Signage is generally good, and the resort marks which trails have been groomed overnight. This can be really annoying as your first experience of the day on the mountain.Īs you’d desire from a family-oriented resort, getting around Northstar is pretty easy.

Despite ample space between these sets, you’ll still end up slowing down at least four times during your ride up. As a result, the entire lift has to slow to a crawl every time a set of cars reaches the terminals. The cabins on this lift have fixed grips, meaning that they cannot change speeds independently. If you’re really concerned about the wait and want to bypass lines altogether, you can throw down the extra money to buy a Platinum Pass.Īlthough most guests will only ride it once a day, it’s worth discussing a few annoying drawbacks to the Highlands pulse gondola, which primarily provides parking and condo access. The gondola line is separate from the chairlift line, and it’s typically a shorter wait. Although unmarked, the Zephyr Express lift is actually a chondola (a gondola car follows every ~11th chair), which can provide welcome isolation from the elements on uncomfortable days. While Northstar can get crowded, the most popular areas have at least two lifts servicing similar terrain. With the exception of real estate access, every run at the resort enjoys high-speed service from at least one lift. Northstar’s lift infrastructure is a strong point. However, Northstar falls short in a few key areas that may degrade the experience for some. The resort offers fast lifts, more than 3,000 acres of terrain, and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Located just north of Lake Tahoe, Northstar makes for a competitive package on paper.

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