Top 15 Family-Friendly Ski Resorts For Kids Near Sacramento
December 28, 2023

Skiing adventure with your family will look different in 2023 — with the new norm — many ski resorts for kids near Sacramento are putting a full range of new safety protocols in place.

Ski season is here! But because of the ongoing pandemic, parents are concerned about the safety of their kids. Is it safe to go to a skiing resort for kids? Well, skiing and snowboarding are already pretty safe since most people wear goggles, masks, and gloves. Many family-friendly ski resorts for kids near Sacramento have already opened and they have all taken COVID-19 safety measures.


Ski resorts for kids near Sacramento have implemented extensive rules relating to COVID-19 protocols. These new guidelines have provisions for ski rentals, chairlifts and gondolas, and gatherings on the ski hill. Of course, social distancing must be observed and there will likely be capacity limits.

For families looking for fun things to do with kids in Sacramento this winter, there are tons of options to play in the snow. Happy kids can glide down local mountains, go sledding, or tubing, snowmobiling, and more. Don’t miss the chance of the season and take them to any of the Sacramento kids winter activities. Buckle up as we streak through our list of family-friendly ski resorts to help you plan your next adventure. But knowing this ski season will be different from the past years, it is best to check each resort’s website for more information before you plan a trip.

Soda Springs - ski resorts for kids near Sacramento
Soda Springs Ski Resort

1. Soda Springs Ski Resort

10244 Soda Springs Rd. Soda Springs, CA 95728
Phone Number: (530) 426–3663
E-mail: info@skisodasprings.com

As the longest-running family-friendly ski resorts for kids near Sacramento, California, Soda Springs Mountain Resort is the best place to explore the magic of winter in Tahoe. Snowsports lessons at Planet kids are for kids that want to stay safe, have fun, and learn basic snowsports skills. Lessons are offered in a one-hour group lesson format with a maximum of 4 students or 30-minute private lessons. Private lessons are also offered for ages 3 and up designed for a more personalized experience with one of their professional instructors.



Soda Springs group lessons are also offered specifically for new to snow skiers and snowboarders. Designed to teach the basics, learn the fundamentals, and build skills in a very welcoming environment, it is an ideal skiing resort for kids. Learn to Ski & Snowboard lessons are for ages 8 and up, and offered in either a package deal with lift ticket and equipment or a lesson-only product.

Donner Ski Ranch - ski resorts for kids near Sacramento
Donner Ski Ranch

2. Donner Ski Ranch

19320 Donner Pass Road, Norden, CA 95724
Phone Number: (530) 426-3635
E-mail: dsrinfo@donnerskiranch.com

Among the oldest and most iconic ski resorts near Sacramento, Donner Ski Ranch is one of the family-friendly ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area that features a wide variety of terrain, inviting skiers and riders of all abilities to enjoy the fully-featured mountain oasis. With one of the highest base elevations in the Sierras, the resort boast epic powder. And, with aggressive high-mountain and backside terrain, advanced skiers and riders can escape the crowds and enjoy untouched lines.



Donner Ski School offers a variety of options to help you learn to ski in a fun, no-pressure environment. For parents who opt to teach their children to ski without instruction, they offer a highly affordable way to do so. You can have an $18 moving carpet-only tickets for all ages, and young child equipment rental (ages 0-5) is just $15, so it’ll cost just $51 for a day of fun for you and your kid.

Boreal - ski resorts for kids near Sacramento
Boreal Mountain Resort

3. Boreal

19749 Boreal Ridge Rd., Soda Springs, CA 95728
Phone Number: (530) 426-3666
E-mail: info@rideboreal.com

Known for an amazing Learn To Ride program, Boreal Mountain Resort is the best skiing resort for kids and the whole family in the Lake Tahoe region to begin your journey on snow or take your skillset to the next level. Build confidence faster with a half or full-day lesson for your kids.

Using their patented Woodward progression zones, their experienced Snowsports staff supports the development of essential learning skills for young skiers and riders of all abilities. Lesson programming is developed based on age and level progressions. Kids will also learn to responsibly explore the diverse terrain that Boreal Mountain Resort and Woodward Tahoe has to offer.


One of the oldest family winter traditions is easier than ever at Boreal’s Tahoe Tubing. Equipped with a moving carpet to transport tubers back up the hill, and groomed tubing lanes, Tahoe Tubing is the place for giggles galore and pure family fun.

Sugar Bowl Ski Resort
Sugar Bowl Resort

4. Sugar Bowl

629 Sugar Bowl Rd., Norden, CA 95724
Phone Number: 530) 426-9000
E-mail: info@sugarbowl.com

Sugar Bowl Resort offers skiers and riders vast and varied options for a day of fun on the slopes. And as the closest major Tahoe resort to Sacramento and the Bay Area, skiers and riders love the convenience, and the ability to spend more time on the slopes than on the road. Whether it’s your child’s first time on snow, or you’re interested in their skiing or riding skills, Sugar Bowl’s professional ski and snowboard instructors will help them reach along the way.



Lesson programs focus on skill-building and fun to ensure children’s success while safely enjoying winter sports. Private and group lessons are available for all ability levels. They specialize in children’s skis, provided by quality professional instructors, with additional focus on safety, fun, and learning. Children’s lessons are offered at both Judah and Village base areas. This is one of the best family-friendly ski resorts near Sacramento.

Heavenly Lake Tahoe -  ski resorts for kids near Sacramento
Heavenly Lake Tahoe

5. Heavenly Lake Tahoe

3860 Saddle Road South Lake, Tahoe, CA 96150
Phone Number: (775) 586-7000
E-mail: info@vailresorts.com

Do you have plans for a skiing adventure with your family this winter? High above the sapphire-blue waters of Lake Tahoe, Heavenly is one of the most unique snowsports resorts on the planet. The choices are endless. With more terrain variety, more hidden glades, more rippin’ groomers than any Lake Tahoe resort, the whole family will have endless adventure both on and off the mountain.



Explore all of your options and experiencing Heavenly’s winter activities for kids! Feel the rush of snow tubing without any of the hard work! Their mini tubing hill is over 500 feet long and has a convenient magic carpet to take you and your tube back up to the top. Even if your kids aren’t skiing or riding, you can still experience one of the greatest views of Lake Tahoe with the Scenic Gondola Ride.

Homewood Mountain Resort
Homewood Mountain Resort

6. Homewood

5145 West Lake Blvd., Homewood, CA 96141
Phone Number: (530) 525-2992
E-mail: guestservices@skihomewood.com

Homewood Mountain Resort is among the family-friendly ski resorts that offer kid’s programs teaching the foundations of skiing and snowboarding in a safe, fun-filled environment. Group and private children’s lessons are available daily for children ages 4 through 12 of any ability level.

This is one of the ski resorts for kids near Sacramento with certified instructors that focus on building good technique in a positive learning environment so that your kids will learn to love the snow and the mountains. One lesson can be all it takes to set your child on the path to a lifetime love of skiing and riding.

Kirkwood - ski resorts for kids near Sacramento
Kirkwood Mountain Resort

7. Kirkwood

1501 Kirkwood Meadows Dr., Kirkwood, CA 95646
Phone Number: (209) 258 – 6000
E-mail: Kirkwoodinfo@vailresorts.com

Kirkwood Mountain Resort is one of the nation’s top year-round family-friendly ski resorts lifestyle destination. About 35 miles from South Lake Tahoe, Kirkwood is a true mountain resort that provides a fulfilling and diverse on-mountain experience and a unique sense of community. When you visit Kirkwood for the first time and round the bend on HWY 88 where the valley comes into full view, you’ll understand immediately that there’s truly something special about Kirkwood.


Mountain Explorer/Burton Grom Ski and Snowboard Lessons are for kids 5-12 years old. It is located at Timber Creek. Timber Creek is the first base facility you see on the right side after entering Kirkwood. This lesson drop off time is from 10:15 to 10:30 AM for morning or full-day lessons, or 1:15 to 1:30 PM for afternoon sessions. The 3 to 4 year-old Mini Ripper/Grom Lessons is also located at the Timber Creek Base Area. The lesson drop off time is from 9:30 to 10:00 AM at the Mini Ripper Entrance to the Timber Creek Children’s Center.

Northstar California - ski resorts for 

kids
Northstar California Resort

8. Northstar California

5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, CA 96160
Phone Number: (530) 562-1010
E-mail: northstarguestsvc@vailresorts.com

The secret to success is to create an environment where children build confidence and skills progressively. This means personalized attention in small groups with world-class instructors, special terrain and lifts developed just for little learners. Northstar skiing resort for kids has a signature Explorers Program that lets you and your child choose their adventure with an instructor who personally comes to understand their ability, and cares about their progress.



Their world-class children’s ski school will turn your child into a lifelong skier, so your family can share the experience of confidently exploring the mountain together. Book three consecutive days of Child Ski Group or Ultimate 4 lessons, and we guarantee your child will be skiing safely and competently or the fourth lesson is free of charge.

Sierra at Tahoe - ski resorts for 

kids
Sierra at Tahoe

9. Sierra at Tahoe

1111 Sierra-at-Tahoe Road, Twin Bridges, CA 95735
Phone Number: (530) 659-7453
E-mail: info@sierraattahoe.com

Sierra’s Snowsports School is a skiing resort for kids that offers a wide range of options for all ages and all ability levels. Learn a new sport, improve your technique, or explore new possibilities. Thanks to its world-class instructors and impressive terrain, learning to ski or ride at Sierra is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that can’t be missed. Children’s Lessons are subject to availability.

No winter vacation to Lake Tahoe is complete until you have raced down the tubing hill at Sierra-at-Tahoe in a gigantic doughnut, building snowmen (or snowballs!), or eating smores while warming up with hot chocolate around a fire pit at Blizzard Mountain! With plenty of indoor + outdoor activities for your little ones who aren’t ready to hit the slopes, their licensed childcare center will keep them playing all day. Conveniently located at the base of the mountain, you’ll be able to check in on them between laps.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows - ski resorts near Sacramento
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows

10. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows

1960 Squaw Valley Rd, Olympic, Valley, CA   96146
Phone Number: (800) 403-0206
E-mail: info@squawalpine.com

It is a skiing resort for kids that is an internationally renowned mountain resort in North Lake Tahoe, California, and the proud host of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games. The resort spans 6,000 skiable acres across two mountains, with stunning views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada. Skiers and riders of all ability levels are welcomed by over 65 percent beginner and intermediate terrain, while legendary steeps, towering cliffs, and heart-pumping chutes continue to be ground zero for boundary-breaking skiing and riding.



Squaw Valley’s SnoVentures Activity Zone located in the base area offers mini snowmobiles for kids. Kids ages 6 and up can strap on a helmet and ride a snowmobile that is just their size around the SnoVentures mini snowmobile course. Snow tubing is also a fun mountain adventure for the whole family. It is also located at SnoVentures Activity Zone in the base area of Squaw Valley adjacent to the parking lot. Play in the snow, bond with family and friends, then warm up at the SnoVentures Lodge located adjacent to all of the snow play fun.

Bear Valley Resort -  ski resorts near Sacramento
Bear Valley Resort

11. Bear Valley Resort

2280 State Route 207, PO BOX 5038, Bear Valley, CA 95223
Phone Number: (209) 753-2301
E-mail: fun@bearvalley.com

Bear Valley Mountain and Village is a premier skiing resort for kids and a lodging destination in the Central Sierra. Conveniently located on National Scenic Byway Highway 4 within Northern California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range and surrounded by two of California’s largest federally designated wilderness areas, outdoor activities in Bear Valley are abundant.


Bear Valley offers private lessons for kids 3 years old and up. Take advantage of one-on-one training with a professional instructor to hone your little one’s skills and improve your experience on the slopes!  Private lessons with a professional instructor can be booked hourly every day for both skiers and snowboarders. If you have a 5th grader with a “C” grade average or equivalent, they can ride for free EVERY WEEKEND starting January 6th!

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe - skiing resort for kids
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

12. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

22222 Mount Rose Hwy, Reno, Nevada
Phone Number: (775) 849-0704
E-mail: deepsnow@skirose.com

It’s no surprise kids love skiing and snowboarding at Mt. Rose. That’s because there’s so much for them to do! Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe offers multi-session lessons for children. Parents who want to see their kids learn and appreciate the outdoors and the value of winter sports should definitely consider enrolling in one of their Kidz@Rose programs.

It’s among the best family-friendly ski resorts for kids near Sacramento and knows the importance of creating the next generation of passionate outdoor enthusiasts. That’s why they offer multiple date options, affordable rates, smaller class sizes for more individualized instruction, as well as grouping young skiers and boarders with others of their own age and ability.

Mt. Shasta Ski Park -  skiing resort for kids
Mt. Shasta Ski Park

13. Mt. Shasta Ski Park

4500 Ski Park Hwy., McCloud, CA 96057
Phone Number: (530) 926-8610
E-mail: thinksnow@skipark.com

Mount Shasta Ski Park in California is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. It is located in Northern California, 295 miles north of San Francisco and 100 miles south of Medford, Oregon. The nearest town is Redding, California, which is 65 miles south of the ski park. Guests are drawn to the resort because it is newer than most. It was built in 1985, making it the newest ski park in California.



They offer different packages for kids such as Coyote Kids Intro Package full day and half-day ski lesson with levels 1 to 3. This is designed for first-timers and beginner skiers ages 5-9. It includes two lessons, ski rentals, and a Surface lift ticket. They also offer Kids Ski Lesson Only (half-day) for levels 1 to 3. Guests who have their own gear and don’t need a full package are more than welcome to opt for Just a Lesson. Lessons are available for beginner to intermediate riders, ages 5-9.

Dodge Ridge
Dodge Ridge Resort

14. Dodge Ridge

1 Dodge Ridge Rd., Pinecrest, CA 95364
Phone Number: (209) 965-3474
E-mail: info@dodgeridge.com

Since its opening season in 1950, Dodge Ridge Resort has remained a family-owned resort with values that celebrate the skiers and riders who have started a life-long love of the sport. Offering 862 skiable acres, 67 runs, and 1,600 vertical feet, they’ve become known for its all-mountain powder days.



It’s one of the few ski resorts for kids near Sacramento that has been teaching kids as young as 2 years old. For nearly 70 years, they’ve been developing skiers and riders through the use of cutting edge snowsports programs that guide children in a natural progression from beginner to expert.

Tahoe Donner
Tahoe Donner

15. Tahoe Donner

11603 Snowpeak Way, Truckee, CA 96161
Phone Number: (530) 587-9444
E-mail: skireservations@tahoedonner.com

Tahoe Donner is a vibrant mountain community with a passion for outdoor recreation and a celebration of the Tahoe lifestyle. Located in Truckee, California, the Tahoe Donner Association manages a broad range of year-round recreational amenities, some for members only and others open to the general public, including an award-winning championship golf course, a family-friendly downhill ski area, and a renowned cross country ski area with a newly constructed, state-of-the-art base lodge.

Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort has provided families a unique and affordable ski experience. They are committed to being “the best place to begin” and offer ski instruction for children as young as 3 years old, interchangeable lift tickets for parents with non-skiing children, retail outlets, and a kid-friendly menu in the cafeteria. Wide-open bowls, uncrowded slopes, gentle beginner terrain, excellent grooming, and a friendly, courteous staff await you.

Are you ready for a skiing adventure with your family?

Skiing, itself, is a low-risk activity, at least for COVID-19. Many people already wear a mask and there’s space between people. There’s no prolonged contact with others on the slopes. So practically, it is safe to go to any of these ski resorts for kids near Sacramento.

If you’re dying to get out of the house this winter after long months of home quarantine, and the kids are ready for something more adventurous, these family-friendly ski resorts are the best place to go. From daycare to the ski school, and delightfully short transfers to rentals, this awesome skiing resort for kids have got your winter vacation covered.


Sacramento offers so many opportunities for kids to enjoy and have fun all year round! Check out our list of resources, or browse through our things to do in Sacramento with kids.

Still looking for more winter activities for Kids in Sacramento? No problem! Check out our comprehensive listing of places to go in the region and our highly recommended winter blog posts.


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An online family resource guide for kids within the Greater Sacramento area. It’s an easy to use directory listing where you can find an array of resources for your kids.

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