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Frequently Asked Questions

"Can I take a dog on the Gondola?"  "What views do you recommend?"  "What is Retro Skate Night?"  "When does the summer season end?"

We'll try to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about summer fun and activities at Northstar-at-Tahoe^TM Resort, the Village at Northstar^TM and Northstar ® Resort's mountain hike and bike park.

 

• Gondola + Scenic Lift Rides
• Hiking
• Mountain Biking
• Shopping + Dining + Movies + Skating
• Services + Amenities

 

Gondola + Scenic Lift Rides

What time does the lift open and close?
Sunday through Saturday the Gondola and lifts open at 10:00 a.m. The Season Pass Office and Plaza Bike Shop open at 9:30 a.m. in order for you to pick up or purchase your lift ticket(s).

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fridays: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays: 10:00 am - 5:00 p.m.

Please note that the last chair down is 1/2 hour before the lifts closed.

How do we get the free gondola ride?
The scenic rides are free however we do require each guest to have a lift ticket; we ask that you pick the tickets up in the Ticket Office located at the end of the roller rink. » More

Can I bring small kids on the lift?
Small children are able to go on the Gondola however when you reach mid- mountain, we recommend you take the Zephyr chair gondola cabins to access the mountain further.

What views would you recommend?
Both chair rides have exceptional views! If you are looking for a view of Lake Tahoe, take the Vista chair. The top of Zephyr has beautiful views of  Martis Valley as well as excellent mountain views from the deck at Schaffer’s camp. The best views on the mountain are from the top of the Lookout hiking trail that starts at the top of Zephyr. From the top of Lookout you can see Squaw, Sugarbowl, Castle Peak and all the way over to Mt. Rose. As for views of Tahoe, Vista gives a decent filtered view but a short hike up the Tahoe multi-use trail and you get a much clearer picture » Hiking Trail Map

Can I take a dog on the gondola?
Yes but all dogs must be on a leash in Gondola and in the Gondola cabins on the Zephyr chair. All guests are required to clean up after their pet and to not leave any garbage or pet bags in the Village or on-mountain.

How long does it take to get to the top?
The Gondola and Zephyr ride is approximately 10 minutes. The Vista chair is roughly seven minutes. All times vary due to weather and other obstacles and services.

Is there a chairlift that goes to the top of Mt. Pluto?
There is not a chair in operation during the summer season to the top of Pluto but you are able to hike by access of the Vista chair and the Tahoe multi-use trail.

Can we ride the lift down?
Yes. There is also no cost to ride the lift down.

What time do I need to be at the top of the gondola to come down?
You want to be at the top of the gondola no later than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled closing time to down load. If you do miss the last chair down, village run is a quick easy way down.

 

Hiking

What hiking trails would you recommend for beginners and intermediate hikers?
For guests new to our mountain, Crossover is a place to begin. Take the Vista chair to the Crossover trailhead and hike the trail to the top of Zephyr. At that point, you have two options; continue hiking or download from the Zephyr gondola cabins. » Hiking Trail Descriptions
 

Are there bikers on the hiking trails?
There are trails designated for hikers only, you will find these trails marked in pink on your trail map. There are also trails that are shared with bikers and these trails are marked with a solid line in your trail map; however the shared trails are fire roads so you have plenty of room to share with bikers. We recommend that each guest carries a map while hiking on our mountain. » Hiking Trail Map

 

Mountain Biking

Can I ride my bike up without a lift ticket, how much does it cost?
If you do not want to use any of the lifts throughout the day, you are able to use the mountain trails for free. However, all guests are required to have a ticket. Please stop by the Plaza Bikes Gear + Rentals in the Village at Northstar to pick up your Bike Ticket before biking our trails.  » Interactive Village Map

Where do I pick up a bike rental?
You will start your rental process at Plaza Bikes in the Village at Northstar , after you have completed payment you will travel up the Gondola to the rental tent located to your left. After Labor Day, all bike rentals will be handled in Plaza Bikes.

 

The Village at Northstar: Shopping + Dining + Movies + Skating

What time does the roller rink open, how and where do I get rentals?
The rink is open everyday from 12:00 to 8:00 p.m. The rental shop is located next to Plaza Bikes Gear + Rentals. » Interactive Village Map

What is Retro Skate night and what time does it begin?
Enjoy your favorite music from the 70’s and 80’s and the guest with the best Retro outfit wins $50! The fun begins every Tuesday from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. » More

What nights does the resort have movies and where and when does it begin? 
We show movies Friday, Saturday and Sunday located inside the Roller Rink. The movies start fifteen minutes after sundown. Please visit www.northstarattahoe.com for a schedule of movies or visit the season pass office for listings. » More

 

Services + Amenities

Where is Patrol located if someone is hurt?
Please visit the Patrol office for non-emergencies. You can locate Patrol at mid- mountain on the back side of the day lodge or call the number on your ticket to have a patroller come to you. In case of an emergency, please call 530-562-2444 or 911 or find a staff member to assist you. If you have a severe medical emergency call 911 or go to the hospital.

Is there a place to get food at the top of the mountain?
You can get “frog dogs” and drinks at the Euro Snack located at the top of the Gondola. The Big Springs Day lodge is also available for BBQ and lunch items. There is also a snack bar at Shaffers Camp at the top of the Zephyr chair.

When does your summer season end? 
The bike park operates seven days a week until September 7, 2008. After labor day, we operate weekends only through mid October. Weather
dependent.

Do you have summer daycare?
No. However, you can contact lodging for a list of babysitters and local daycares, or visit our Village & Mountain Amenities web page. » Childcare + Babysitters Information

Do you have horseback riding?
The Northstar Resort Stables will be temporarily closed for the summer 2008 season. We hope to be able to offer horseback riding at the resort in the future. In the meantime, guests interested in riding are invited to contact:

• The Tahoe Donner Equestrian Center  in Truckee, CA at 530.587.9470
• Alpine Meadows Stables at 530.583.3905
• Rancho Red Rock Stables in nearby Reno, NV at 775.969.3315