Truckee Hilltop Ski Area
Category: Abandoned Ski Areas
Note: This is a very historic ski area, and was, debatably, the first lift served ski area in the US. This ski area hosted nordic jumping events starting in the late 1800s and installed a "toboggan lift" for uphill skier transport in 1910!
**July 2010**
Trails: The (relatively flat) lower 1/3rd or so of the ski area looks to be somewhat maintained as a meadow, with a few trails criss-crossing the former ski slope and a few tree islands that all have their lower limbs removed. From there on up however, it's quite grown in. The general surrounding forest seems to be quite well maintained though, and recreation/OHV trails abound around the former ski area.
Lifts: The detachable poma still stands, though the cable has come off the towers in several places. Three random poma sticks still stand very close together about halfway up the liftline. Also found a smaller ropetow that went a short ways up the open meadow/slope (though this may have been part of that original 1910 toboggan lift?! Don't know...)
Facilities: Same as previous visit: A bunch of random boarded up buildings at the base, with that one Cottonwood restaurant still doing business in the former "ski pavillion."
Accesibility: Actually drove up one of the OHV trails that starts in the ski area/restaurant's parking lot (thanks to FINALLY having a 4wd vehicle), which got me about 1/3 of the way up the ski area. As mentioned before, lots of recreational trails in the area to get around. Also, the summit of the lift runs pretty much to Skyline Ct.
**May 2009**
Trails: Fairly grown in, but still definitely discernible. Main trails clearer than narrower side trails/liftline.
Lifts: One main detachable pomalift still stands, minus poma sticks, rusting away.
Facilities: The long, one-story base lodge still stands today; dilapidated, boarded up, and posted. What was once the ski "pavilion" was converted into a restaurant in the 1940s and remains in use today as the Cottonwood Restaurant. Several posted small-ish and abandoned looking cabins sit across the parking lot from the ski area and restaurant as well. A small sawmill that once once owned by the owners of the ski area as well also sits posted and abandoned (looking) a bit farther down Rue Hilltop as well.
Accessibility: The ski areas parking lot is now used by the restaurant. As mentioned, the lodge and cabins are now posted, but there weren't any posted signs visible on the ski slopes themselves, and what appeared to be a 4x4 or hiking trail ran up the hill at the end of Rue Hilltop as well. Will have to investigate that one further...
