If you haven’t heard, Tahoe has been getting tons of snow this January! Take advantage of our phenomenal snow coverage, and make plans to experience all the terrain that Tahoe has to offer this season!
Resort skiing is great - lift access to amazing terrain really can’t be beat on some days. But, have you ever been on the lift and looked out past the resort and wondered what it would be like to ski in the backcountry? Snowcat skiing is a great safe way to access that terrain that isn’t served by lifts, and isn’t populated by weekend crowds. Snowcats are tracked vehicles with fully-enclosed cabs. Designed for maneuvering in the snow, these vehicles offer a great way to explore Tahoe’s backcountry this winter.
Check out a couple of operators that conduct cat-skiing tours in the North Tahoe/Truckee region below.
Homewood Snowcat Adventures
Enjoy access to 750 acres of backcountry terrain at Homewood Mountain Resort. Their intimate tours have a maximum group size of nine skiers or riders, and the tours leave right from Homewood Mountain Resort. All safety equipment is included in the cat-skiing package, including a beacon, probe, shovel, and backpack. The Snowcat Package also includes lunch and guided tours to the best powder stashes. Special deals on powder-specific ski and snowboard equipment is also available at Homewood’s rental shop.
The terrain that you can expect on a Homewood Snowcat Adventure varies from well-spaced trees to wide open bowls. The terrain is located in the area above Homewood, around Ellis Peak. After a day of laps in Tahoe’s backcountry, enjoy a 1,824’ vertical foot ski back down to the base of the Old Homewood Lift. Homewood Snowcat Adventures also serves up some of the best backcountry views-with vistas of Lake Tahoe and Desolation Wilderness the whole way down. Stay nearby.
Pacific Crest Snowcats
Situated conveniently between Squaw Valley and Truckee, Pacific Crest Snowcats is led by a group of knowledgeable guides who have years of experience in Tahoe’s backcountry and beyond. Their all-inclusive packages include lunch and refreshments throughout the day and all of the safety equipment you’ll need for a day in the backcountry-backpacks, probes, shovels, and beacons.
Pacific Crest Snowcats operate on about 3,000 acres of terrain. Most runs are between 1,000 and 1,200 vertical feet, and most skiers and riders can expect to complete 8-12 laps and ski or ride about 12,000 vertical feet by the end of the day. The area that Pacific Crest Snowcats covers boasts some of the deepest snowfall in the region, and the terrain varies from north-facing bowls that stay deep for weeks to technical tree lines. Stay nearby.
If you’re looking for the best conditions that Tahoe has to offer, sometimes even weeks after a storm, look no further than a cat-skiing tour. You’ll be sure to have the trip of a lifetime with great views, deep powder, and amazing memories. Interested a backcountry adventure? Check out more information on cat ski tours here.