1. Squaw Creek Transportation
City: Squaw Valley, CA
Category: Getting Here, Getting Around
Telephone: (866) 909-7433
Address: 400 Squaw Creek Road
Description: This company offers a variety of transportation options, from shuttles to Reno/Tahoe International Airport and other airports, to tours and charter services, along with a complimentary shuttle service in the Squaw Valley area. The fleet includes shuttle buses, a motor coach, luxury SUVs and sedans, vans, and limousines.
2. Headwall Cafe And Climbing
City: Squaw Valley, CA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (530) 583-7673
Description: This climbing center is located in the Cable Car Building at the base of Squaw Valley USA. The wall is 30 feet high and has 25 different routes, ranging in difficulty from beginner to expert. The center supplies harnesses and ropes that must be used when climbing. Unlimited climbing is around $12, with climbing shoes costing $4 extra to rent. It’s open from noon to 6:00 p.m. in winter and from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in summer. It’s a low-key, fun climbing facility.
3. Cable Car At Squaw Valley Usa
City: Squaw Valley, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (530) 583-6955, (800) 545-4350
Address: 6 miles north of Tahoe City
Description: Best known as the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley USA is one of America’s premier year-round resorts. The Olympic flame still burns brightly as you make the turn into Olympic Valley, but other amenities of the games, such as the ski jump and Olympic ice rink, have been torn down. Squaw Valley is a veritable paradise of recreation and activities, which are covered in more detail in the chapters on Resorts, Recreation, Golf, and Winter Sports. But whatever your choice of activity, winter or summer, a ride in the tram from the Base Village to High Camp Bath & Tennis Club is a must. From a base elevation of 6,200 feet, the tram rises 2,000 feet to a world-class playground perched high above Lake Tahoe. The unobstructed views are simply awe inspiring. You can while away an entire day in this alpine Eden. Enjoy hiking, skiing, ice-skating, swimming, bungee jumping, playing tennis, and mountain biking. In the winter it’s crowded with skiers, but in the summer it can be a quiet getaway undiscovered by most. If just relaxing in the sun is what you want, you won’t find a better place than the decks around the swimming lagoon and spa. And you won’t go hungry, as the bars and restaurants at High Camp offer everything from casual fare to fine dining. During ski season, the tram operates from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. weekdays and from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. weekends. Daily hours during the summer are 9:40 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Most services at the resort are unavailable from mid-October to mid-November. Tram-only tickets cost $22 for adults and $6 for children age 12 and younger. A variety of packages that combine activities such as skating and swimming with the cable-car ticket are also available. In summer, I strongly suggest bringing along sunscreen and also a jacket, because the temperature is much cooler here than in the valley. If the weather is questionable, call (530) 583-6985 to check the cable-car operation schedule. (See also the Kid-stuff chapter.)
4. Squaw Valley Usa
City: Squaw Valley, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (530) 583-6955
Description: Squaw Valley is located just up the road from Lake Tahoe, and it’s definitely worth the drive, not only to ride the cable car up the mountain but to try all the other activities in the area, too. Near the entrance to the cable car, Squaw has a rock-climbing wall that’s about 45 feet tall. It’s set up for all kinds of climbers, from beginners to experts, so try it out before you hop on the cable-car ride. Once you are at the High Camp (prices vary for the ride), you can visit the Olympic Museum. Squaw Valley was home to the 1960 Winter Olympics. You can also go ice-skating, play tennis or golf, go horseback riding, take the ropes course, go mountain biking, take a swim, or hike. This is definitely an all-day trip. Prices for the different activities vary. For more information see the Attractions, Resorts, and Recreation chapters.