Something that sets Squaw Valley apart from every other ski resort in the world is the remarkable value for families and children. Squaw Valley offers a $5 lift tickets everyday for children 12 & under. In addition Squaw offers free night skiing (4-9 pm) with all lift tickets, providing families up to twelve hours (that breaks down to only 41¢ an hour) of fun on the resort’s 4,000 acre mountain. To compliment this unbeatable lift ticket, many Squaw Valley lodging properties offer free lodging for children 12 & under, when traveling with their parents.
Squaw Kids Children's Ski School
The Squaw Kids’ Children’s Center is a 12,000 square foot building dedicated exclusively to children ages 3-12. The facility offers a separate, supervised ski playground with a pony tow and two magic carpet lifts.
Three distinct programs; Snow Cubs, Snow Sliders and Jr. Mountain School are designed to encourage skill development with a priority on fun. Snow Cubs caters to our three and four year old guests with fun activities, a ski lesson and snow play. Snow Sliders educates our four to six year old guests on skiing technique. Groups will explore the mountain according to their skill level. The full day program includes several hours of on-snow instruction, a short juice break and a lunch break. For our seven to twelve year olds, the Jr. Mountain School, there is a focus on slope etiquette, equipment knowledge, safety, basic skill development, and of course FUN!
The facility offers full and half day program options, an on-site kids ski and snowboard rental shop, special Children’s Center parking, and complete ticket sales for the entire family for added convenience.
Squaw Sessions
Squaw Sessions is a ski and snowboard camp for teens aged 13 to 17, offered during holidays and peak periods. Not your average ski school, this will teach teens about the origins of the freeride movement at Squaw Valley, as well as tools to master terrain park and big mountain skiing and riding. Teens will meet their coaches in the morning and be placed in groups based on ability. As a group, the teens will decide together what they want to work on that day.
The SquawKids Cash Card
More convenient than cash because your little one won’t be fussing with bills and change, parents can outfit their kids with a Cash Card. Cards are available in denominations of $20, $75 and $250 and can be used for lift tickets, lessons, activities and at participating restaurants and retail outlets. Squaw increases the value by offering 10% extra every time guests re-load money onto the card.
Alpine Outings and Activities
Parents and kids alike will love the wide variety of non-skiing activities available at Squaw Valley. At High Camp, el. 8200’, accessed via Squaw Valley's aerial Cable Car, your family can embark on a myriad of activities. Enjoy spectacular views of Lake Tahoe Take as you take your kids for a spin on the ice at the Olympic Ice Pavilion or teach your kids about Squaw Valley’s Olympic heritage at the 1960 Olympic Museum. In addition, each season in mid-March, the High Camp Swimming Lagoon & Spa offers a one of a kind experience for families - ski all morning and swim all afternoon (on top of the mountain!).
In the base village guests can enjoy an indoor climbing wall, outdoor bungee trampoline, cross country and snowshoe center, sleigh rides, dog sled tours and a video arcade to keep kids of all ages smiling. Squaw Valley USA also offers an outdoor firepit and events plaza offering ongoing festivities and events for lasting family memories.
Parks & Pipes – Belmont Park Designed Specifically for Kids & Novices
This offers kids and parents a myriad of opportunities to “drop in” and “ally-oop” in the resort’s terrain parks and half pipes. Parents and kids alike can warm up in the smaller Belmont Park on more gentle jumps, a mini cross course, rolls and petite features. Then practice your pipe skills in our 300’ Riviera Halfpipe (with 12’ walls). Advanced skiers and snowboarders can test their skills on the enormous 18 ½’ walls of the 550 foot Mainline Superpipe. The Riviera and Mainline Parks are also packed with tabletop jumps, rails, fun boxes, volcanoes, a cross course, and other features designed for all abilities, from beginners to the most seasoned veterans. Kids and parents can bust their new moves into the evening, as the Riviera Park remains open for night operations until 9 pm.
Meals and Snacks
Want to know where to take your family to eat? Well, there are plenty of family dining options both on the mountain in the Base Village at Squaw Valley. For pizza and pasta, Fireside Pizza is a family favorite and conveniently located in the Village at Squaw. Blue Coyote, also in the Village, has a great kids menu. So you can enjoy a juicy piece of steak without worrying about finding something your children will eat.
For a healthy snack, Mountain Nectar makes fresh fruit smoothies with quirky names your kids will appreciate. For the best cookies in all of Squaw Valley (and maybe the whole world), visit the Wildflour Bakery in the Olympic House or Wildflour II at High Camp.
Squaw Valley TV
With the ever changing daily conditions and events, a ski resort can be a confusing place. To ensure every guest gets the most out of their visit, Squaw Valley is introducing Squaw Valley TV. On plasma screens placed in areas like the Cable Car lobby and the rental shop, guests can view real time lift updates, conditions, info on upcoming events and activities to ensure that they are dressed for the weather and never miss out on what’s going on at Squaw. On Squaw Valley TV skiers and snowboarders can also learn tips from pros about any thing from making powder turns to waxing their skis or boards.