Squaw Valley Ski Resort Riview

Squaw Valley Ski Resort, or Squaw Valley USA, is located in Olympic Valley, California. It is one of the largest ski resorts in the United States and was the home to the 1960 Winter Olympics. It is spread across 6 peaks and covers 4,000 acres with a 2,850 vertical drop.

The 177 different runs are accessed by 33 lifts, including an aerial cable car and North America's only Funitel. 70% of the runs are beginner and intermediate with plenty of wide open bowls and groomed trails. There is still plenty of mountain left for the advanced skiers with vast areas left in their natural state where you can experience some of the most challenging terrain in the world. The slope breakdown is 25% easy, 45% intermediate, 30% advanced and 30% expert. The longest run is over three miles long.

Squaw Valley Ski Area.
Thanks to wikipedia.org for the picture.

Squaw has a reputation for extreme skiing partially because of the impossible lines from the Palisades. Other areas for the expert skiers are KT-22, Headwall Express and Granite Chief. And don't miss the glades in Silverado Bowl or the rocky outcroppings of Broken Arrow. It is, however, a great place for beginners and intermediates. At High Camp the novice skiers can experience the thrill of being high on the mountain, and looking down over Lake Tahoe, not stuck down around base camp. Up there you will find plenty of easy runs and when you are done you simply take the Funitel Lift or the tram back to the bottom.

There are three terrain parks for the snowboarders, including the Belmont Park for kids. Cross Country skiers can enjoy close to ten miles of trails.

Lessons and rentals are available at Squaw for those of you new to the sport. Let them fit you to skis, or a board, and then teach you how to use them. They give lessons to all levels of skiers so don't think you are to good to learn something new, you might be surprised. All of the over 200 instructors at Squaw Valley Ski Resort are accredited by the Professional Ski Instructors Association (PSIA) and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI). The Squaw Kids Children Center is a complete ski school with rental equipment and lift tickets. Children 3 to 12 can learn to ski in this 12,000 square foot learning facility.

Squaw Valley Ski Resort Funitel.
Thanks to Rennett Stowe for the picture at flickr.com

The Ski Season at Squaw Valley starts in mid November and runs through late May. The annual snowfall is over 450 inches making for some of the best skiing in the country. The snow making is only for 10% of the slopes but the rest just doesn't need it.

As you might expect, lodging at Squaw Valley Ski Resort is plentiful with plenty of ski in ski out condos and hotels. There are forty hotels within eight miles of Squaw Valley. RV's are welcome but there are no electrical or plumbing hookups.

You will have no trouble staying busy at this resort. Some of the activities include an 18 hole golf course, cable car rides, a giant swing, a swimming lagoon and spa, pony and horseback riding, ice skating at the Olympic Ice Pavilion, bungee jumping, snow tubing and tennis courts.

The Village at Squaw Valley.
Thanks to wikipedia.org for the picture.

Shopping and dining are easy at Squaw Valley with 12 base area restaurants and three high camp ones. There are about 20 base area shops and two high camp ones.

Squaw Valley is 192 miles from San Francisco, 96 miles from Sacramento and 42 miles from Reno. Contact them at 866-818-6963. Their address is 1750 Village East Road, Olympic Valley, California 96146.

Squaw Valley Ski Resort Map & Directions (click on "Marker" for your personalized directions)

View Larger Map