7 Underrated Ski & Snowboard Resorts For Bay Area Riders

Homewood is one of Tahoe’s best kept secrets, and most locals frequent this low key resort for the long, uncrowded runs. It’s a great place for novices to learn control on less steep slopes and for intermediate riders who want to pick up new skills — plus, any San Franciscan will appreciate the quick, easy, and free parking at the foot of the mountain. This resort is included in the Snowbomb Pass.

This is our favorite pick for family vacations, since Yosemite National Park’s ski resort works on a smaller scale with 10 runs and terrain parks for beginner. The majority of the trails are ideal for groups with intermediates and anyone who is stepping on their skis or snowboard for the first time. Check out the kid-specific programs for skiing and snowboarding, or take them tubing for a more laid-back getaway.

Mt. Rose is a prime spot skiers for snowboarders of any level, as there are several green level beginner slopes for anyone who’s strapped on for the first or second time. The two express lifts give you easy access to almost all runs on the mountain. It also doesn’t matter whether you’re a novice, pro, local, or first-timer — visitors love the friendly staff members. This resort is included in the Snowbomb Pass.

Sugar Bowl has plenty of runs with steep, aggressive terrain that would keep an advanced rider busy. This one is a little pricier than the rest, but is our pick for intermediate to advanced riders because it has an understated vibe that doesn’t have you worrying about overcrowding or running over beginners.

Sierra is known for the terrain parks scattered throughout the mountain and accessible by 14 chairlifts. Advanced riders will enjoy the jumps, boxes, and rails that line the 2000 acres of terrain, while beginners have greens spread around the backside of the mountain. The great feature for beginners is that they don’t have to be limited to the lower mountain — Sierra accommodates them with green slopes that have a longer stretch and paths that intersect with blues and blacks so that groups with riders of all levels can meet in the middle.

We would recommend Donner Ski Ranch for beginners who don’t want to break the bank until they figure out if the snow sports are their thing. Donner is one of the most affordable resorts, with lift tickets for full and half days, but we’d recommend the beginner packages that include a 1.5 hour group lesson for anyone going down the slopes for the first time.

China Peak finds itself in a central spot of California, south of Tahoe and right by Mammoth, but this place holds its own against the big boys of ski resorts. You don’t come here to stay inside, so don’t expect fancy lodging — you come here to be outside and hit the long, well-groomed runs, which is why it’s a local favorite! This resort is included in the Snowbomb Pass. Jennifer was an English major at UC Riverside and is currently taking time to travel and eat well before she goes to business school in the fall. She was born in San Francisco, raised in Daly City, flirted with SoCal, and now lives in American Canyon, right at the southern tip of Napa Valley. She’s been known to frequent coffee shops around the Bay Area in search of the most compatible ambiance for the day’s mood. When she’s not writing about her adventures, she likes to run for fun, sketch until her fingers turn charcoal black, or take a mini getaway in her beloved verde chiaro Fiat 500.