Fabulous!4.3 / 5Jan 14, 2019
John C. advanced snowboarder
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Pros
- Both have fantastic grooming of steeps
- Squaw Valley has one of the best base villages in Tahoe
- Squaw Valley is famous for their high snowfall and steeps
- Alpine Meadows have better wind protection than Squaw Valley
- Alpine Meadows has incredible hike-to terrain
Cons
- Squaw Valley is most affected by the wind than any other Lake Tahoe ski resort
- Squaw Valley has long lift lines and on powder days has crowded slopes
- Alpine Meadows has an old lift system and base lodge
- Most runs are top to bottom at Alpine Meadows
- Alpine Meadows is vulnerable to warm weather which can see rain and ice thanks to its low elevation
| Squaw Valley - Alpine Meadows Ski Packages | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lodging + Lift Tickets | Discount | Price |
|
Granlibakken Tahoe
2 x Adult 2-day Lift Ticket |
65% off | £473 |
|
Northstar Lodge By Welk Resorts
2 x Adult 2-day Lift Ticket |
42% off | £1,404 |
|
Donner Lake Village
2 x Adult 2-day Lift Ticket |
35% off | £1,998 |
| View all ski packages for Squaw Valley - Alpine Meadows | ||
Overall
Squaw Valley combined with Alpine Meadows becomes the largest Californian ski resort of legends, home of the world’s first double chair in 1949, host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, and training ground to pro skiers. Although both are technically separate ski areas, there are plans to connect the two via gondola. Nonetheless, both are covered by the same lift ticket which gives you massive 6,000 ac to explore!
Best month to go
Mid-February to Mid-March
Mid Feb to Mid March are the best months to visit. There is nothing worse than holiday crowds to add to the terrible lift queues at Squaw Valley during Christmas and New Years.
FLY TO
Reno-Tahoe International Airport
DRIVE/SHUTTLE/TAXI TO
Squaw Valley - Alpine Meadows (1 hour)
Base of Squaw Valley (Walk)
- Expensive and often limited lodging
- Ski-in/ski-out accommodation available
- Most convenient location to the slopes
Alpine Meadows (1-2 mi)
- No ski-in/ski-out lodging
- Limited range of chalets and vacation rentals including Airbnb's
- Less dining options than Squaw Valley
Truckee (10-15 mi)
- Small town with affordable accommodation
- 20-30 minutes drive away with ski traffic
- Has more variety of dining, bars and shopping than Tahoe City
Tahoe City (5-10 mi)
- Closer to the ski resort than Truckee
- 20-30 minutes drive away with ski traffic
- Affordable accommodation and has amazing views of the lake
For beginners
Squaw Valley is where beginners will want to go! Most of the green slopes here are in the upper mid-mountain so beginners can join the more experienced skiers higher up! Hop aboard the Big Blue Express lift to access some of the best long green runs here!
For intermediates
We'd pick Alpine Meadows over Squaw Valley for intermediates as the runs are generally less crowded and there are tons of blues to cruise. Our favourites here include the Rock Garden Run off the Summit Express lift or Outer Limits off the Lakeview Chair for stunning vistas of Lake Tahoe. In Squaw Valley Lakeview Run and Knob Hill are great long runs worth trying out but our to-die-for run here is The Attic.
For experts
Both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows have expert terrain but if we had to pick one, it would be Squaw Valley. Notorious for its steeps, Squaw Valley's best chutes and cliffs can be accessed by the KT-22 Express lift! The Silverado lift is also perfect for those looking for some crowd-free shredding. Otherwise, in Alpine Meadows, the powder-filled Beaver Bowl and Estelle Bowls are incredible!
Find freshies
Freshies are easy to find even days after a storm. If you're up for a hike, the advanced rated Beaver Bowl and Estelle Bowl off the Summit Express lift in Alpine Meadows has plenty of hidden powder stashes!
Ditch the crowds
Crowds are inevitable on powder days and they're especially worse in Squaw Valley. Squaw Valley is also notorious for their terrible lift lines with the Gold Coast Funitel and Shirley Lake Express being two of the busiest lifts! Avoid them during peak times if you hate long waits!
Non skiers
Non-skiers will have a range of things to do here including dogsledding and Nordic skiing. There are also Casinos over in Stateline Nevada or if you're lucky enough to be visiting in April, the annual WinterWonderGrass California Music and Brew Festival at Squaw Valley is tons of fun for everyone!
Families
Both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows are quite family-friendly, though Squaw Valley has more facilities suitable for children as well as a larger ski school. Squaw Valley's base village also easy to walk around and has an abundance of restaurants for fuelling up.
Heavenly Mountain Resort
| Squaw Valley - Alpine Meadows | Heavenly Mountain Resort | |
|---|---|---|
| beginner | 25 % | 20 % |
| intermediate | 42 % | 45 % |
| advanced | 33 % | 30 % |
| expert | - | 5 % |
| total runs | 270 | 97 |
| ski area | 6,000ac | 4,800ac |
| summit elevation | 9,050ft | 10,067ft |
| total lifts | 42 | 28 |
| child lift ticket | $98 USD (£76 GBP) | $80 USD (£62 GBP) |
| adult lift ticket | $159 USD (£123 GBP) | $146 USD (£113 GBP) |
| uncrowded | ||
| snow | ||
| back country | ||
| value for money | ||
| average total snowfall | 325″ | 247″ |
Save up to 30% when you book a Squaw Valley - Alpine Meadows package!
View Squaw Valley - Alpine Meadows packages
Squaw Valley - Alpine Meadows Reviews
John C. Good!3.7 / 5Dec 04, 2018
Danney B. expert skier
Fabulous!4.5 / 5Nov 20, 2018
Kyle K. advanced snowboarder
Good!3.6 / 5May 01, 2018
Trini P. advanced skier
Superb!4.7 / 5Dec 02, 2017
CSCraig S.
It doesn't get better than Squaw Valley, and with the lift connection to Alpine Meadows, it will be even better. Snow conditions are consistent, lifts are fast and comfortable, and the terrain has everything you ever want to experience.... Moreadvanced snowboarder
Fabulous!4.2 / 5Nov 24, 2017
DJDaniel J.
Squaw is rad! Also known as Squallywood, the locals can be hit or miss to the visitors. Great riding in all different types of terrain and the top area of the mountain can get slammed with snow and stay open for a long time. Little known larger resort company, KSL, bought it a while back and have made a lot of improvements. It's a good time but be... Moreexpert snowboarder
Average!2.8 / 5Nov 23, 2017
CMChris M.
Insanely overpopulated and over skied. Stay away unless you like waiting in line with some really terrible people. Not worth the effort. Other resorts in the area offer the same terrain without the pain.... Moreexpert skier
Good!3.9 / 5Nov 21, 2017
GKGavin K.
Squaw valley wasn't just coined "squalywood" for any reason. It is a place where the wealth folk commute from the city of the bay to get their hot laps on. The general appeals to squaw include a good selection advanced skiing, lots of weather, and the endless accommodations available.... Moreadvanced skier
Superb!5 / 5Nov 20, 2017
RLRodney L.
This has to be one of the best ski resorts world wide!
Such a diverse choice of trails from Beginer to expert & from Trailbto Back country! Well organized & no lines!!... Moreadvanced skier
Superb!4.8 / 5Nov 09, 2017
JBJonathan B.
Squaw Valley / Alpine Meadows is my favorite resort I have been to hands down. The scenery is epic, the people are awesome, and the mountains and snow are off the hook!!!!!... Moreadvanced snowboarder