California Official Visitor's Guide 2023 - 107

THIS SPREAD: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: NOBLEIMAGES/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; COURTESY NORTHSTAR;
COURTESY HEAVENLY; ALEXANDR VORONTSOV/GETTY IMAGES; COURTESY VISIT LAKE TAHOE
5 Summer-Ready
Ski Resorts
THESE MIGHTY SKI MOUNTAINS ARE
AS FUN IN JULY AS THEY ARE IN JANUARY
Northstar California
1
Mammoth Mountain
With all the summer activities
at Mammoth's Adventure
Center, you'll want to add a few
extra days to your next Eastern
Sierra vacation. Ride the gondola
to 11,053 feet for sublime
Sierra views. Pedal the mountain
bike park's 80-plus miles of
single-track. Let the kids burn
off energy on an elevated ropes
course, bungee trampoline,
climbing wall, and pint-sized zip
line. Test your nerve and agility
on Mammoth's via ferrata, a
protected climbing course built
with steel cables and iron rungs.
When your clan gets hungry,
head to the Yodler's sundeck for
a huge soft pretzel.
2
Heavenly
South Lake Tahoe's Heavenly
Mountain Resort scores
high marks in summer thanks
in part to unbeatable lake views
from the gondola. Nobody wants
the scenic 2.4-mile ride to end,
but when you disembark at
9,150 feet, choose from a variety
of options: Hop on the Ridge
Rider Mountain Coaster for a
fi ve-minute thrill ride, shimmy
up the Granite Peak climbing
wall, or hike up Tamarack Trail
for ridgetop views. Kids can soar
along the Red Tail Flyer Zip Line
or hone their mining skills with
gemstone panning.
3
Northstar California
If you love mountain biking,
California's largest lift-serviced
bike park should top your list.
South of Truckee, Northstar's
lifts give bikers access to 109
miles of trails. Expect plenty
of black-diamond slopes-this
mountain hosts the challenging
downhill-focused California Enduro
Series every summer. Not
into hardcore pedaling? Ride the
Tahoe Zephyr Express to 7,920
feet and hike to Lookout Mountain
for a view-fi lled picnic, or
play at the resort's high-altitude
golf course (6,371 feet).
4
Palisades Tahoe
At this North Lake Tahoe
resort, an aerial tram soars
2,000 feet uphill in 10 minutes.
When the doors open at 8,200
feet, step out and gasp at the
high-alpine vista. Then go for a
glide on High Camp's rollerskating
rink or visit the Olympic
Museum to see memorabilia
from the 1960 Winter Games.
Need more excitement? Reserve
a spot on the Tahoe Via Ferrata.
After clambering up 800 vertical
feet (safely clipped to a cable
system), you'll feel like you're
ready to conquer El Capitan.
5
Dodge Ridge
This ski area near Pinecrest
Lake throws off its knitted beanie
and dons a t-shirt for summertime
fun. Hop on the Motherlode
Mammoth Mountain
Chairlift and zip uphill to 7,400
feet, then pedal a mountain bike
along miles of freeride rollers
and banks (bring your own or
rent). Play the 18-hole disc golf
course that begins at the top of
the lift and fi nishes at the base.
Hike downhill through Lava
Cap Trail's wildfl ower fi elds, or
perfect your triangle pose at the
lodge's yoga classes.
VISITCALIFORNIA.COM | 107
http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
California Official Visitor's Guide 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Official Visitor's Guide 2023
