Skip to ContentNorthstar California sits above the Martis Valley outside Truckee. Its official page lists 3,170 skiable acres, 20 lifts, 100 trails and an 8,610-foot summit, and it is operated by Vail Resorts.
Checked November 2, 2026. Dates, prices and hours change; the official page wins.
- 3,170skiable acres (official)
- 20lifts (official)
- 100trails (official)
- 60%intermediate terrain (official)
Quick Facts
- OperatorThe page footer reads “© 2026 Vail Resorts Management Company.”
- ElevationsHighest 8,610 ft; base 6,330 ft (official). The page does not print a vertical-drop figure.
- SnowfallAverage 350 inches, as the resort states.
- Trail mix13% beginner, 60% intermediate, 27% advanced; 347 acres of gate-accessed terrain; 10 terrain parks; longest run 3 miles (official).
- PassesThe page promotes the Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, Tahoe Local Pass, Tahoe Value Pass and Epic Day Pass, and says pass prices go up November 15.
- SeasonThe page says “Opening Day November 20.” The year is not printed, so we read it as 2026 and mark it unconfirmed. Closing date: Not confirmed.
- NordicThe resort lists a Nordic center with 35 km of trails (official).
- Drive from RenoAbout 1 hr to 1 hr 15 min (our estimate, no live traffic).
Open Terrain, Mostly Intermediate
With 60% of trails rated intermediate on the resort’s own count, Northstar is the broad, groomed-run end of the Tahoe spectrum. We do not rank resorts; compare the numbers on the Tahoe ski hub and read each trail map yourself.
History
Wikipedia reports Northstar opened in December 1972 on former Douglas Lumber Company land. That is a secondary source; the resort’s page prints no founding date.
Official site: Northstar: Mountain Information and Fun Facts.
What We Could Not Confirm
These items were not read on an official page when we checked, so we do not state them as fact. Who can confirm each one is named.
- Lift ticket window price (no dollar price on the page we read; it advertises savings of up to $80 per ticket bought four or more weeks ahead).
- The year of the November 20 opening day and the closing date (northstarcalifornia.com).
- Vertical drop (not printed on the official statistics page).
More to Explore
- All Tahoe Ski Areas Compared
- Palisades Tahoe
- Alpine Meadows
- Sugar Bowl
- Royal Gorge Cross Country
- Boreal Mountain Resort
- Soda Springs Mountain Resort
- Donner Ski Ranch
- Truckee
- Lake Tahoe
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northstar on the Epic Pass?
The resort page promotes the Epic Pass family; check the pass terms before buying.
When does Northstar open?
The page says Opening Day November 20 and the usual caveat applies: it depends on snow.
Sources
- Northstar: Mountain Information and Fun Facts (official)
- Northstar home page (official)
- Wikipedia: Northstar California (secondary, history)
Cite this page: It’s Reno editorial team, “Northstar California,” itsreno.com, checked November 2, 2026.
Coming Up Here
Northstar Opening Day
Fri, Nov 20
Northstar California · Truckee
The resort's homepage announces Opening Day on Nov 20. Price: See event page
Not confirmed: The page prints no year (it mentions the 2026/27 winter). Opening depends on conditions.
Add to Calendar: Google Apple (.ics) Outlook 365 Outlook.com Checked Nov 2, 2026 on the organizer’s page
Winter Wonders at Northstar
Dec 18 - Jan 3
Northstar California Resort · Truckee
The resort's events page lists a Winter Wonders series with daily live music, festive activities and holiday events. Price: See event page
Not confirmed: The page does not print the year, so 2026-27 is not confirmed (December 18, 2026 is a Friday). Times, price and details are not stated.
Add to Calendar: Google Apple (.ics) Outlook 365 Outlook.com Checked Nov 4, 2026 on the organizer’s page
2 events listed here, read on 1 organizer and venue websites. Every row shows the day we checked it. Dates change: check the organizer’s page before you go, and tell us if something is wrong.