Sugar Bowl Ski Resort California’s Historic Alpine Adventure
California’s oldest ski resort, An off-the-beaten path alpine adventure in the Northern Hemisphere.
Sugar Bowl Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe, California offers a unique blend: North America’s most diverse terrain, conveniently close to three airports, and a history as deep as the epic snowfall.
Sugar Bowl is California’s oldest ski resort, founded in 1939 by Austrian ski champion Hannes Schroll. Skiers can still ride the historic gondola – the first on the West Coast – over America’s only snowbound village. Then they can enjoy a locally sourced lunch or dinner in the atmospheric restaurant and bar, which will double in size thanks to a 2025 remodel. Stay at the 27-room ski-In / ski-out boutique hotel located at the base of the gondola.
Sugar Bowl offers 1,650 acres of skiable terrain across four peaks, catering to every skill level: 17% beginner, 45% intermediate, and 38% advanced. The new Sugar Bowl Parks offers a world-class freestyle park—ranked top 5 in North America—providing a pro-level progression facility for athletes from ski school to junior development to elite performance. For backcountry enthusiasts, Sugar Bowl provides access to pristine, ungroomed terrain, with guided tours available as well as uphill routes. Royal Gorge, North America’s largest cross-country ski resort, offers over 195 km of groomed trails right next to the downhill resort.
Located just off Interstate 80, Sugar Bowl is easily accessible from three major airports: Reno-Tahoe International (45 minutes), Sacramento International (90 minutes), and San Francisco International (3 hours) – a scenic drive if you come exclusively to ski or combine Sugar Bowl with other California adventures or work in Silicon Valley.
The resort’s position near Donner Summit ensures it receives some of the deepest snowpack in America. If you’re lucky, you might experience a single storm that dumps over 250 cm of powder. Even better: Sugar Bowl is one of the last independent resorts in California. You won’t have long lines – but you will have memories for life.
More at: Sugarbowl.com
This article is sponsored content.
