times and it is a good place to wind down after a long ski day.

Fine dining is definitely a topic in the resort. The Boathouse restaurant& Lakeside Patio is famous for their West Coast cuisine. The menu always goes with the season so you'll probably find something new on the menu almost every day.

Tahoe City is not that far so you could visit all the amazing restaurants there. For example, Jake's on the Lake has a lakefront deck that is breathtaking. Here you'll get the best seafood in town. Za's is an Italian restaurant that makes you feel like you're sitting in the narrow alleys of a small Italian town.

Reno Tahoe International Airport is the closest to Alpine Meadows. It is about an hour away and easily accessible via main highways. There are four companys for shuttles that run between the ski resort and the airport. Regional busses get you from one point in the area to another and are super affordable.