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The Rapids

Black diamond Northstar, CA

Steepest pitch29°
Vertical1,734 ft
Length5,468 ft
Average pitch19°
FacesW
Top8,608 ft

The Rapids drops 1,734 vertical feet over 5,468 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 29° about 4,790 feet below the top. That's steeper than 48% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 11th steepest of 90 named runs at Northstar. It faces west.

How well The Rapids holds snow

Snow preservationAverage

Facing west at an average 19°, The Rapids gets about 84% of the winter sun that flat ground at Northstar does, December through March. That's sunnier than 52% of the runs we've measured, and the 35th 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.

The Rapids profile

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

Where it is on the mountain

Runs like The Rapids 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.