Snowboarderz Aware

Don't know where to board at?

Here is all the information on the mountains that you guys, the snowboarders, would love to have on which parks to hit up this winter! Just a heads-up! These parks are all resorts near Lake Tahoe. So, left side is for the newer guys, while the right side is for the veterans, or just check out both! I rank the parks from Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. Advanced being the toughest. You will find information varying from elevation, busy times, ranking of difficulty, and even more information. Enjoy!

Beginners/Rookies

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Boreal

This park is a very good beginner park. There is even a spot for sleding on the right side of the parking lot.Great for families to try out a weekend at the snow, whether its beginner classes, enjoyment of snowboarding or to attempt to try out some tricks for the first time! This is the right place to start out at. Not too big of a park, so the weekends may get crowded.

  • Base Elevation: 7,200'
  • Summit Elevation:7,700’
  • Ranking: Beginner
  • Extras: Woodward
  • Located in the Donner Summit region of Lake Tahoe (Closest to Sacramento and San Francisco)
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Donner Ranch

Donner Ski Ranch is one of the oldest snowboarding/skiing areas in the United States. Another great place for beginners on the front side of the mountain that is not very intimidating with the elevation. There is also a backside to this mountain for the intermediate riders who want more of a challenge. Also, a small park with fewer crowds than Boreal’s resort, even for the weekends.

  • Base Elevation: 7,031’
  • Summit Elevation: 7,781’
  • Ranking: Beginner/ Intermediate
  • Extras: Great for bettering beginner skills
  • Located: Donner Summit, Tahoe National Forest
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North Star

This park also has several base areas, starting at North Star Village base area, then to the upper part of the mountains lodge. Then, the lifts from there take you to the top of the mountain. This is a great place for beginners at the bottom of the mountain. While intermediate and advanced have the whole top of the mountain to get their fix. This is actually my favorite place to go too over the winter for their slopes.

  • Base Elevation: 6,330’
  • Summit Elevation: 8,810’
  • Ranking: Beginner/intermediate/advanced (All)
  • Extras: Village includes dining, shops, and lodging
  • Located: Between Truckee and North Lake Tahoe

Veterans/Pros

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Sierra at Tahoe

Sierra at Tahoe is a great resort that has all sorts of levels of difficulty. This is great park for families, beginners, intermediate and advanced snowboarders all have something here. Beginner snowboarders have the options of taking classes here, or even growing confidence here as the beginners get to experience a not as harsh backside mountain. Where there is also a harsh backside part of the mountain for intermediate and advanced riders.

  • Base Elevation: 6,640’
  • Summit Elevation: 8,852’
  • Ranking: Beginner/intermediate/advanced (All)
  • Extras: Not much crowds
  • Located: Between Kirkwood and Lake Tahoe. (South Lake Tahoe)
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Heavenly

This resort is a great one for intermediate and advanced boarders who like the thrill of swerving through trees and trails. Can be a bit confusing for beginners who have never been to resorts before. There is a little bit of beginner areas, but this park is specifically for the intermediate riders who like some extreme terrain, particularly sliding in and out of trees.

  • Base Elevation: -CA side: 6,540’ -NV side: 7,200’
  • Summit Elevation: 10,067’
  • Ranking: Intermediate/ Advanced
  • Extras: The largest resort in lake Tahoe
  • Located: On the California and Nevada border of South Lake Tahoe.
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Kirkwood

This resort is great place for advanced snowboarders, as well as intermediate. This park offers a little bit of everything. Compared to Heavenly resort for their tree trails, or other parks for their half beginner, half veteran parks. This park is specifically for the intermediate and advanced snowboarders but having a variety of terrain. All the way from cliffsides to ride down, or the swervy tree trails

  • Base Elevation: 7,800’
  • Summit Elevation: 9,800’
  • Ranking: Advanced/Intermediate
  • Extras: Super mellow atmosphere, lots of powder
  • Located: South Lake Tahoe area