Read skier and snowboarder-submitted reviews on Boreal Mountain Resort that rank the ski resort and mountain town on a scale of one to five stars for attributes such as terrain, nightlife and family friendliness. See how Boreal Mountain Resort stacks up in the reviews, on and off the slopes, from skiing and family activities to the après scene. Read up on pros, cons and other comments in reviews left by fellow skiers and riders. Don't forget to submit your own Boreal Mountain Resort review! Scroll to the bottom of this page to let other travelers know about your skiing and resort experience.
Reviews for Boreal Mountain Resort
Total (3.0)
A ski resort's overall star rating displayed here is not calculated based on a simple average but takes several factors, including the age of a review, into account.
We really enjoyed our trip to Boreal. Not only were they very COVID conscious and careful, as well, the staff were friendly and helpful. (Special mention on Matt Ybarra, the manager, who was so warm and welcoming.) Although the runs are shorter, we loved the mountain. It has some fast runs but also has a snow park where we could practice jumps and stunts. There were both skiers and snowboarders in our group of all levels-- everyone enjoyed. Even our beginners felt comfortable and confident. Parking was easy. Even the outdoor restaurant had good munchies and drinks. We loved the fact that it was not over-crowded.
Patrix
3-stars because of the slopes, lifts, amenities and prices. The beginner slopes are good since they are not too steep to cause too much momentum, but not too flat to lose momentum. Just the right steepness for learning and practicing the basics. The more intermediate slopes had lots of powder and pretty fun turns for intermediate-beginner level. Lifts were adequate and seemed safe. There is a bar in the dining area, and plenty of parking near the lodge.
Minus 2-stars because of the service. Dealing with their managerial staff was very frustrating and upsetting. Someone took my board while we were eating lunch. I rented that board from Sports Basement and the board looked like the rental board from Boreal itself. After an hour of looking, waiting, and investigating; I concluded someone must've mistaken my board for theirs since there was a very similar board near the slot on the same rack where I put mine and it was still there hours later. A passerby told me to tell the staff since the same thing happened to their friend's rental board and the staff gave their friend a replacement board. Told the rental staff what I concluded and he called for a higher level staff. This higher level staff told me I was probably mistaken. He said that similar board left near where mine was might just belong to someone who was taking a very long break, and he could not give me a replacement board since we could not be sure that it was switched. He told me to file a lost & found report. Fair. That was completely understandable so I filed a lost & found report and went back looking for my board. After another hour, that similar board was still on the same spot. So I went back to that higher level staff, this time repeating what I concluded. I pointed out that it had been more than a couple hours now and it was also way passed lunch time (only a few boards were parked outside the lodge) yet the similar board was still on the rack untouched. While I'm trying to explain this, he kept on interjecting and cutting me off before I could finish my point. So, I went and took that similar board to show him, but he told me very strongly to put it back because someone might be looking for it even though it had been with me for less than 3 minutes. He acted as if I stole it. I put back the board on the same spot, but I was very upset by this point. It took a lot of effort to make that snowboarding trip happened and I almost didn't go since I had a full-blown cold, but I really wanted to snowboard so I came to the resort only to spent the majority of my time trying to be heard by the staff. Also, the stress of thinking about the cost of replacing the board was weighing on me. Him being dismissive and just downright unsympathetic just added to my distress. I might had already started crying by this point. I called Sports Basement (whose customer support rep was very understanding and kind) to report the lost. That rep wanted to talk to the Boreal staff regarding the logistics of the board's recovery. So, I went back to that higher level staff, but this time he told me his shift was almost over and to go to the customer service desk and talk to a manager. Waited in line and talked to an assistant manager. I tried to give her the phone, but she was very reluctant to take it and told me as long as I filed the report then they would contact Sports Basement if they found the board. She also told me they could not be sure it was switched even though it had been more than three hours later and not many boards were left outside the lodge. Ended my call with the Sports Basement rep (who was very supportive and told me not to worry about the lost board). I was definitely crying by this point due to the stress and being dismissed in person. By this point, I didn't care about getting a replacement board. I just wanted to get my rented board back and went back to the customer service desk to check if someone returned it. That assistant manager cut me off before I finish talking and told me they cannot give me a free board. A replacement board was not even my intention this time so her response was infuriating. I walked away, but I was mad. So, I went back and asked another staff (who looked concern) if I can speak to a manager about a complaint (while mad crying). That staff came back and said I could file a complaint report. So, I filed one on that desk while crying. That assistant manager was close by helping other customers and saw me the whole time, but never said a single word to me even in between helping others.
Before we left, went to the customer service desk one last time to check if someone has returned my lost board (no one did), and I passed by the rack where I'd last seen my board. That very similar board was still there more than 6 hours later.
It would've been minus 3 stars, but then I remember the friendly staffs who worked the lifts and the staff by the customer service desk who looked concern for me when she saw me crying.
Jett Edson
Parks sick
Susan Delly
My little boy and I have been going to Boreal for a few years. We appreciate the awesome lessons / instructors and kid-friendly terrain.
We found it because some of our local Truckee friends recommended it as a good, economical place for my then 5-year old to learn how to snowboard. For about 1/3 of the price of other resorts, he can get a lesson, rentals, and a day's pass ($109 total in Dec 2019). Then my full-day lift ticket is about $70, as well, making it a fantastic deal! There is a hiccup or two every once in a while but nothing consistently off. If it weren't for Boreal, we wouldn't be able to afford to come up very often.
Everyone at this resort has really helped build my son's snowboarding confidence and I really recognize that. Much love!
Steve
It is what it is. A small mountain, easily accessed, good for learning, not much vertical drop, low quality lodge, terrain parks are okay sometimes good.
First off buy tickets in advance, like most resorts nowadays. Or you have to pay for parking when you arrive. I've never had to pay, but it would make me mad if I had to.
Very convenient, right of I80. Parking is close to mountain.
Lodge is old, ticket lines can get long. Toilets get clogged.
Mountain is small. Just 500' of vertical drop. Only a few places where it's steep enough to ski/ride powder. It's Tahoe area so snow could be awesome, or suck. But there's 4 lifts that serve a fair amount of beginner/intermediate terrain.
If you want a place to learn, or train, cheaper than elsewhere this is a good place.
Jay Johnson
The mountain is to small, the powder wasn't good. This place is for bigginers, the only good thing about this mountain was the beer.
Daniel kim
very good for the beginners.
savioalencar
I recommend Boreal for:
- acrobat riders
- off track riders
- who wants to get some afternoon/night skiing
- it's on a budget
- do not want to force the knees
- elders (with grandkids)
- family
- first time riders
I don't recommend:
- intermediate riders who are looking for long runs, good blues and black.
Brian
We decided to ski at Boreal for the first time that my family ski at Boreal since it's closed fwy 80 and we were in a rush to Reno. We skied there in the afternoon on 12/31/15 and my kid suddenly lost her skis, Rosignal Edge 130S, on the rack in Boreal ski resort after going to their Cafe. We stayed till 7pm and still didn't see them.
My kid also got sick since it was really cold there. We came back next day to find it and still no luck. Reported it to Police in Trukee and was told it's stolen later by their officer. When I emailed to Boreal info few times, I got no response at all. And one of the rental managers at Soda Spring asked me to pay $450/$550 for the lost skis for my kid and I was shocked totally. Better to read rental form carefully next time before signed the form again. Boreal will not help to cover anything even though it's lost at their place. Very very bad experience at Boreal for my entire family and I don't recommend anybody going to this place with no safety and lousy service.
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