6 Best California Mountain Resorts & Why They Are So Great

California is best known for its sunny beaches, thrilling theme parks, stunning coastline, and as the home of the US entertainment industry. When mountain resorts get discussed, the Golden State rarely gets mentioned. Nevertheless, it has multiple such complexes that dispense high-end hospitality. One thing that sets apart every such spot in California from similar ones in other states is that no gambling gets allowed on these properties, as no land-based gambling gets permitted within CA borders, making residents turn to real money online iGaming in California. Still, mountain resorts in America’s most populous territory have loads to offer, and here are the six best ones, according to user reviews.

The Ritz-Carlton – Lake Tahoe

Located in Truckee, an incorporated built-up area in California’s Nevada County at 13031 Ritz-Carlton Highlands Court, The Ritz-Carlton at Lake Tahoe is a 17,000-square-foot resort. It provides year-round abounding activities. Guests can find this luxurious property in some of NorthStar California’s most beautiful and scenic regions, boasting a lodge-style architecture akin to massive hospitality structures built in the West at the turn of the century. It is a five-star resort with LEED Gold certification.

The venue spices patrons’ stay with a spa, a fitness center, and three high-quality on-site dining options. These are the Highlands Bar, the Living Room, and the Manzanita. The establishment also features a pool, a game area, and an electric vehicle charging station. Its rooms are modern and spacious, implementing an attractive blend of light/dark woods, dark leather, glass, and stone accents.

Mammoth Mountain Resort – Mammoth Lakes

Found at a lofty elevation of eleven thousand feet, the Mammoth Mountain is California’s highest lift-served terrain. Established in 1953 by Dave McCoy, this destination, situated within hours of Yosemite National Park, near June Mountain and Lake Tahoe, where Mammoth Mountain resort sits, is unquestionably classified as one of the finest Alpine Skiing spots in the world. It is every skier and snowboarder’s dream.

On the lodging side of things, there are nine properties within the Mammoth Mountain area, with the most famous being the Mammoth Mountain Inn, the quintessential slopeside hotel. It is close to public transport, featuring decent parking and old-school décor, with a Mountainside Bar & Grill and a Yodler Restaurant & Bar. It is an economy hotel with a three-diamond AAA rating and two hundred units in three buildings.

Palisades Tahoe – Olympic Valley

Without question, the Palisades Tahoe is a property steeped in history and legend that stretches from the ancient Washoe tribes to modern freeskiing. It opened its doors in 1949 and can boast that it hosted the 1960 Winter Olympic Games. Based in Olympic Valley, on 1960 Squaw Valley Road, the Palisades Tahoe originally went by Squaw Valley Resort, but it changed its name in 2020. It is the most massive skiing complex in the Tahoe region, with thirty-six hundred acres of skiing land.

The hotel has top-shelf lodging, private balconies, in-room fireplaces, full kitchens, laundry service, fitness facilities, and eight outdoor hot tubs. Plus, the resort offers heated underground parking and a billiards lounge.

Everline Resort and Spa – Olympic Valley

Here, we have another Olympic Valley property in an idyllic mountain setting, resting on the rests at the base of Palisades Tahoe. The Everline Resort & Spa on 400 Squaw Creek Road is an all-season mountain resort by Hyatt Hotel, offering summer and winter recreational activities, suites with slate entryways and custom furnishing. Plus, visitors enjoy heated swimming pools, an ice-skating rink, and an 18-hole championship golf course at Everline.

Conde Nast Traveler magazine has rated this resort as one of the top fifty ski ones in North America and a top one hundred and fifty overall hospitality complex in the US. It gets touted as a place perfect for family vacations and a world-class destination for corporate conferences.

Tenaya at Yosemite – Fish Camp

The Tenaya Lodge is only a two-mile drive from the marvel of nature, the breathtaking Yosemite National Park. It supplies a premium spa experience with all the modern amenities and personalized service. The lodge has a fitness center, retail shops, and pet-friendly accommodations.

Each room in this complex has flat-screen TVs with cable channels. The resort features a robust variety of recreational activities, including rock climbing, downhill skiing, and nature hikes. The latter can be partaken in with the help of naturalist tour guides who aid guests in discovering all the beauty of the lodge’s surrounding area.

Big Bear Lake Resort – Big Bear Lake

Those who wish to take in awe-inspiring mountain views would be wise to visit the Big Bear Lake Resort in the San Bernardino National Forest, sitting one hundred miles northeast of LA at an altitude of around seven to nine thousand feet. It is a home away from home, with hotel lodging and story-book cabins.

Aside from marveling at natural beauties, the Big Bear Lake supplies extensive opportunities for social activities. Lovers of casual dining can visit various cafes, pizza parlors, and local pubs, boasting a super laid-back atmosphere. These serve anything from Italian fare to authentic sushi and flavorful Mexican dishes. Food aside, depending on the season, snow tubing or snowshoeing can be a top sports attraction here, or in hotter weather, cycling, mountain biking, golfing, kayaking, or hiking can hog the spotlight.