Boreal Mountain Resort
Boreal is considered a great family resort that is also a favorite of the teen and young folks’ crowd.
It is the closest and easiest resort to reach in Northern California.
It consistently opens the earliest of all resorts in Tahoe area.
DESCRIPTION:
By Sierra Nevada standards the area is small, but it’s packed with terrain parks for the boarders. It is the closest and easiest resort to reach in Northern California. It consistently opens the earliest of all resorts in Tahoe area.
Boreal offers night skiing beginning each season with Thanksgiving through March. Night begins officially on Boreal Time at 3:30 p.m. and continues to closure at 9:00 p.m. In addition to the runs covered by lights, terrain parks along those runs are also available for snowboarders. Reduced priced tickets and season passes are available for night time skiers.
| Parking Elevation: | 7200 feet | Base Elevation: | 7200 feet | Summit Elevation: | 7700 feet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowfall | 400 inches | Season | Early November - early May. Boreal consistently opens the earliest of all Tahoe Ski Resorts. | ||
| Parking: | Ski Area Parking | Skiable Area | 380 acres | Groomed | Yes | Terain Park | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowmaking | About 75-80% of the terrain is covered by snowmaking. |
||||||
| Runs | 41 | Beginner | 30% | Intermediate | 55% | Expert | 15% |
| Description | Longest run is 1 mile (1.6 km) |
||||||
| Lifts | 9 | Types | 4 double chairs, 3 triple chairs, 2 quad chairs, plus moving carpet |
||||
| Contact(s) | (530) 426-3666 |
|---|---|
| Website(s) | wwwborealski.com |
DIRECTIONS:
To Boreal Mountain Resort
From San Francisco/Bay Area/Sacramento Valley: Take Interstate 80 east (80 miles from Sacramento). Exit at Boreal / Castle Peak. Parking is on south side of I-80.
From Reno, Nevada: Take Interstate 80 west 45 miles and exit at Boreal / Castle Peak in Donner Pass. Parking is on south side of I-80.
See Detailed Map > Winter > East Slope
ACTIVITIES:
Alpine Downhill Skiing (Rating: Best)
With a 500 foot vertical and 380 acres of useable acres, Boreal Ridge rates small in area, but high in satisfaction for both skiers and boarders. The area is compact with a dense network of accessible trails. Eight of the lifts serve the front face above the parking area and lodge, while the back side of the ridge is accessed by one lift. With an aggressive snowmaking program and quick access from all of Northern California, the area is consistently popular.
Snow Play (Rating: Best)
Boreal’s Playland features groomed sledding lanes at a reasonable daily fee. Sleds are provided by Boreal and personal sleds are not permitted. The area is open daily but is not operated evenings. Playland is located on the far end of the parking lot and portable bathrooms are available.
Snowboarding (Rating: Best)
Boreal features eight unique parks spread over 18 acres around Boreal Ridge. The parks feature rails, hits, tabletops, Boardercross, and a competition Superpipe. The Kidz X Park features banked turns, small tabletops and rollers, designed with beginning boarders in mind. There’s even a Little X Park for the even smaller skiers. The Nightline Park is available evenings to 9:00 p.m. on nights that Boreal remains open. The Boardercross drops 400 vertical feet and is designed for competition. Rail Alley features six rails, including flat, kinked, rainbow and kinked rails. A snow skate park is being developed.
