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Sierra Grande

Black diamond Northstar, CA

Steepest pitch30°
Vertical1,304 ft
Length5,300 ft
Average pitch14°
FacesW
Top8,608 ft

Sierra Grande drops 1,304 vertical feet over 5,300 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 30° about 3,150 feet below the top. That's steeper than 54% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 8th steepest of 90 named runs at Northstar. It faces west.

How well Sierra Grande holds snow

Snow preservationAverage

Facing west at an average 14°, Sierra Grande gets about 90% of the winter sun that flat ground at Northstar does, December through March. That's sunnier than 60% of the runs we've measured, and the 19th sunniest named run at Northstar. Its top sits at 8,610 feet.

It gets an ordinary dose of sun: powder lasts a typical amount of time, and spring snow softens on a normal schedule. Shading from ridges and trees isn't counted yet.

Sierra Grande profile

under 25°25–35°35–45°45°+ Hover to follow the line on the map.

Where it is on the mountain

Runs like Sierra Grande elsewhere

Nearby at Northstar

Measured by ZRankings from 1-meter USGS lidar. Steepest pitch is the steepest stretch of about 50 vertical feet along the skiable line. Run lines come from OpenStreetMap and can sit a little off the skied path.