Mammoth or Lake Tahoe for Spring Skiing (First Week of April)

[Little c Travel]

We are thinking about flyling out to Disneyland for 3 days next April and then heading upstate to hit some slopes. Where is the best place for spring skiing in CA.

We like resorts that have green slopes that go from the top to bottom of the mountain and where we can pretty much park the car at the resort and never use it again because we can walk or shuttle from our hotel to the lifts and restaurants.

We have previously skiied in Vail and Whistler and love both of those resorts.

 

[skiingfast]

First thing be really cautious about April skiing in the Sierras. Their snow is not dependable. Don't book this far out.

If I was going to ski in California there are only three hills I would consider. Mammoth, Squaw or Kirkwood. This is because they are big and have lots of steeps.

If you are trully looking for a big mountain with green runs that are long, along with ski in ski out lodging or bases in the shuttle there are options.

Mammoth is good, it has a base shuttle system, some ski in, ski out lodging, but the greens only get about half way up the mountain.

Squaw Valley is ok, it has some ski in ski out lodging and a shuttle sytem, but the long greens are on the top of a mountain, the tram can be used to get up to and down from them.

Heavenly is ok, some ski in ski out but lots of lodging near the base. The good thing is there is a gondola to take you from the main base at Statline that has a lot of hotels a short walk away. The bad thing is the beginer skiing is off the tram out of another base.

Those are the three mountains that compare well to Vail and Whistler which are big ski areas. I'd only recommend Mammoth for big mountain beginner skiing. It's village is not comparable to the near cities built under Vail and Whistler but it isn't aweful. Mammoth tends to hold its snow well.

 

[gatorfreud]

I agree also to wait. Some years by April 1 it is all slushy and awful. Two years ago I think, they didn't close until Memorial day. This year there was a VERY late start, but then they got a lot of good snow. We skiied on April 8, and that was the last day, which I couldn't understand because the snow was great!

If you go to Tahoe, you can choose from tons of resorts.

I'm guessing Big Bear skiing won;t work? We have only skiied there at Christmas and it was great. And so close to DLR. BUt I guess they may melt sooner than in Tahoe....

Kim

 

[Little c Travel]

thanks y'all for the info, it is very helpful.