California's Only Backcountry Operation!
Pacific Crest Snowcats operates on 3,000 acres of reserved terrain located between Squaw Valley USA and Sugarbowl Resort on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. Trips include a full day of backcountry exploration with options ranging from wide open bowls and mellow trees to some of the steepest snowcat-accessed terrain in all of North America. Our options are quite literally limitless.
Given the amount of north-facing terrain and perfectly spaced trees, our guides can sniff out untracked snow weeks after a legendary Lake Tahoe dump and the stable Sierra snowpack allows guests to ski and ride aggressive slopes soon after a storm cycle. And although the temperatures in aptly named Coldstream Canyon do wonders for preserving our powder stashes, we do have a number of wide open south-facing bowls that make for great corn conditions in the late spring.
Our terrain will remind you of your favorite areas at ski resorts such as Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley or Kirkwood Mountain Resort. Our longest run is fifteen hundred feet (our average run length is 1200 vertical feet) and guests can expect to log between 12,000 to 14,000 feet through the course of the day. The bulk of our terrain is nestled just East of the Pacific Crest itself at an elevation of close to eight thousand feet. Our advanced terrain tends to pleasantly surprise even the most accomplished of skiers and snowboarders…and similarly our powder stashes stay pristine long after the snow is tracked up at area resorts. Rest assured, your guide has never taken a group down a run with tracks.
We ask that guests are of at least high intermediate ability able to link turns in all conditions…and it helps to have a passion for skiing or snowboarding untracked snow! As long as all group members meet this ability requirement, the day will flow smoothly as the duration of the runs tend be timed perfectly with the amount of time it takes the snowcat to arrive at the designated pickup location. And keep in mind we do have two guides per snowcat, so at times the guides will opt to split the groups to accommodate different terrain preferences.
How To Get To Pacific Crest Snowcats
Our morning meeting location for backountry snowcat trips is in the Brockway Room at the Cedar House Sports Hotel conveniently located off of Interstate I-80 in Martis Valley near the town of Truckee, CA. The physical address is 10918 Brockway Road, Truckee, CA, 96161 for those using navigation systems. Snowcat trips meet at 8:00am.
Snowshoe tours and evening scenics should call our office number at 530.544.3020 to confirm meeting location details prior to trip.
By Plane: The Reno-Tahoe International Airport is located approximately an hour away and offers flights from most major U.S. destinations along with rental car and shuttle services. Similarly, the Sacramento International Airport is located approximately two hours west of Lake Tahoe and offers flights from most major U.S. destinations along with rental car and shuttle services. The Truckee Tahoe Airport is a community airport that offers service for private aircraft and is located only 15 minutes away from our office location.
From San Francisco: Take I-80 East passing through Sacramento as you follow the signs for the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. After coming down the backside of Donner Summit, take Highway 267 South just passed the town of Truckee. Take a right onto Brockway and the Cedar House Sports Hotel is located approximately 1/2 mile on the left.
From Reno: Take I-80 East to the turnoff for Highway 267 South just before the town of Truckee. Take a right onto Brockway and the Cedar House Sports Hotel is located approximately 1/2 mile on the left.
From South Lake Tahoe: Options exist on both the East and West shores of Lake Tahoe; however, highway 89 via Emerald Bay often closes for extended periods of time after a storm. Via the East Shore, take Highway 50 to Spooner Summit and take a left onto Highway 28. Travel around the lake (on your left) looking for the rightand turn in Kings Beach to Hwy 267 North. After passing the turnoffs for Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, take a left onto Brockway, the Cedar House Sports Hotel is located approximately 1/2 mile on the left.
Via the West Shore, take Highway 50 West to the “Y” in South Lake Tahoe (actually a four-way stop) and take Highway 89 North being wary of the switchbacks near Emerald Bay. In Tahoe City at the “Y”, take a left as Highway 89 continues along the Truckee River corridor. Take I-80 East to the exit for Hwy 267 South. Take a right onto Brockway and the Cedar House Sports Hotel is located approximately 1/2 mile on the left.
Private Transportation Options Available Around Lake Tahoe: Call for Details.
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