Northstar California ResortLift-served downhill mountain biking, a par-72 mountain golf course, and free Highlands Gondola rides above a walkable Truckee village

Northstar California sits on 2,480 acres in the Martis Valley just south of Truckee, six miles from Lake Tahoe's north shore. Opened for skiing in 1972 — it began life as a lumber site called Timber Farm before becoming Northstar-at-Tahoe — the resort is now a Vail Resorts mountain known for sheltered, tree-lined terrain and a Ritz-Carlton perched mid-mountain. In summer the lifts spin for bikes and sightseers instead of skiers.

The headline summer draw is the Northstar Bike Park, one of California's best lift-served downhill networks: flowy singletrack, technical descents like Sticks N' Stones, jump lines including Livewire and the revamped Toyota Jump Park, and the Gatorade Skills Park at the base for dialing in technique. The Big Springs Gondola, Tahoe Zephyr Express, and Vista Express haul bikes and scenic-ride passengers to the top. Off the trails there's an 18-hole par-72 golf course split into a Meadow Nine and Mountain Nine, a 9,000-square-foot village ice rink that runs year-round, fire-pit après, and free Highlands Gondola rides straight from the pedestrian village.

Note the rhythm: the Bike Park and scenic lifts typically run Thursday through Monday and close Tuesday and Wednesday, so plan a midweek visit around the village, golf, or ice rink instead. Park free at the Castle Peak lot and ride the shuttle in to skip the paid Highlands garage. Afternoons can bring Sierra thunderstorms, so chase golden-hour laps during Friday Twilight Hours and keep a layer handy at the 6,330-foot village.