Skiing in Alpine Meadows

Alpine Meadows Ski Area

Alpine Meadows draws advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders from around the world to try its bowls, chutes, trees, and backcountry hikes.

Alpine Meadows is backed by giant volcanic rock sculptures. There’s over 2,400 acres (971 ha) of skiable terrain, with a summit, Ward Peak, reaching 8,637 feet (2,633 m). You can ski either the front or back of the mountain, although beginners won’t find anything for them on the back. Famous for its off-piste terrain and “adventure zones,” which are all around the mountain, Alpine Meadows draws advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders from around the world to try its bowls, chutes, trees and backcountry hikes. But for families there’s also a family ski zone off Hot Wheels Chair.

The interchangeable lift pass with Heavenly, Kirkwood, Northstar at Tahoe, Sierra at Tahoe and Palisades Tahoe provides access to 17,920 acres (7,252 ha) of skiing and boarding.

Alpine Meadows Beginners

The best areas for beginners in Alpine Meadows are off Meadow Chair, Subway Chair and Hot Wheels Chair.

Around 25 percent of the ski area is graded “easy” for beginners, and the best areas are off Meadow Chair, Subway Chair, and Hot Wheels Chair, which are all easily accessible from the base area. There’s a specially designated family ski area off Hot Wheels Chair, with green and blue trails.

Alpine Meadows Intermediate Skiing

Around 40 percent of the trails at Alpine Meadows are for intermediates, including the Roundhouse high-speed quad and the Sherwood high speed quad chair for the bowls on the back of the mountain.

Around 40 percent of the trails at Alpine are for intermediates. A good day’s skiing would include the Roundhouse high-speed quad and the many blue trails on the front of the mountain, or the Sherwood high speed quad chair for the bowls on the back of the mountain. Also on the back of the mountain is Lakeview triple chair, for long, graceful and groomed trails.

Alpine Meadows Advanced & Expert Skiing

The best skiing for advanced skiers in Alpine Meadows is off Summit Six high-speed six-passenger lift on the front of the mountain and Scott triple chairlift on the back.

The best skiing for advanced skiers is off Summit Six high-speed six-passenger lift on the front of the mountain and Scott triple chairlift on the back. The most challenging terrain is Wolverine Bowl-steep and a consistent, sustained distance, although groomed. If you’re looking for moguls, steep and deep, and couloirs head off to Keyhole, Idiot’s Delight and Estelle Bowl, accessed via the Summit Six lift, or Promised Land off Scott Chair on the front of the mountain.

Powder searchers are in heaven here-you can find powder anywhere on the mountain. Alpine Meadows is a telemark skiing hot spot, provides lessons and high-performance equipment, and hosts many demo days. Because of its open boundary policy, ski touring is very popular and prevalent.

Alpine Meadows Boarding & Freestyle

Alpine meadows offers skiers and boarders a terrain park, halfpipe and a superpipe.

Skiers and boarders alike can use the terrain park and halfpipe off the Kangaroo double chair from the base area. For boarders it’s easy to access non-hike terrain, but a little more effort is required to access hike-to destinations. The terrain park and halfpipe are sometimes open at night for special events. The superpipe has walls that are 17 feet (5 m) high.

Alpine Meadows Mountain Restaurants

Alpine Meadows base lodge, the Chalet restaurant at the front of the mountain and the base of Sherwood Chair offer good places to eat.

At the base lodge there’s a full-service restaurant, cafeteria, deli, boulangerie and large sundeck. The Chalet Restaurant on the front of the mountain has a full-service restaurant. At the base of Sherwood Chair in the back bowls, the Ice Bar offers a snack bar, music and a pleasantly laid-back atmosphere in the cocktail lounge.