Tahoe’s Best Kept Secret: Pacific Crest Snowcats Deliver Exceptional Backcountry Skiing Away From the Crowds

Nestled between California’s Palisades Tahoe and Sugar Bowl, Pacific Crest Snowcats (PCS) has offered guests deep powder experiences for 24 years.

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Its tenure encompasses over 4,000 acres of terrain, ranging from gentle glades to expansive bowls and a wealth of classic Tahoe steeps.

Imagine Palisades or Sugar Bowl without the lift lines and moguls, with untouched snow stretching as far as the eye can see. There’s enough terrain to ski and ride fresh tracks for up to two weeks after a storm. When asked about their favorite time to ski and ride, the guides often mention a few days post-storm, when the snowpack stabilizes, and the powder on the north aspects is rejuvenated.

Thanks to its diverse terrain, Pacific Crest Snowcats operates trips every day during the winter, even amid the major storms that Tahoe is famous for, as long as guests can navigate out of their driveways and reach the trailhead in the morning.

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Long regarded as Tahoe’s ‘Best Kept Secret,’ PCS has recently changed ownership and is intensifying its operations to deliver an exceptional backcountry skiing experience away from the crowds.