Squaw Valley, CA Road Trips

The existence of Olympic Valley as more than a dot on the map is heavily tied to the 1960 Winter Olympics. Wayne Poulsen, president of the Squaw Valley Development Company, convinced then California governor Goodwin Knight to support a bid by Squaw Valley to host the 1960 Winter Olympics and the governor did so, asking his state legislature to appropriate a million dollars for that purpose. In 1955 the bid was officially submitted to the IOC (at the time led by the American Avery Brundage) who accepted the bid much to the chagrin of established winter sports destinations like Innsbruck Chamonix and St. Moritz which had also bid, but the IOC warned that the hosting rights would be reassigned if the U.S. did not invest further money into local facilities. The California state legislature committed another four million dollars and thus Brundage confirmed the hosting rights for Squaw Valley. The task now was to turn what was a resort of one chair lift, two rope tows and a fifty room lodge in 1956 into an Olympic class winter sports destination. Local boosters sold this apparent disadvantage as a plus, arguing that this "blank canvas" allowed them to build a resort perfectly in line with the demands of the 1960 Olympics. Just how small a place Squaw Valley was, was underscored when during the 1956 Winter Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo the traditional ceremony of the mayor of the previous host ceremoniously handing over the baton to the mayor of the next host had to use a random IOC member from California to stand in for the - not yet existing - mayor of Squaw Valley.

1 Palisades Tahoe, 1960 Olympic Valley Rd, toll-free: +1-800-403-0206. On Highway 89 between Tahoe City and interstate 80; Palisades Tahoe is possibly the most well-known resort in all of California, and the setting for the 2006 book Squallywood. A complete skier's paradise, it is a magazine favorite for its varied terrain, huge size and massive high-speed lift system; and a former Olympic village. Its oversized reputation has a downside: crowds that even on a mountain the size of Olympic Valley can swamp the intermediate lifts and result in lines. (updated Mar 2025) G.N.A.R.. A way of life for many of the skiers at Olympic Valley, G.N.A.R. is a points-based game whereby each skier gains points by skiing particular lines through Olympic Valley's famous terrain, with many interesting bonus points available. Grab a copy of Squallywood if you are up to the challenge of some of the best lines Olympic Valley has to offer, and a great game while you're at it. Tahoe Via Ferrata. Owned and operated by Alpenglow Expeditions. (updated Sep 2025)

Graham's. Located near the mountain parking lot, delicious food, extensive wine list, ambiance is a little more staid, but recommended none-the-less. PlumpJack. One of the oldest and most established restaurants in the area, it serves typically Californian food Plumpjack has a sister restaurant in San Francisco, as you might expect though it is quite expensive.

Auld Dubliner, 1850 Village S Rd, ☏ +1 530 584-6041. The place for a perfect pint of Guinness, this real Irish pub was built in Ireland, dismantled, shipped over and reassembled. As one might imagine, it offers a wide selection of whisky and live Celtic music.

Squaw Valley Lodge, 201 Squaw Peak Rd, Olympic Valley, toll-free: +1-800-549-6742. Squaw Valley Lodge is an all condominium suites hotel resort. Plumpjack Squaw Valley Inn, 1920 Squaw Valley Rd, toll-free: +1-800-323-7666. Squaw Valley Inn has 58 rooms and suites with amazing views. Shop at their Fashion Boutique and take their wine seminars. Resort at Squaw Creek, 400 Squaw Creek Rd, Olympic Valley, ☏ +1 530 583-6300. A premier all season mountain resort featuring a luxury spa facility, ski packages, championship golf courses, vacation rentals, and a dedicated chairlift.

Olympic Valley is found off California State Route 89, about 12 miles south of Truckee at the intersection of CA-89 and Interstate 80. The closest city with a major airport is Reno, Nevada, about 32 miles east of Truckee on I-80.

Squaw Valley Road is the main arterial. It runs roughly east-west and feeds into California State Route 89 at its eastern end.