California is well-known for having incredible, world-class ski resorts throughout the state, from Lake Tahoe to Mammoth. Within those resorts, there are a number of extremely difficult runs and zones — not always necessarily listed on a resort trail map, but 100% inbounds — that attract locals, professionals, and visitors from all over the globe, powder day after powder day, season after season. These lines may include mandatory airs, serious exposure, ridiculously steep slopes, or a combination of all of these factors.
From 40-foot cliff-drops to near 65-degree slopes, these are the top 7 gnarliest inbounds runs at ski resorts in California.
The Fingers, Palisades Tahoe
An absolutely legendary zone in much of the ski world, The Fingers at Palisades Tahoe are a spectacle to be seen and skied, if the stars align. Located on the lower mountain and accessed by KT-22, “The Mothership,” this isn’t just a singular gnarly run, but rather a steep, daunting face featuring several extreme runs and variations. With 40-50 degree spines, to mandatory airs anywhere from 15-50 feet depending on the snowpack, this zone has, and will continue to provide an iconic and electric atmosphere, and shape legends for a long time.
Kiwi Flats, Mammoth Mountain
Traversing off of Chair 23 past the steeps of the Paranoid Flats brings skiers and snowboarders to what some call the most challenging run at Mammoth Mountain: Kiwi Flats. The ridgeline off the summit has tons of crazy lines scattered all across the mountain, but Kiwi Flats, also referred to as Star Chute, is by far one of the gnarliest. Combine a small cornice drop before navigating at high speeds through scattered rocks down a 50+ degree slope, with a potential choke and sizable air in the middle of the run, and you have this highly technical, very extreme run that late, great legend Bernie Rosow even suggested to be one of ‘the best inbounds lines in North America.’
The Chimney, Palisades Tahoe
Another iconic zone with several different absolutely absurd lines throughout, The Chimney at Palisades Tahoe has been a proving ground at this storied resort for decades. After a short hike from the top of Siberia Express, ludicrous lines like The Chimney, Shmidiots, and Center Line have been skied and stomped by professionals in Warren Miller movies, to everyday riders chasing an adrenaline rush. Most lines consist of a small drop off of the cornice to a 45-60 degree landing pad surrounded by rocks, before launching at high speeds anywhere from 20-40 feet below and riding out into the traverse tracks of Siberia Bowl.
Heart Chute, Kirkwood Mountain
The Heart Chute, located looker’s right off of The Wall at Kirkwood Mountain, is an incredibly impressive and highly consequential line in serious no-fall-zone terrain. Named after its distinctive heart-shaped, hanging snowfield within the ginormous, volcanic rock-walled chute, this line might only get skied a couple handfuls of times a season, if the snow lines up. Starting on the ridge with a small drop into the 40+ degree heart, it then funnels into a mandatory, blind air of 30-40 feet to a relatively flat landing that can fill-in and pile-up in unusual and unforgiving ways.
Top of the World Chutes, Mammoth Mountain
Situated at the top of the Panorama Gondola, this zone provides some of the most heart-pumping, thrilling gnarliness on Mammoth Mountain. With a 40-50+ degree slope above exposure, and tight navigating around rocks before a fast straight-line out, Huevos Grande is definitely not for the faint of heart. Then there’s Balls to the Wall; another 40-45 degree pitch that funnels into a 10-20 foot mandatory air at the choke prior to hanging on for a ride on the run-out.
The Palisades, Sugar Bowl
The Palisades at Sugar Bowl is an entire cliff band of spines, drops, chutes, and a consistently steep slope, making for some unreal freeride terrain when everything falls into place. Although it takes quite a bit of snow to get this zone open safely, once it does, skiers and riders are treated to some of the most spectacular, technical, and Alaskan-like spine skiing inbounds in the state. Whether it’s 15-40 foot cliff drops, tight chutes with fast runouts, or nearly 45 degree spines, The Palisades at Sugar Bowl deliver some seriously sendy and gnarly terrain.
McConkey’s/Eagles Nest, Palisades Tahoe
This extreme, maximum-exposure zone, nicknamed after the freeskiing legend and pioneer, Shane McConkey, without a doubt holds one of wildest inbounds lines, High Line, in the state and likely far beyond. After an intense scramble up from the top of KT-22, a metal eagle commemorating Shane sits perched at the top of the Nest. Dropping in, the roughly 65-degree face that’s peppered in sharks and takes seriously-skilled navigating right from the start; then there’s the mandatory air that can range from 20-30 feet depending on the snowpack. High Line on McConkey’s is truly one of the gnarliest inbounds runs in North America.