Lake Tahoe ski resorts
The Lake Tahoe area as a whole offers more ski resorts and terrain than any other North American destination. Do you realise how amazing that is? You can hop from resort to resort, skiing and riding without ever hitting the same run twice. Mother nature does her part by consistently coming through with about 35 ft of snow every winter, and even with all that white stuff, the sun shines day in and day out!
Once in the mountains you’re bound to agree that the resorts around Lake Tahoe share the most dramatic of scenic backdrops. Set against the feet of the towering peaks that make up this fabulous winter playground are the pure, piercing blue waters of the lake itself. For those who’ve never visited the area, the brief glimpses or sweeping vistas you get from just about every run will add another dimension to your experience, but the superlatives don’t end with the views! The ski areas themselves reach high elevations… in just about every sense. The highest ski peak among the resorts is found in Heavenly on the south shore. At 3,500 feet, it has the largest vertical drop on the West Coast and its skiable area reaches 4,800 acres.
A visit to the Tahoe area is all about choices, and here you’ll be forced to make a lot of enviable ones! By pre-purchasing the 7 resort Tahoe interchangeable lift ticket, you can ski or ride any of the seven largest ski resorts in the area. Squaw Valley and Heavenly are the largest resorts and many choose to base themselves in either one (or stay a few nights at each) and drive to the different ski areas. See below a brief overview of each one.
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Lake Tahoe Area Map
North Lake Tahoe Resorts:
Squaw Valley:
Squaw Valley lures visitors with its 4,000 skiable acres and 6 peaks of open-bowl terrain. Combine this terrain with 2 halfpipes, 3 terrain parks, mountain top ice skating, tubing, restaurants, shopping, sightseeing, events galore and a great lift system, and it is a must-visit during a visit to Lake Tahoe.
If driving from Heavenly, travel on the west side of the Lake and stop at a couple of view points in the Bays, the views are fantastic!
Click here to view full resort details & accommodation options
Northstar:
Northstar opened in 2005 and is of particular appeal to families with award winning children's programs, ice skating, worldclass terrain parks and pipes, tubing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. It's not the most challenging resort but is the most attractive, with lots of tree lined and gladed skiing. The BBQ at the Summit Deck & Grill is highly recommended!
Mount Rose:
Mount Rose has the highest base elevation, ensuring fantastic snow conditions even on the sunniest days. From the parking lot to the summit takes less than 10 minutes via two high speed, 6 passenger lifts. At the top you'll find more than 1,200 acres and 1,800 vertical feet of terrain, topped of by legendary chutes, featuring some of the steepest and longest in-bounds slopes in North America.
| Number of lifts: | 8 |
| Number of runs: | 60+ |
| Ski Runs: | Beg: 20% Inter: 30% Adv:50% |
| Acres: | 1,200 |
| Website: | http://www.skirose.com |
Alpine Meadows:
Internationally recognized for its incredibly diverse terrain, Alpine Meadows offers everything from beginner and intermediate groomers with sweeping views of Lake Tahoe, to backcountry-accessed skiing for the most zealous of adventurers. There's a great bar and grill at the base with a sundeck!
South Lake Tahoe Resorts:
Heavenly:
Heavenly is a 4,800 acre skier's and boarder's paradise that combines exhilarating on and off mountain adventures with one of the world's majestic views - the impossibly blue Lake Tahoe. 1,200 ft canyons, gladed skiing in pristine forests, courduroy cruisers, great value accommodation and plenty of restaurants and nightlife are just a few of the highlights!
Click here to view full resort details & accommodation options
Kirkwood:
Combine 2,300 acres of truly epic terrain with some of the nation's deepest snow and a noticeable lack of crowds, and you'll have a pretty good idea of why everyone recommends at least one day in Kirkwood. The resort also boasts snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, tubing, ice skating, bars and restaurants.
Sierra-at-Tahoe:
Sierra-at-Tahoe with its challenging steeps, laid-back cruisers, unparalleled tree skiing, and 5 backcountry gates that access some of the most challenging terrain in Tahoe is worth at least a day's skiing, especially if the weather is poor as its slopes are very sheltered. Adventure Zones, a tubing hill, snowshoeing, a nationally ranked superpipe, six terrain parks and the Burton Progression Park ensure something for everyone.