California, Usa · Epic
Northstar
Northstar: 3,170 acres, 100 trails, 20 lifts. 60% intermediate terrain in California's Martis Valley. Epic Pass included.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
28 Nov 2026
Closes
11 Apr 2027
Days open
134
Annual snow
29ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Northstar spans 3,170 acres across the extinct volcano of Mount Pluto in California's Martis Valley, with 100 trails dropping 695 vertical metres from a 2,624-metre summit to a 1,929-metre base. The resort averages 8.9 metres of annual snowfall and supplements this with one of North Lake Tahoe's largest snowmaking systems covering roughly 50 percent of the terrain. Owned by Vail Resorts since 2010, Northstar is included on the Epic Pass alongside nearby Heavenly and Kirkwood, providing access to over 40 resorts globally.
Terrain breaks down as 13 percent beginner, 60 percent intermediate, 20 percent advanced and 7 percent expert, making this a progression mountain suited to developing skiers and families. Logger's Loop stretches 1.4 miles as the resort's longest run, whilst the Backside terrain offers steeper pitches and tree skiing when conditions allow. Seven terrain parks span 55 acres, with features ranging from beginner boxes to a 420-foot superpipe, consistently ranking among North America's top park systems. Six gladed trails provide tree skiing options from the summit elevation.
The purpose-built village sits at the base with ski-in ski-out lodging, a 9,000-square-foot ice rink, 35 shops and restaurants, and pedestrian plazas with fire pits. A Ritz-Carlton occupies the mid-mountain position at 2,411 metres, accessible via the Highlands Gondola. Grooming happens 20 hours daily across the majority of trails, delivering the consistent corduroy that defines the Northstar experience. Crowds concentrate at weekends and holidays, with paid parking reservations now required at Village View lots during peak periods.
The 2025-26 season ran from 22 November 2025 to 5 April 2026, delivering 5.4 metres of total snowfall. Epic Pass holders receive unlimited access, whilst the Tahoe Local Pass provides unrestricted skiing at Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood with five bonus days at major Colorado resorts. Day tickets range from USD 99 to USD 169 depending on date and advance purchase. This is a resort for intermediates seeking reliable conditions, families wanting contained village convenience, and park riders committed to progression.
2,280ft
Vertical
100
Runs
3,170 acres
Skiable
29ft
Annual snow
Epic
Pass
The Terrain
100 runs across 3,170 acres skiable
Northstar spreads 100 runs across 3,170 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 60%, with 13 beginner runs to find your feet and 27 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
100
runs
100 runs across 4 grades
Beginner13 runs · 13%
Intermediate60 runs · 60%
Advanced20 runs · 20%
Expert7 runs · 7%
Time it right
When to visit Northstar
The 2025-26 season operated from 22 November 2025 through 5 April 2026, a 134-day window typical for the resort's mid-elevation base. Opening dates fluctuate based on early-season temperatures and snowmaking windows, with Thanksgiving weekend the traditional target. Closing typically falls in early April, though spring skiing can extend into late April during heavy snow years. The resort's cross-country centre offers an additional 35 kilometres of Nordic trails when conditions permit.
Northstar receives an average of 8.9 metres of annual snowfall, measured near the Rendezvous chair at mid-mountain. The 2025-26 season delivered 5.4 metres total, below the long-term average but supported by extensive snowmaking across 1,500 acres. Base depths commonly reach 1.5 metres by mid-winter. The Martis Valley's position north of Lake Tahoe provides consistent storm cycles from December through March, with February and March historically the deepest months. Elevation advantage at the summit helps preserve snow quality into spring.
January and February offer the most reliable powder conditions and the deepest base, though holiday crowds from Christmas through New Year and Presidents' Day weekend bring the longest lift queues. March balances strong snow totals with improving weather and longer daylight, making it ideal for families. April transforms the resort into a spring carnival atmosphere, with softening snow by midday and events like the Pond Skim marking the season's end. Weekdays from mid-January through early March provide the quietest slopes.
The season calendar includes Women's Weekend in early March with clinics and community programming, guided evening snowshoe tours throughout winter, and nightly s'mores by the village fire pits. Music performances run Friday through Sunday in the village plaza. Spring It On festival closes the season with pond skimming, costume competitions and family activities. No night skiing operates at Northstar. The resort's tubing hill and terrain parks remain priorities throughout the operating calendar, with park features refreshed regularly to maintain progression lines.
Season 2026 - 2027
28 Nov 2026
Opens
11 Apr 2027
Closes
134
Days open
29 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Northstar, and where to stay
Northstar occupies the Martis Valley on the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe in Placer County, California, positioned between the historic lumber town of Truckee 10 kilometres to the north and Kings Beach on the lake 10 kilometres south. The base village sits at 1,929 metres elevation on the flanks of Mount Pluto, an extinct volcano that last erupted two million years ago. Highway 267 provides the primary access route, connecting Interstate 80 at Truckee to the north shore of Lake Tahoe.
Truckee serves as the nearest full-service town, offering additional lodging, dining and mountain culture six miles north via Highway 267. Originally a timber operation owned by Douglas Lumber Company, the site opened as Northstar-at-Tahoe ski resort in December 1972 with five chairlifts designed by Austrian Luggi Foeger. Kings Beach and Tahoe City provide lakeside access within 15 minutes' drive. The village at Northstar functions as a self-contained base with ski-in ski-out accommodation reducing the need for daily driving.
Reno-Tahoe International Airport lies 64 kilometres east, a 40-minute drive in clear conditions via Interstate 80 west and Highway 267 south. Sacramento International Airport sits 177 kilometres west, approximately 1 hour 45 minutes via Interstate 80 east. San Francisco International Airport is 314 kilometres southwest, a 3.5-hour drive when Highway 80 remains clear over Donner Summit. The small Truckee-Tahoe Airport, 6.4 kilometres from the resort, accommodates private and charter aviation but offers no scheduled commercial service.
North Lake Tahoe Express operates shared shuttle services from Reno airport year-round, with advance booking recommended. Amtrak trains serve Truckee station with connections from Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area, followed by local shuttles or taxi transfers to Northstar. Greyhound buses also stop in Truckee. Winter driving requires chains or four-wheel drive when storms close Highway 80 over Donner Pass, a frequent occurrence from December through March. Traffic on Highway 267 builds significantly on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings during peak season.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Northstar, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert
A hanging glacier above the Swiss village of Randa, just south of Zermatt, has been shedding large chunks of ice for weeks, with authorities warning more break-offs are likely. A danger zone has been closed off since June, though officials say the village's 479 residents aren't at risk. It's a familiar pattern for this glacier - it's done this before, in 1819, 1972 and 1973 - but a reminder of how closely Alpine authorities now watch terrain once considered stable.
26 Aug 2026
Northstar Lift Tickets
Northstar lift tickets & passes
Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Nov 28, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at Northstar typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.
Our lift ticket pricing was last updated on Aug 30, 2026.
Day passes start from US$92, with peak rates up to US$205.
Epic8 pass options
Single-day passes
Adult 19–64
Adult Daily Ticket
US$131up to US$205 peak
Full-day access to Northstar's 3,170 acres of perfectly groomed Lake Tahoe terrain. Experience family-friendly skiing with 20 lifts, 100 trails, and the charming Village at Northstar atmosphere. Confirmed 2026/27 advance pricing: $131 on a regular weekday (e.g. Wed 2 Dec 2026) rising to $205 on peak holiday dates (e.g. Sat 26 Dec 2026) - both below same-day window prices of $164-$284. Book ahead to lock in the lower rate. (Age bracket corrected to 19-64, matching the separately-tracked Teen 13-18 ticket - the prior record listed this bracket as 13-64.)
Buy passYouth 13–18
Youth Daily Ticket
US$118up to US$185 peak
Discounted lift access for teens at Northstar California. Enjoy Lake Tahoe skiing with excellent terrain parks and perfectly groomed runs ideal for progression. Confirmed 2026/27 advance pricing: $118 on a regular weekday rising to $185 on peak holiday dates, versus $148-$256 same-day.
Buy passChild 5–12
Child Daily Ticket
US$92up to US$144 peak
Child-friendly lift tickets for Northstar's extensive beginner terrain. Kids enjoy Lake Tahoe skiing with excellent ski school programs and family amenities in the Village. Confirmed 2026/27 advance pricing: $92 on a regular weekday rising to $144 on peak holiday dates, versus $115-$199 same-day.
Buy passSenior 65–99
Senior Daily Ticket
US$118up to US$185 peak
Senior discounted daily lift access to Northstar California. Enjoy Lake Tahoe's most family-friendly resort with 3,170 acres of groomed terrain. Confirmed 2026/27 advance pricing: $118 on a regular weekday rising to $185 on peak holiday dates, versus $148-$256 same-day.
Buy passChild 0–4
Kids 4 & Under Free
Free
Complimentary lift access for children 4 and under at Northstar California. Free skiing with Epic Pass or paid ticket purchase, proof of age required.
Buy passAdult 13–64
Epic 1-Day Pass (Restricted)
US$109
Flexible day-pass product starting at $109 (adult 13+), sold for a limited time before the season starts. Bundle up to 7 days to use anytime across up to 32 Epic Pass resorts, with 20% off Epic Mountain Rewards (food, lodging, lessons, rentals). Blackout-restricted on peak holiday dates, non-refundable but includes Epic Coverage. Compare against the $255 advance-purchase 1-day lift ticket, which is fixed to specific dates/resorts but refundable and sold all season.
Buy passSeason passes
Adult 13–64
Epic Pass
US$1,089
Unlimited access to Northstar and 90+ Epic Pass resorts worldwide including Vail, Whistler, and European destinations. No blackout dates. Confirmed 2026/27 starting price is $1,089 (up 3.6% year over year) - Vail typically raises this again in September and November as the season nears. Skiers under 30 get a 20% discount ($869).
Buy passAdult 13–64
Epic Local Pass
US$809
Access to Northstar and select Epic Pass resorts with holiday blackout restrictions. Confirmed 2026/27 starting price is $809 (up 3.3% year over year). Skiers under 30 get a 20% discount ($649).
Buy passLift tickets FAQ
How much does a Northstar day pass cost?
Northstar day passes range from US$92 to US$205 depending on the date and advance booking.
Can I buy Northstar lift tickets online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
Are there discounts for multi-day passes?
Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
What is included with a Northstar lift ticket?
Full access to all lifts and trails at Northstar, including mountain safety and patrol services.
What is the difference between Northstar lift tickets and ski passes?
"Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Northstar - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
When should I buy Northstar lift tickets for the best price?
Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
Does Northstar offer group discounts on lift tickets?
Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Northstar directly for group booking information and rates.
How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?
Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Northstar.
More Northstar intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.