Ski resorts by state
Non-Vail ski resorts in California
Looking for non-Vail or non-Alterra skiing in California? Browse 20 California ski areas not owned or operated by Vail Resorts or Alterra Mountain Company. Compare vertical drop and lift counts below, then open a resort for its listed passes, directions, and nearby ski areas.
Planning an alternative to an Epic or Ikon trip? Pass membership and ownership are different: independent partner mountains can still accept those passes. Check each resort's official website for current access and tickets, and see our selection criteria.
- Mountains
- 20
- Tallest drop
- 2,175 ft
- 1,500 ft and up
- 9
- Vertical published
- 19 of 20
- Alta Sierra Ski Resort Day hill 384 ft vert
- Badger Pass Ski Area Day hill 571 ft vert
- Bear Valley Big mountain 1,844 ft vert
- Boreal Mountain Resort Day hill 528 ft vert
- Buckhorn Ski Club
- Cedar Pass Day hill 390 ft vert
- China Peak Mountain Resort Big mountain 1,614 ft vert
- Coppervale Day hill 554 ft vert
- Dodge Ridge Ski Area Big mountain 1,600 ft vert
- Donner Ski Ranch Day hill 719 ft vert
- Granlibakken Ski Resort Local hill 210 ft vert
- Homewood Ski Area Big mountain 1,640 ft vert
- Mount Waterman Full day 1,001 ft vert
- Mountain High Big mountain 1,594 ft vert
- Mt. Baldy Big mountain 2,090 ft vert
- Mt. Shasta Ski Park Big mountain 2,080 ft vert
- Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort Big mountain 2,175 ft vert
- Soda Springs Day hill 564 ft vert
- Sugar Bowl Resort Big mountain 1,500 ft vert
- Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area Day hill 492 ft vert
Non-Vail and non-Alterra skiing in California
Are there non-Vail ski resorts in California?
Yes. 20 ski areas in California are not owned or operated by Vail Resorts. They range from small community hills to larger independent mountains, and each is listed on this page with its published vertical drop and lift count.
Which California ski resorts are not owned by Alterra?
The same 20 mountains are independent of Alterra Mountain Company as well. Unvailed excludes every US ski area owned or operated by either Vail Resorts or Alterra, so nothing on this list belongs to either company.
What is the largest non-Vail ski resort in California?
By published vertical drop, Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort is the biggest independent area in California at 2,175 ft. 9 mountains in the state publish at least 1,500 ft of vertical.
Skiing somewhere else? See every state, or open the map.