California/Nevada Where to ski/stay for a short trip near Sacramento?

[AeroSKI5150]

Visiting SFO and friends in NorCal for New Year's... flying home from Sacramento on an evening red-eye, leaving 1.5 days free to hit the slopes. Looks like Squaw Valley / Alpine Meadows is likely the best bet... any smaller/local hills to seriously consider? Also, other than Olympic Village itself, seems like not much lodging in the way of typical hotels, even in Truckee. Where do folks stay for quick overnight trips staying west/away from Tahoe proper? Nothing fancy - Days/Hampton Inn level is fine... THANKS!

 

[Philpug]

Sugar Bowl is the closest to Sac. Many times people will jsut come down to the Reno side to stay, ther eare many options. Can you change your flight back from Reno?

 

[Tony]

There is lodging at Sugar Bowl, probably expensive that week as most CA schools don't go back until 1/6. Squaw and Northstar would give you the most resort village experience if that is what you are looking for, but expect everywhere to be busy and expensive, especially after 12/31 when most blackouts end.

Other than Rainbow Lodge https://www.therainbowlodge.com/ (nice location on the Yuba River - I have only been to the bar) there is not much until Colfax and Auburn, an hour W of Donner Summit where there are mostly basic motels.

You need to be aware that storms often hit with the worst timing for people trying to get over Donner Pass. There can be major delays so watch the weather and don't expect to get from Squaw to SMF in two hours if there is a storm. Even if it's not snowing, truck accidents can cause delays.

 

[New2]

Alternately you can take US-50 instead of I-80. There's plenty of lodging available at South Lake Tahoe/Stateline. Heavenly's a blast; I hear good thinks about Kirkwood and Homewood; and Sierra-at-Tahoe's well worth your half day on the way home at the very least (and if you're into tree skiing, probably worth the whole 1.5 days).

 

[Itinerant skier]

Echoing the above for Sugar Bowl to the north and Sierra at Tahoe for the south. Both are Powder Alliance and offer plenty of terrain. If you really want to check out a fun small area off of I-80, there's Donner Ski Ranch. You could easily do a day at SB then a half day at Donner.

ETA: Spend the night in Truckee if you choose the SB option.

 

[SSSdave]

Lift tickets and lodging are likely to be jacked up to max. Be sure to figure out where you will ski first, buy online, and not buy walk up tickets. For lodging with actual prices see my link below of post #8 using Google Maps:

California/Nevada - Northstar $$$$ vs Heavenly $$ early January

We have friends that live near Heavenly on the Nevada side that we will be visiting around New Years. They commented that they had never been to Northstar (despite living in that area for a decade), so we started looking at staying near there a couple nights to give everyone something new...

www.pugski.com

Since you related 1.5 days, that is hardly enough time to get fancy or experience much. The simplest plan would be to get a room in Auburn or Roseville that would be far cheaper, and drive up at sunrise.

 

[Pequenita]

There’s a Hampton Inn over by the airport in Truckee, and a bunch of stuff over in Tahoe City. I agree, lodging in Reno is more economical, and I think a couple of the casinos actually run shuttles to the ski areas? But booking a departure from Reno when you’re coming into SFO is risky. Unless you’re hellbent on spending a night in Tahoe, a room in Sac or the foothills and doing a day trip may be the best option.

 

[Alexzn]

You will be here over the holiday period, so expect full hotels and AirBNBs, decent traffic an unpredictable weather. If possible, change your ticker from Sac to Reno, that will make things a lot cheaper. Some casinos and nearby hotels in Reno may have some specials over the holidays. If you fly out from Reno and ski Squaw on your full day and Mt. Rose on your departure day, you will be able to get the most skiing. I would not bother with smaller areas like Donner ski ranch unless you are a beginner skier. By the time you tally the rental car, lodging, and rental ski gear costs, you might as well ski a big resort and see what Tahoe is all about. Do buy your tickets in advance, it is significantly cheaper. Have fun and come back for a proper week.

 

[Lex P]

Another vote for Reno. The drive is easier and you have much less exposure to driving in snow. CHP and Caltrans are very conservative with chain controls and if you don't have them, you will be turned around. Plus Reno has tons of great and reasonable restaurants. Consider skiing Mount Rose. Squawllywood will be out of control for crowds at that time.

 

[Itinerant skier]

I would not bother with smaller areas like Donner ski ranch unless you are a beginner skier. By the time you tally the rental car, lodging, and rental ski gear costs, you might as well ski a big resort and see what Tahoe is all about.

I must respectfully disagree. DSR has plenty of steep terrain on the backside. It's a perfectly appropriate mountain for what the OP is looking for, unlike nearby Soda Springs, or the similarly named Tahoe Donner, which are indeed limited in terrain and really only useful for beginners. The holiday crowds will make avoiding the big resorts an even better option. OP could a full day ticket at SB AND a half day ticket at DSR for less than a one day ticket at Squaw while renting equipment in Truckee

Depending on if OP can rearrange flights, Reno/ Mt Rose may be a better option though.

 

[AeroSKI5150]

Thanks all, appreciate the feedback. Have done a few full week trips to Reno/Tahoe in the past and love it all around, usually stay in Stateline -- just trying to capitalize on a free day this time around. The return from Sacramento is locked in, but being a red-eye it's basically finding a decent crash pad for Thurs 1/2 (when I drive over from Sonoma) and finding a day-worthy mountain Friday 1/3 before making it back to the airport by ~7pm. Definitely will check out Sugar Bowl, but having IKON makes SquawPine attractive, but for the crowds. Found the Hampton Inn Truckee is sold out, guess I'll have to search a little harder! Above all else, Mother Nature will truly control everything once the days arrive, c'est la vie!

 

[Tony]

The Inn at Truckee is well located for getting to Squalpine and available at $129 including breakfast for 1/2. But remember that drive from Squaw to I-80 can take a long time if storm hits.

I have not stayed there for a long time. We used to pay at lot less for special they called the stair-climber as it was only for 3rd floor.

 

[AeroSKI5150]

A-ha, thanks for the great tip, @Tony ! Very much appreciated... looks like a better alternative to either the Truckee Donner Lodge or the Best Western, both of which want $250-$300 that week, crazy!

 

[Itinerant skier]

Ahhh... didn't realize that you had IKON. Squalpine makes more sense then, at least ethe full day.

 

[Pequenita]

Another option: check the cancellation policies and book multiple hotels, and as Mother Nature shakes out, cancel as appropriate. Might be more restrictive policies during the holiday...

 

[Pequenita]

hey @AeroSKI5150 , I was poking around the ASI website to look up stuff and came across a list of hotels in the Truckee area -- second page of this document: http://www.alpineskills.com/equipment/L1_REFRESH_log.pdf

 

[AeroSKI5150]

A little tardy in wrapping up this thread but again wanted to thank everyone for their input and @Tony for the Inn @ Truckee recommendation, which turned out to be just perfect for our very short stay. They were accommodating with offering a fairly late checkout at no additional $.

Alpine Meadows last Friday (1/3) overall was bluebird near 50 degrees and we had a great first day of our season despite the hardpack/icy conditions and minor lift lines at the base. The prior few days in Sonoma and driving up and back from Sacramento were awesome travel weather. Cheers!

 

[aubergine]

Our go to place for that area is the Best Western in Truckee, which was previously a Larkspur. The main issue with those areas at peak times is the wretched drive to/from the mountains either on 267 or 89.

SMF gives a lot more options than RNO, imo, even if its a shade farther than the latter.