2017-2018 Nevada County Gold Magazine 2017-2018_Nevada County Gold Magazine | Page 91

Cascade Canal Trail,
Nevada City
ALPINE SKIING/SNOWBOARDING: For terrain parks and night skiing,
pick the secret powder paradise of Boreal, which also caters to
beginners. Big-elevation lovers would do well to choose Sugar
Bowl, which has three large mountains and runs of every level. This
historic park rarely ices up and offers great panoramas of Donner
Lake. Another great choice is Northstar Cross Country, Telemark
and Snowshoe Center, which has 79 trails covering 2,480 acres of
downhill and a modern network of lifts. Why not try the view from
Mount Pluto? Soda Springs is a favorite for families and beginner-
to-intermediate skiers and boarders. Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski
Area has uncrowded slopes, wide-open bowls and great beginner
terrain. Donner Ski Ranch is the granddaddy of them all, since its
first rope tow was built in 1937! An average of 400 inches of snow,
6 chairlifts, 52 runs and 460 acres of terrain are a few of the statis-
tics you’ll need to help you picture this budget-friendly mecca, high
atop Donner Summit.
By Mark Winkler
At Donner Summit Sno-Park you'll find
snow play, plus access to backcountry, along
with plowed parking and restrooms. Get
inexpensive permits online or at vendors in
Truckee. They’re good all over the west! The
SNO-PARKS hot line is [phone].
CROSS COUNTRY/SNOWSHOEING One fine choice is
Royal Gorge, the largest cross-country ski area in the
country! Royal Gorge is comprised of an extensive
network of trails, giving you access to the inspiring
challenge of 6,000 acres of High Sierra wilderness. Also
visit Tahoe Donner Cross Country, with 54 trails covering a
beautiful 100 kilometers for your aerobic workout pleasure and the
Northstar Nordic Center, with great accommodations and more
than 35 kilometers of groomed trails for your group’s kicking-and-
gliding enjoyment.
Boreal Ski Resort
MAKE A POWDER PLAY
SNO-PARK PERMITS
TUBING/SLEDDING/FAMILY FUN: For a blast for the whole family, try
Tube Town at Soda Springs, Boreal’s Playland, the Donner Ski
Ranch Tubing Hill, Tubes-R-Us at Kingvale Resort or Tahoe
Donner Snowplay. There’s fun right off Highway 80 at Nyack or
Yuba Gap. Also Soda Springs set aside their Planet Kids area for
ages 7 and under to keep the little ones out of harm’s way.
Best Run of the Day
For the snow-play days in your life, think Nevada County for
uncrowded venues, reasonable prices and that sweet, sweet High
Sierra snow. We offer top-notch destination resorts, as well as more
rustic access, all within our county or very nearby and easy to get to
off Interstate 80, which is the first highway to be plowed during
and after any storm. There may be ski resorts more famous than
some of ours but with that much notoriety, high prices and the
crush of the crowds follow. Our area features every kind of snow
fun you can imagine, complete with a less-hectic, more family-
friendly atmosphere.
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