Northstar California Resort

Ski resort · Placer County

Northstar California Resort

Ski resort · Placer County

3

5001 Northstar Dr, Truckee, CA 96161

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Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null
Northstar California Resort by null

Highlights

Scenic resort with cozy rooms, kitchens, restaurants & ski runs  

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5001 Northstar Dr, Truckee, CA 96161 Get directions

northstarcalifornia.com
@northstar_california

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5001 Northstar Dr, Truckee, CA 96161 Get directions

+1 800 466 6784
northstarcalifornia.com
@northstar_california
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@northstar_ca

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Aug 15, 2025

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@travelleisure

20 Best Weekend Getaways for Couples to Take This Year

"A family-friendly mountain resort known for groomed runs, powder-filled glades, and on-mountain amenities—ideal for couples who want ski variety and mid-mountain dining options during a winter weekend." - Travel + Leisure Editors

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/romantic-getaways/long-weekend-getaways-for-couples
View Postcard for Northstar California Resort
@cntraveler

Top 30 Ski Resorts in the US: Readers’ Choice Awards 2024

"Known for its excellent grooming and family-friendly environment."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/top-ski-resorts-us
View Postcard for Northstar California Resort
@travelleisure

14 of the Best Ski Towns in the U.S.

"You can get to any of seven ski resorts in under an hour from Truckee, the closest being Northstar California Resort." - Travel + Leisure Editors

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/americas-best-ski-towns
View Postcard for Northstar California Resort

Adam Lesniak

Google
I skied Northstar for the first time this past season. I found the terrain to be boring and repetitive for the most part. There's not really any super steep terrain, chutes, couloirs, or anything like that. The whole mountain is below treeline and most of the runs feel the exact same. The guest services team was amazing and the mountain is protected from high winds. It's also close to Truckee but those are about the only things good. Would I go back? No. There's just so many other resorts in Tahoe that are far better and entertaining. Northstar is for families, people who like riding park, and people who are all about aprè.

Ana Torres

Google
Beautiful resort and great experience. My family enjoyed the quick getaway. The room was clean. Staff is very helpful and friendly. Rooms are perfect for big families. The rooms also have a washer and dryer, which is a big plus. To our surprise there was lots of snow. We can't wait to come back with our family.

josh pranich

Google
Let me start of by saying everyone did a stellar job, but I particularly want to talk about my experience with Austin C (a mechanic that was working at the lower gondola station). I bought 4 bikes during the rental fleet sale and without him this wouldn’t even have been possible. When others thought there was no bikes available in the size I requested, and ready to turn me away, he went the extra mile and found some for me in storage that were tagged and ready for sale. He truly treated me like a good friend. I’d say I’m just a cool guy but he treated everyone like this. I watched him interact with another family with kids and can say I would want my family treated with the same amount of respect and care. I’ve ridden mountain bikes at northstar since 2008 and can say this was my favorite experience so far. If there was a better way to make sure Austin gets recognition for this I would happily do it. I even took a picture of his badge because I really wanted to make sure I don’t forget his name. Huge props to the team and Austin for taking care of me, I’m coming back this weekend to ride my new bike! Cheers, JP

Jack deRoche

Google
Got the chance to visit this past Christmas and had a great time! Didn't stay in the hotel or stop at any of the shops or restaurants down below so can't speak on that but definitely wish I brought my skates lol The gondola ride up is very nice and nd then you can just ski back down at the end of the day! He's not a very steep resort even the backside is not very difficult but it sure is a lot of fun!

Yanina Zina

Google
I took the sky school and it was truly worth it. I rented the equipment and they delivered it super fast. The service was excellent. A friend had a minor accident, and everyone responded quickly. The place is beautiful and clean considering the number of people traveling. Everything is very well prepared. I loved it and would definitely go back!

DArcy Demianoff-Thompson

Google
There were few places open to shop or dine. I realize timing is everything with small resort type properties. However, having fewer options than expected was a bit of a surprise. The Cooper Cafe was open. The coffee and sandwich I had was excellent. Cute little shop with an a variety of things available. They have a wonderful selection of wines at reasonable prices.

Matt Drake

Google
Horrible horrible experience getting rental equipment. We had a large party, including 6 kids and made sure we reserved to pickup our rental the afternoon prior to our lessons. We arrived ON TIME to pickup only to be told we would not be accommodated because they were UNDERSTAFFED. At no point prior to our arrival did Northstar notify us and let us know this was a potential issue. We were told because they couldn't accommodate us that we would be given priority the next morning because we had a 9 am private lesson scheduled. This WAS NOT the case and the manager who told us this was not there this morning and we literally had to push plead and beg to get our gear in a timely manner, despite arriving at 8 am when they opened. We ended up being almost half an hour late for our ski lessons. And the staff just kept telling us. "We're short handed, we don't have enough help, etc as somehow that was our problem. We didn't walk in and expect to be accommodated the day of. We had made our reservations weeks in advance. They knew we were on the docket and they didn't plan for it nor did they prepare us for the MAJOR inconvenience! Super disappointing for our first and LAST trip to Northstar

H Chang

Google
It’s located right next to ski gondola and lifts. Many activities are happening winter and summer season in the village center. Couple of nice food options around too. They operates beach shuttle during summer.
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Winter W.

Yelp
We stayed at the "one village place residences" from Saturday - Wednesday. (Right after Thanksgiving) it was pretty dead which was nice. Super cute resort with quite a few things to do. We really enjoyed our stay here and definitely will be back. My personal only fee complaints would be that the bedding and pillows at our room were pretty cheap quality. Blankets and sheets were super stiff and uncomfortable pillows super flat. The bath tub and shower didn't work in the spare room. And the hot tub on our site is completely shut down. Lastly there isn't any really good coffee at the entire resort I tried every spot. Overall great experience. Friendly staff everywhere.
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Octary A.

Yelp
Disappointing Experience - Not a Real Snowboard Lesson We enrolled our two daughters (9 and 7) in this snowboard school, expecting them to build confidence and improve their skills. As a family, we comfortably snowboard together on blue trails, and our goal was for our 9-year-old to refine her technique and our 7-year-old to become more independent getting off the chairlift. Instead, they spent the entire day on the bunny slope, using the magic carpet--never even getting on the chairlift. When we voiced our concerns to a supervisor (Ken or Kent), he told us that kids needed to be really good at making S-turns before being allowed on the lift. This was frustrating because our daughters already had experience beyond what they were being taught. Instead of challenging them or helping them progress, they spent most of the time building snowmen and having snowball fights. For the price we paid, we expected structured instruction--not glorified daycare. If you're looking for a place to drop your kids off while you ski, maybe this works for you. But if you actually want your kids to improve their snowboarding, look elsewhere. Total waste of money.
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Anthony C.

Yelp
This is one of my favorite places to go for snowboarding there are some nice tree glades that fulfill my desire for off-piste experiences. Pretty much every time I visit Northstar I always have a good time.

John K.

Yelp
Nordic Skiing: Spent the day out on the trails that lead from Nordic Center to a view of Lake Tahoe. Elevation climb was not too challenging, 400 feet and very gradual throughout most of the trial. I would give Northstar more stars if not for the comment below. A great way to spend the day, take in nature, and so much fresh air Although I did not appreciate the snow bikes on the Nordic tracks. The snow bikers swerved and skidded across much of the skating lanes and often biked through the groomed tracks making it hard to stay in the lanes and/or skate up or down the hills. The bikes should stick to the snowshoe trails as that would be less impact on the trails. Also, it is dangerous to have bikers on the trails as a XC skier is coming down the hill and around some of the turns.
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Jennifer H.

Yelp
This is one of my favorite ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area. Located approximately 45 minutes away from Reno, it's an easy day trip by car and you won't have to stay overnight at the hotels near the ski resort. Parking is convenient and free on the weekdays at certain locations. This ski resort has a cozy family atmosphere with a ski school at the base and easy green and intermediate runs available. There is also a terrain park and cross country ski area. We enjoy the high speed ski lifts and the multiple mountain top dining venues as well as the shopping and dining at the Village at Northstar.
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Trevor B.

Yelp
In 2021 Northstar wouldn't give me a refund on my season pass due to its resort closure and limited travel restrictions that year. I was not able to go up snowboarding at all. Due to their horrible costumer service It looks like I will not be buying a season pass there again unless they give me a refund.
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Phuong D.

Yelp
First time at Northstar last weekend! Parking: Preferred Lot ($$): $20 M-F, $40 Weekends + Holidays Village View Lot ($): $20 for 3 or less people, free for carpool of 4+ people Castle Peak (Free): far and shuttle is needed We parked at the free Castle Peak Lot. Although the map conveys multiple shuttle stops around the lot, it seemed like the shuttles pick up and drop off in one area. So we had to lug all of our gear to the line. We arrived around 9am on a Sunday and the shuttle lines seemed quite daunting, but the line actually moved quite quickly. As it was our first time at Northstar, we were surprised that after the shuttle drop off, you still have to walk thru the Northstar village until you get to the slopes. There are two lifts that will take you up: the big bear express gondola (busier) and the village express (less busy). We took the village express lift, down logger's loop to village express. By 11am, village express line was significantly longer than other lifts likely because it's the only one that led to green runs. I liked that there are "rest areas" along the trails for short breaks! The green trails at Northstar are wide and great space for beginners however, I noticed a lot of moguls/bumps which can be tricky to traverse especially when you're trying to get the hang of snowboarding. Additionally, there's really only one long green run at Northstar. The majority are blue runs and the backside have mostly black diamond trails. Our first time was decent. The weather was in the mid-50s and it was pretty wet up there. At the end of the day, it's pretty nice getting off the slopes and instantly having a bunch of restaurant and shopping options all conveniently located in the village. I can definitely see the appeal to staying at a hotel onsite for easy ski-in and out.
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Vy T.

Yelp
When arriving, there is a shuttle that takes you from the parking lot to the bottom of the gondola. Then, you take a gondola up to the ski lifts. The transportation was fine. Northstar is a fantastic ski resort for intermediate skiers, particularly those interested in blue slopes. Most of the mountain slopes are blue, with the backside having many black slopes (less intimidating than those at Kirkwood). The terrain is well organized, with many trails leading into one another. When we visited, there was SO much powder. It was great to ski in. Compared to some other resorts, there seemed to be more moguls and bumpy terrain here. There were both wide and narrow runs, so that was nice as well. As a side note, we used the EPIC app to find groomed and I groomed slopes which didn't seem particularly accurate because there were some "groomed slopes" that were very much not groomed. I would recommend using your instincts and visual sight to determine whether the run will match your skill level and if it had been groomed recently.
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Izzie L.

Yelp
YESSIR. Northstar is pretty great for snowboarders and skiers alike! I think it's also pretty diverse in terms of terrain-- both beginners and advanced skiers and snowboarders will have some trails that best fit them on the mountain. :) The Northstar base has a bunch of cool events going on all the time-- last time I went, High West Distillery was giving out free shots of whiskey and free flasks. :D Just one star docked because I wish the parking situation was a little bit better, since all parking lots require shuttles to go back and forth which can take up to 30 minutes during busy hours. :/

Daniela E.

Yelp
This was the absolute worst experience I ever had. We booked 2 snowboarding lessons which were a significant amount for what we actually got. The people inside were nice and helpful however once we met the instructor it all went downhill. His name was Chris, he was rude and impatient. Made a comment that we were late, and he didn't have time to go over the basics. We were only a couple of minutes late and had booked a half day lesson. His "tips" were not helpful at all. He had a condescending tone and looked bothered anytime I asked a question and met me with a short tone. After I came down, early into a lesson, the staff inside apologized but did not look surprised when I made a comment that it was not an enjoyable experience and I did not learn anything. I never heard back from management. Biggest waste of money.

Roger G.

Yelp
I stayed at this MASSIVE house and I hit 50 mph on toninis. Lifts are fast mostly, stay at the village in an Airbnb, brothers birthday and it was party time.
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Tracy S.

Yelp
Beautiful resort with plenty of activities. Took my daughter snowboarding rented her equipment below took the gondola up to the Ritz and then caught a Sherpa to the middle village to meet up with them! It's big and can be a little overwhelming if it's your first time but great spot. Even has an ice arena.
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Dylanis N.

Yelp
I'm absolutely in love with this place! Not only is it breathtaking, but everything is so convenient and accessible. The restaurants are fantastic, with Rubicon Pizza being my favorite spot. The ski resort was amazing and such a blast! I even took a ski lesson--it was decent, though the instructor could have been better. That said, it didn't stop me from having an incredible time & I'll definitely be back!

Austin C.

Yelp
Don't really know what to say. There's just always something going on at Northstar. Multiple days this year they have been unable to get lift running until past 1 PM saying that it requires a lot of effort for their team to dig out yet every other resort I've ever been to in my entire life doesn't have this issue including Kirkwood, who has less employees and gets more snow. Secondly the vibes at Northstar are hands down the worst in the Tahoe area. The employees act like it's a chore that they are there or like we are forcing them to work there. After 20+ days on the mountain this year 5+ at Northstar 5+ at Kirkwood and 5+ at heavenly do not waste your time going to Northstar or heavenly spend your time and money at Kirkwood where it belongs.
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Em L.

Yelp
Of all Vail-owned ski resorts, this is my favorite! It's comparably touristy to Heavenly, but not as riddled with non-riders. You do need to drive a bit from the city(Truckee/North Lake) to get here, unlike Heavenly which sits right in South Lake, and we find that fewer people tend to come to NSR for that reason. There's a good variety of all runs(green, blue, black) which is great for both beginners and advanced riders. Though they lack expert terrain like double black diamonds unless you go backcountry. Northstar is also one of the few resorts to have a terrain park, they have a great one with a half pipe. The runs are groomed well too if you don't like powder. Food at the mountain lounges are pretty basic (burger and fries, chicken tenders); the best places we found to eat were the BBQ place at the Ritz Carlton(take the highland chair up) or just go down and eat in the Village. Another good choice is to pack your own lunch and enjoy it on the mountain with a pretty view. Lounge is great for drinks but if you're hungry - there's better places to eat.
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Abigail M.

Yelp
I can say that this place is overwhelming. Too crowded, Long line. However I am just amazed how they are organized. Took too long for our rental but then I had patience. It was just too tiring I guess I am at that age. LOL However once you get into the resort everything runs smoothly. I had a great time here and will do it again! Thank you!
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Asal B.

Yelp
Visited Northstar for the first time this past weekend and it was great! It had a lot of interconnected green paths which make for a really fun day. The only cons were the parking which was a bit confusing and the food was terrible.
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Kaley N.

Yelp
Love skiing the backside of this mountain when there's a good powder day! Parking is a bit of a hit or miss, but overall this place is great. Less crowded than some other Tahoe mountains but still fun.
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A. M.

Yelp
Pretty much a wrecked ski/snowboard experience by Vail Resorts as they have done with other properties. Oversold cheap season passes mean the lift lines are jam packed, low staffing with poor service, and no real snowmaking or grooming mean only 20-30% of the hill is open. You'll be in line 30-40min for each lift, and that's MID-WEEK. Weekends are a disaster and you'll see consistent 45-60min lift lines. Look at other independent ski resorts if you want to actually enjoy your day. The mass-market approach that has been implemented at Northstar isn't worth the time or money unless you like standing around in lines all day.
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Sammy L.

Yelp
This is a review for the kids ski school ages 3-4 and 5-6 programs. This is our second year taking our son to the full day ski school program, I have to say it's so nice! They feed them lunch at the lodge and really help them to learn how to stop. They do the magic carpet as beginners and slowly transition to the lifts. The ratio of 6 or less kids with two teachers is wonderful. Last year he only had three in his 3-4 year group. Now with COVID restrictions passed, it's more crowded but once they take the kids to the lesson areas it's not congested. I reserved the lessons online a couple months before. You come to the village where you'll see the signs for the age groups for check in. I think it's as smooth as you can get for a crowd of kids and parents. I have only had a great experience so far! The pick up at the end of the lessons is at the Overlook Bar area, which is right above the village second floor. I think the instructors are all really friendly and sweet! The other big bonus, you can ski and board knowing your kids are safe and having fun!
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Jade L.

Yelp
Beautiful ski resort! We are season pass holders and come here as often as we can. They have great restaurants, lounge, and shopping options. We normally visit for 1 day trips and have learned very quickly how crowded it gets here. If you want good parking and to avoid being stuck in traffic getting in, be prepared to arrive here early. We always target to get to the parking lot by 7:15am (this means we are leaving Sacramento around 5am). When we arrive as planned, everything is a breeze. Close parking, avoiding the crowds, get our Starbucks treats, change, and one of the first ones hitting the slopes. We absolutely love Northstar and highly recommend visiting if you have not yet.
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Kao S.

Yelp
This review and star ratings is for the Mountain Bike Park only. Really epic bike park with many features and very expansive and mix of open air and wooded riding. From east beginner fire roads to really technical and challenging blacks and double blacks. This park has encompasses the entire property to cater bikers of all skill levels. I believe there are about 5-6 lifts with two major ones that takes you to each mountain and you can choose your adventure. I've been mountain biking here since 2008 and continuously come back once or twice a year to test my endurance and skills on the mountain. Now 2008 has come and gone many many moons ago and I've definitely become a more skilled rider. I remember coming here on a hard tail and daring the trails to throw the unforgiving to me and have taught me many lessons and have been lucky to only suffer a compound fracture to my right arm. With beautiful tall pines and open air riding, you can spend a entire day and not get tired. One can ride and stop to enjoy the scenery and views from the too or mid mountain. Even when taking a break from riding while sitting at the lodge sipping on a beer or cold coke. Located within 4 hours from the SF Bay Area and only two hours away from Sacramento and Reno, you can drive or fly here from all over and enjoy the beautiful Sierra Nevadas. Now if you don't want to bike you can just take the gondola and hike around taking in the fresh mountain air. Also after hiking or walking the mountains you can enjoy the little village at Northstar with many shops and restaurants to cater to each individual. There's always something going on at the village so you can never be bored. In that case you can take a drive to Lake Tahoe or Reno. Accommodations are plenty with Airbnb, hotels as well as the Ritz Carlton has established a really nice property at Northstar.
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Karyn E.

Yelp
North Star is a very nice place to go with a group who have a variety of interests, not just skiing or snowboarding. The lodge area has restaurants, coffee shops and retail shopping and an ice skating rink. This place is very busy and crowded on the weekends. Shuttles take you to/from the parking lots. Be prepared to wait in lines from the shuttle in the parking lot to the lifts, however the lines move fast. The staff are always very friendly and helpful. Multiple locker areas if you are coming up for the day. ($20 sm, $25 lg). If you are renting equipment, use the online feature with prepay. So much easier!
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Laurence M.

Yelp
We rented a condo at Northstar in the resort area ( not the village ) It is a very disappointing place. The lower area was freezing cold even with the heat. One of the bedroom was so small it had a dresser against the room you could not open. The bathroom was a disaster. The upstairs level had only a coach and we were 3 ( nowhere to sit for the other member family. kitchen was just basic. We will not get back here at this condo location.
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Ken S.

Yelp
This review is about the staff at the ticket office. I came up here in July to ride the mountain bike trails and had a couple of issues with my account and my previous season pass and Devon promptly cleared all of that up. She along with the rest of the staff there were very amiable and resolved my issues quickly. My hat's off to them!!
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John T.

Yelp
Nice ski resort with decent runs. Fun for kids or adults. Food is wack. Parking sucks so get there early. Expensive.
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Steve T.

Yelp
Upscale condos and place is excellent for a summer vacation. Young adults using the gondola to ride dirt bikes downhill which looks fun. Most of the stores are closed until ski season . Gym is nice and so are the polls and facilities. Super nice condo that is huge and upscale.
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Lee D.

Yelp
3/1/22 We were Northstar customers before Vail Resorts bought it in October of 2010. We were Northstar customers before there was a village (2004), LOL. Our season pass also applies to Heavenly, acquired in March 2002, and Kirkwood, acquired in April 2012. I am very happy with all the acquisitions; I feel I am getting a better value from my season pass. I am under pressure to change to an Ikon pass, as half my friends are Ikon pass holders, and the other half are Vail/Epic pass holders. Decisions, decisions, decisions... Good news is that we are all Mt. Rose pass holders, LOL. Quality/Quantity - My favorite local Ski Resort!! 3170 Skiable Acres, 100 Trails, 20 lifts, 2 Gondolas, 8 Terrain Parks. Atmosphere - Ski in and ski out if you get here early enough. :) $20 paid parking also available via their app, see pictures. Day lockers. Warming areas - New since pandemic. Hike and Tubing - $25 all day. Cross country skiing. Snowshoeing, telemark skiing, fat biking Offers lessons. Exclusive Martis camp - I think they renamed it...? Restaurants on the mountain - Lodge at Big Springs, Zephyr Lodge (my favorite), Ritz-Carlton Dining. There was also a small cafe on the very top of the mountain, but it has been closed for a while. Village: Restaurants - Petra, Frites, Euro Snack, Copper Lane Cafe. Rubicon Pizza Company - Best value in the Village, they used to also have a happy hour. Starbucks - Do not expect the wifi to work... Ice Skating Rink. Live bands - Selected days and times. Fire pits. "Outdoor bars" by firepits and skating rink. Ritz Carlton is also on this mountain. They have their own restaurants and bars, but be prepared for it to be expensive. Shopping - Too many to name, check out their website Real Estate - HOA fees are very high. Platinum Club - Please also check out their website. They hold your gear for a fee, but it is not a good fit for us as we need our equipment for all the resorts we visit. Service - Good, they used to have a very positive and friendly customer service program. Price - Season pass $423; discounted for being a loyal customer. Owner Suggestion - Congrats on all your success with your 37 resorts in 3 countries. Look forward to skiing as many of your properties as possible. Please bring back the 2:00pm champagne, 3:30pm s'mores, carts, FREE overnight ski hold (currently $5), etc...
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Julie U.

Yelp
As a novice snowboarder, this place is perfect for me. I can get some good runs in without fear of death. It's crazy busy on Saturdays and holidays so I prefer to wait out the crowd and jump in early afternoon or take a day off work during the week. There is definitely not enough parking for how many passes they sell. Is there a limit? Probably not. If you're new to the area or new to skiing and snowboarding, this could be your place- just that timing is everything unless you want to park 5 miles away.
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Dennis L.

Yelp
I truly feel in love with Northstar Ski Resort this year. So many powder days ski the back side through the trees. Absolutely what dreams are made of. The run's and how they groom trails, or leave untouched. Just really appreciate the crew on the mountain's. World class resort, from the moment you walk into the village. Ice arena surrounded by quaint shops snd eateries. Mid mountain lunch is amazing. Overall have to give Northstar five stars for being just a fun destination
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Constance L.

Yelp
Has a gorgeous village with a good number of shopping, restaurants, and activities. There's a complimentary co-working space at Tahoe Mountain Realty called The Hub, with a café, free wifi, and outlets. Open fire pits, free parking with shuttles to the village, and an ice rink.

Joel D.

Yelp
I need to break this into 3 parts: Great mountain - appropriate for all levels, flows well, very well maintained. Lessons. Group lessons are a complete waste of time and money. For the third time, I sponsored a friend/family member. 2.5 hours and only 3 runs. 95% of time spent standing around. Instructor was a no-show, so someone from the rental shop filled in. 20 years ago, there was value and effort in lessons. I think they are a clear tourist trap at this point. Structurally designed to bore you to death. Fees/greed. A parking ticket will run you $250. 'Nuff said.

Amber K.

Yelp
This is just for the ski/snowboard part of the resort. So expensive!!! And for the price they charge for lift tickets and parking, they should make it more convenient. I purchased lift tickets online and they still make you wait in line to get your lift tickets. How about offering kiosks throughout the resort that just print your tickets so we don't waste time that we could be on the snow, waiting in line! Also, the main rental store is downstairs, not close to the lifts- so inconvenient!! We went to sugar bowl in the same trip and we had way more fun, everything is in the same building and the slopes were easy to access and figure out. Northstar is just way too confusing. They do not offer half day lift tickets. So we spent almost $800 to ski for maybe four hours....! It just felt like a lot of wasted time.
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Elaine S.

Yelp
Kids had fun ice skating! It's a nice area with food available. The only downside is this place gets busy and our food took a long time to be ready. We had to wait for over 2 hours.
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M. G.

Yelp
OMG! Are you kidding me? $17,5 dollars for such a horrible Irish coffee in a paper cup?! Plus you expect a tip? Small resort, few decent runs, but they are all short. No food before 11 am. Or stale food from grab and go kiosk. Parking is $20 and you still have to walk through the village.
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John T.

Yelp
My wife, me, and the in-laws stopped by here today. It was cool to say that I've finally been to Northstar after hearing about it a few times in the past. What I liked the most about this place is that it's basically free entertainment... obviously unless you are using any of their services or shopping. But what I mean is that it's just a great place to people watch and enjoy the winter town atmosphere. The ice skating rink was cool since we aren't skiers or snowboarders. And "the beach" tent was cool to warm up. I was a bit disappointed with other things, like the cleanliness of certain areas, the lack of enforcement of rules, and the traffic. One of the most entertaining aspects was seeing a dog left tied up outside the ice cream shop. A kid walked by and attempted to pet it only to be bitten on the hand. And then the owner came out, got his dog, and walked away. The kid was alright but poor decision making on both parts and just disappointing to see lackadaisical safety/security protocols like that at this place.
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Kathy H.

Yelp
11 of us went to Northstar for a wedding. I rented 2 Condos thru their reservation service. The Condos are privately owned. One Condo was fine. The other one, one of the bedrooms, the TV was not functioning. But, worse, the bed was broken. When my son and daughter-in-law got it bed, the bed was broken so that they rolled toward the middle, like a taco. A phone call to guest relations was not helpful, the response was, we have no replacement beds. They made the nest of it. I called and left a message, no response. I called again and spoke with a representative who said someone would call me back. Again, no response. I am not done calling, but I am not impressed with the lack of follow through. Ugg

Robert T.

Yelp
This places has been an amazing experience! Joe L. really made our trip. His kindness and attentiveness to detail had really helped make our family feel at home. I strongly recommend this place to anyone wanting to enjoy the snow and be comfortably warm when you rest. 10/10! Will come back again!!!

Ralph M.

Yelp
Daughter did 1 day ski lessons and was never helped in anyway shape or form, ignored at all times and just left alone. Called to cancel the other 2 days we had her set up for both days 48 hours after her first class and was told they would only refund 1 of the days and half the other day we paid $350 for absolutely nothing at all. Will never come back to this place, extremely disappointed will be going back to mammoth again next year.
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Nolan S.

Yelp
A Racket to put simply. Bought two days, our passes did not work both days. Waited in line several hours. Employees were extremely rude and none of them even tried to speak English. Insane for the price! This place has went downhill so fast

Jason D.

Yelp
Review is solely on ski school and primarily due to so many negative reviews I came across prior. Despite the actual lesson not being ideal for my teenage son, the staff from arrival to conclusion were phenomenal. Our group instructor Joshua did everything he could to make the experience positive and asked what else he could've done to improvise. Really appreciated it and look forward to another go in the future.
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David B.

Yelp
It's a good time when there's a decent amount of lighter snow, but Northstar can't really control that now can they? Kind of a tricky question to ask someone: "you a single?" As in, do you have anyone else in your party? I asked this of a young woman (I think...can't be too sure with so much gear on) so we could sit at opposite ends of a 6 person chair. Like it says on the signs in line. Eh, she took a 6 person chair (Zephyr) up alone. Luckily it was a Tuesday so I didn't lose too much time on that one. Like everywhere in Tahoe, I didn't have any interaction with the ticket sales folks. Ticket loaded on to an RFID card and scanned at the bottom. Nothing too rough at Northstar. Some guy on a lift ride up advised to head over to Lookout Mountain. Only one lift. Only one needed. Not too many people over there. *thumbs up* COVID era fun has all indoor seating at each food concession closed off. For some reason I had to park in BFE, meaning I took a shuttle to get to the car. There are open spaces closer to the lifts for a charge. But all the runs are open...
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Anna E. B.

Yelp
I hate Northstar I took my first lesson there and I had such a humiliating experience I truly boycott this resort. Not worth even one star
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Phia S.

Yelp
Northstar is favorite ski resort in Lake Tahoe! In my humble opinion, I think they have the best skiing on the lake. Northstar has about 100 runs, so whenever you go the slopes never get too busy due to this large variety. Additionally, they have a wide array of greens, blues, and black diamonds so you can challenge yourself or take it easy depending on the day. My favorite part of Northstar is that there are intermittent trees on the slopes. So you really feel like you are skiing in a forest. It makes the experience so much more surreal. Not to mention that it shields you from the weather if it is really windy. Lastly, there is a couple lodges throughout the mountain, so you can take a break if you need it! Most importantly, their COVID safety is stellar! They have staff all around the mountain ensuring that you are wearing a face mask at all times. They are being very cautious with the ski lifts, only allowing people of the same households to be on one together and they have implemented a reservation system to ensure that the slopes don't get too crowded. I highly recommend Northstar! It is really the best ski resort on Lake Tahoe.
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Arshi K.

Yelp
I love northstar and then I hate northstar. I don't know I'm still trying to decide. I love it for how easy the mountain is to navigate. The village vibe after you're done with your snowboarding and the amazing bars and restaurants it has to offer. I hate northstar for its parking and one way traffic situation. No matter what time we get here, it's been crazy. One time we had to park at the truckee airport and get shuttled in from there at like 11am on a Sunday. WhT?! Figure it out people! Anyways, I'm from Reno so I will still keep coming here as an epic pass holder but I wish they figure out their parking mess.
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Bo O.

Yelp
Last weekend my family went to enjoy a day at the bike park. My husband and I were meeting our parents at the top and they were watching our 1 year old daughter. We had a cooler full of snacks and our daughters milk. The ticket scanner told us we could not bring up the cooler. While we were going to take our cooler back to the car we spoke to another worker who said it was ok to bring the cooler. When we were back in line the first ticket scanner ran over and told us we could not have it, so we gave up and left it at the bottom. Come to find out the ticket scanner reported my husband after we had left and now he is banned from the resort. He didn't report him while we were there because we had done nothing wrong and knew the company would realize that if we were there to plead our case. Northstar has completely mismanaged this situation, by not prioritizing guests and families.
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Courtney B.

Yelp
I visited early season in November before we got dumped on. I had a very nice day enjoying the snow with some friends that were visiting. That said I want you to know that I visited again with my expectations low. What! Low expectations for a highly rated resort. Umm, yes. I knew that there was great skiing to be had here and a variety of trails but I also, knew that Northstar is a Bougee resort so things around there are pricey and expect to spend $$$ on the lodge and shop visits. I think of it as the "are we there yet resort...." due to driving there, being in traffic, parking and then having to do the whole shuttle there and make your way through the village to get up the damn hill. So knowing this and expecting this I just decided to deal with it as it has been a while since I have skied here and enjoy it as it is and so I did. I parked right next to a shuttle sign so the shuttle across from my car greatly added to my ease of getting to the village. Whew, what luck. Going all the way through the village to get up the hill was a pain, but with my expectation of it, it was ok... but, I am considering renting a locker next time instead of doing the boot thing all the way. The ski experience was wonderful, so know this is a great ski experience with lots of variety when you have the TIME to get there and back or the budget and time to stay there.

Marc M.

Yelp
10 years ago! Was the real downhill deal! Today you're paying 95 bucks for a lift ticket what a joke! Can't even fix certain spots on the trails! I'm never rider there again!
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Melissa G.

Yelp
First time skiing here and I came with a group of friends. Had a great time but the crowds were definitely a little bit over the top. Lines for the slopes we're exceptionally long and looked like a mob for the first part of the day. Slopes were nice but definitely were runned down which caused a couple wipe outs and made it hard to learn. Their rental process is a nightmare. Definitely reserve them online beforehand because day of can take up to a 1.5 hr wait plus the extra 30min that it takes for the fitting. Plus side, is that they hold onto your shoes while you skii. Right now most of the stores are closed cuz of covid but the lounge area in the village is nice to hang out for a bit. Also the ice rink was closed today? Not sure why. But they did have live music which added to the nice vibe.