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 ski Northstar California?
Build a full trip plan with weather, driving directions, road conditions, and where to stay.
Plan a trip hereOfficial links
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 — a heuristic. Always confirm on the official mountain report.
- Tonight51°F · ClearWind 0 to 5 mph
- Tuesday81°F · SunnyWind 0 to 10 mph
- Tuesday Night50°F · ClearWind 0 to 10 mph
- Wednesday82°F · SunnyWind 0 to 10 mph
- Wednesday Night51°F · ClearWind 0 to 10 mph
- Thursday86°F · SunnyWind 0 to 5 mph
- Thursday Night53°F · ClearWind 0 to 5 mph
- Friday85°F · SunnyWind 0 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 Ski Jacket
Quiksilver Highline Pro GORE-TEX Jacket
Top of Travis Rice's signature Quiksilver line — the shell he rides in the backcountry.
Insulated Ski Jacket
Burton [ak] Cyclic GORE-TEX Jacket
Burton's pro-built [ak] line — the brand Chloe Kim and Zeb Powell ride for.
Insulated Ski Jacket
Jones Shralpinist 3L Jacket
From backcountry legend Jeremy Jones' own brand — storm gear built for big lines.
Waterproof Ski Gloves
Dakine Leather Titan GORE-TEX Glove
Flagship glove from Dakine — Kai Jones' gear sponsor.
Waterproof Ski Gloves
Hestra Army Leather Heli Glove
The big-mountain standard — on more pro freeride hands than any other glove.
Waterproof Ski Gloves
Crab Grab Cinch Mitt
Zeb Powell's glove sponsor — the most fun mitts on the hill.
Ski Goggles
Smith 4D MAG
Smith is Kai Jones' optics sponsor — the BirdsEye lens shows the landing under your feet.
Ski Goggles
Quiksilver Travis Rice Signature Goggle
Travis Rice's own signature goggle line.
Ski Goggles
Oakley Flight Deck
The X Games park staple — massive field of view, fits over glasses.
Ski Helmet
Smith Vantage 2 MIPS
Flagship lid from Kai Jones' helmet-and-goggle sponsor — MIPS + Koroyd, BOA fit.
Merino Wool Ski Socks
Le Bent Cody Townsend Pro Series Snow Sock
Signature sock designed with big-mountain pro Cody Townsend of The Fifty.
Merino Wool Ski 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 — 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 & emergencies
We want your day at Northstar Californiato be a great one — here's what to do if it isn't.
In an emergency, call 911Life-threatening injury, someone unresponsive, or anyone missing.If someone is hurt on the mountain
- Get ski patrol: tell the nearest lift operator or any resort staff, or call 911 directly. Note the closest trail sign or lift-tower number so help can find you.
- 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.
- For non-urgent help (lost item, where to find first aid), call the resort's guest-services line below.
Ski patrol is dispatched internally and doesn't publish a direct public number — reaching them through staff or 911 is the fastest verified path.
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.
Not sure this is the right mountain?
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