Crowd calendar · 2026-27 season
Northstar California Resort
Truckee, CaliforniaEpic· Open Nov 20 – Apr 12
Tap a day to see why, then plan a trip around it.
QuietModerateBusyPacked 3"+ snow forecast
November 2026
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December 2026
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January 2027
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February 2027
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March 2027
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April 2027
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Busy stretches to avoid
- Thanksgiving weekendNov 25 – Nov 29
- Epic Local Pass blackout, Thanksgiving weekendNov 27 – Nov 28
- School holidaysDec 20 – Dec 25
- Parking reservation peak period (Village View and Preferred Paid lots, 7am to 11:30am)Dec 20 – Dec 24
- Christmas–New Year peakDec 26 – Jan 1
- Epic Local Pass blackout, Christmas to New YearDec 26 – Dec 31
- Parking reservation peak periodDec 26 – Dec 31
- Parking reservation peak periodJan 1 – Jan 4
- School holidaysJan 2 – Jan 3
- Parking reservation peak periodJan 10 – Jan 11
- MLK weekendJan 16 – Jan 18
- Epic Local Pass blackout, MLK weekendJan 16
- Parking reservation peak periodJan 17 – Jan 19
- Parking reservation peak periodJan 24 – Jan 25
- Parking reservation peak periodJan 31
- Parking reservation peak periodFeb 1
- Parking reservation peak periodFeb 7 – Feb 8
- Presidents' Day weekendFeb 13 – Feb 15
- Epic Local Pass blackout, Presidents Day weekendFeb 13 – Feb 14
- Parking reservation peak periodFeb 14 – Feb 16
- Presidents' week school breakFeb 16 – Feb 19
- Parking reservation peak periodFeb 20 – Feb 22
- Parking reservation peak periodFeb 28
- Parking reservation peak periodMar 1
- Parking reservation peak periodMar 7 – Mar 8
- Parking reservation peak periodMar 14 – Mar 15
- Parking reservation peak periodMar 21 – Mar 22
- Easter weekendMar 26 – Mar 29
Beating the crowds
- Tuesday to Thursday is quietest almost everywhere, and often cheaper.
- Ski Monday to Friday. Village View lots are free outside peak periods, and Northstar says visitation is lowest midweek.
- Use the Castle Peak lots, which are free every day with no reservation, and ride the free shuttle to the Village. Shuttles run until 10pm on weekends.
- On weekends and peak dates, reserve Village View parking and arrive by 11am. Parking reservations are $20 for 3 or fewer occupants and free for 4 or more. After 12pm on those days, Village View parking is free without a reservation.
- Northstar says the lots can fill as early as 9am on busy days. The Big Springs Gondola starts at 8:30am and mid-mountain lifts at 9am. Expect heavier traffic on Highway 267 and Sunday afternoons between Truckee and San Francisco.
Ski Northstar California Resort for less
Get every cost per person with sources, the cheapest place to stay, quiet dates and a day-by-day plan. Takes about a minute.
Plan a cheap trip herePlaces to stay nearby
The cheapest beds are usually a town or two down the road. Split a whole house with your group.
This is a forecast from patterns: weekdays, national holidays, school breaks, pass blackout dates and events. Resorts don't publish lift-line data, so treat it as a guide. Snow forecast from Open-Meteo.
Northstar California Ski Resort Area Overview - OnTheSnow · onthesnow.comSki resort Northstar California Resort - Skiresort.info · skiresort.comNorth Tahoe Skiing & Snowboard | Northstar California Resort · northstarcalifornia.comCalifornia Ski Season Starts in November, Here's Who Plans to Open First · unofficialnetworks.comEpic & Ikon Blackout Dates 26/27 - YeahSnow · yeahsnow.comEpic vs. Ikon vs. Indy: the 2026–27 Ski Pass Guide - ZRankings · zrankings.com