If there was ever a resort that catered to every aspect of snowboarding, that resort would be Squaw Valley. From the massive parks and ridiculously steep lines and giant cliffs to the perfect long groomers, Squaw Valley should impress any rider from any continent.

Unfortunately, these features are not secrets, and it is clearly evident on a blue bird powder day when all 4,000 acres get tracked out in 2 hours. However, even when racing the thousands of other riders for the lines of the day, Squaw will be a memorable session and possibly serve up some runs of a lifetime.

The KT-22 quad is an amazing lift. The chair seems to go straight up as it climbs the 2,000 vertical feet. The front, or east, side of this has a number of open bowls, cliffs and little chutes. This is a sweet, long, steep run, and is the first to get tracked out on a powder day, so get in line early. On the north side of the KT-22, the Jonny Moseley's Run is even steeper and more technical. Most riders' skills are tested or created on this shot, so be prepared. On hard pack icy days, make sure those edges are sharp and do not blow it. A fall at the top of Jonny Moseley's Run would not stop until 1,000 vertical feet below.

The Cornice 2 and Headwall Express lifts access some exposed ridges with a number of chutes and cornice drops. The locals who have Squaw dialed link up some incredible lines that flow from a cornice drop, through a tight chute, off a hip or two, and then finish by maching out into the giant aprons of pow.

The 6-person Gold Coast Express lift is one of the main arteries on the upper part of the mountain. From the top of the Gold Coast Express Lift, all of the parks and the pipe can be lapped and tons of wide open intermediate and beginner groomers wind down the mountain.

Going rider's left in the northern direction leads to another riders' playground.

The area off of the Silverado Lift is mainly hit by locals who know the ins and outs of all the rock drops, hidden chutes and tree shots. Making friends with someone who knows this area is definitely worth a couple beers and may be a good option when the rest of the resort is worked. When the snow coverage is thin, this may not be the best option since it is at a lower elevation.

In the far northern corner of Squaw, the Granite Chief triple is another gem of the resort. With mostly north facing shots, the snow quality lasts a little longer up here and the terrain is just as sick as it is on the rest of the mountain. With the giant granite boulders littered all over this part of the mountain, it's no secret how this area got its name. This area is a little off the beaten track and therefore does not see as much traffic as the rest of the resort. This is a good option to escape the crowds on the busy days.

When the storms roll in and the visibility is nil on the upper part of the mountain, check out the Red Dog and Squaw Creek triples. This intermediate rated area has the best tree riding on the mountain, but it also has some steep and technical areas hidden in the forest.

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Parks and pipes
Let's just say that Squaw is monstrous, and so are its parks and pipes. In various locations you'll find a superpipe, halfpipes, quarterpipes, plus terrain features like tabletops, rails, rollers and volcanoes. All parks and pipes are cut daily and the Riviera halfpipe is cut twice, once for night sessions and again after night operations so the pipe is fresh in the morning. The pipe sessions can definitely get heated—prepare to be humbled by locals. There's a reason many pros call Tahoe home. For this winter, a tree-ride is in the works, and the 30-foot stair-set built for the Thanksjibbin’ Rail Jam stays up for the season..

The Mainline Terrain Park is the home of Squaw's legendary Mainline Superpipe, a 550-plus-foot-long pipe with 17-foot walls that overlooks Lake Tahoe. You won't know whether you're catching your breath because of the exertion or the view. Just below the pipe are an assortment of rails—a 30-foot single-kink rail, a 40-foot S rail, a 52-foot S box, a 40-foot double-kink rail, and the massive 78-foot swirly rail-and a wide-open area of tabletops and jumps. Throughout the season, depending upon weather, additional features may include hips, rollers, a snowcross course and volcanoes. You can get here by taking the Gold Coast, Mainline or Siberia lifts.

Central Park in the Riviera area just below the top terminal of the Funitel is the heart of Squaw's intermediate parks and pipes. Intermediate riders and freeskiers will find a standard halfpipe, tables, jumps, rails, boxes, and whatever the park designers feel like putting in here, all accessed by a dedicated lift. You can reach it from the High Camp lift too. Riviera is lit until 9 p.m. and has a pumping sound system to keep you going.

Belmont Park is for kids and people new to parks and pipes. It has small berms, rolls, and bumps to help you get used to catching air. Take either the Belmont lift or the Links lift on the upper mountain to get here.