Ski Lake Tahoe

The Lake Tahoe area offers more ski resorts and terrain than any other North American destination - not a fact that should be taken lightly! 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!

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 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.

The ski areas themselves offer an incredible variety of snowsure skiing and boarding for every standard. Whether you like cruisey groomers, playing in the powder amongst the trees or dropping in on untouched steeps in vast alpine bowls there really is masses of choice for everyone.

There are a number of different lift pass options that combine multiple resorts so skiing more than one area is a must. 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. View the Lake Tahoe Area Map.

We have also put together some ideas on how to make your trip to California truly epic by adding on a city stay, visiting the vineyards of Napa Valley or taking on even more skiing in Mammoth. Please see the ‘Our Tips’ tab for more.

Lake Tahoe is North America's largest alpine lake, stretching 22 miles long and 12 miles wide. It covers a surface area of 191.6 square miles and has 72 miles of shoreline. Lake Tahoe is two-thirds in the state of California and one-third in the state of Nevada.

The Lake's average surface is 6,226 .95 feet above sea level and the natural rim is 6,223 feet above sea level, making it the highest lake of its size in the United States.

Mount Tallac, located on the Lake's South Shore, stands at 9,735 feet, and is the highest peak rising from the shoreline. The highest point in the Tahoe Basin is Freel Peak at 10,881 feet.

Lake Tahoe is the third deepest lake in North America and the tenth deepest in the world. Tahoe's deepest point is 1,645 feet near Crystal Bay, meaning the Face at Heavenly is 55 feet higher than the Lake at 1,700 vertical feet. The average depth of the Lake is 989 feet.

There is an estimated 38.75 trillion gallons of water contained in the Lake and it is 99.9 percent pure, with visibility to 75 feet below the surface!

Lake Tahoe is said to be a "young lake," having formed 10,000 to 11,000 years ago during the last ice age. Glaciation occurred, carving out valleys during their downward movement creating Donner, Emerald Bay and Fallen Leaf Lakes. The maximum lake level during glaciation approached 800 feet higher than its present level. Large sedimentary terraces perched above the Lake remain as evidence of its old shoreline.

There are sixty-three streams flowing into Lake Tahoe, and only one that flows out of the Basin and that's the Truckee River. The Truckee River flows from the North Shore in Tahoe City, through the Truckee Valley and into the lowlands of Reno.

Lake Tahoe never freezes during the winter! Due to its constant temperature of 39 degrees Fahrenheit maintained at depths below 700 feet, and because of the Lake's constant movement and volume of water, Lake Tahoe never freezes.

The best way to get to the Lake Tahoe resorts is to fly direct into San Francisco. Served by nearly all the big airlines, there is usually good availability and great prices. It is then an easy 4 hour drive to the resorts. To take the pressure off you can easily spend the first night in San Francisco or even en route, at Vacaville. It won't affect your ski time as you will be up early with jet lag and so can still be on the slopes by 10am.

The alternative option is to take a one-stop flight into Reno Airport. This is not necessarily any cheaper or any quicker but is a valid alternative if you are not keen on driving that initial distance.

Hiring a car is really the only way to access all the resort resorts around Lake Tahoe. The resorts are all within an hour’s drive of each other, and the scenery around the Lake as you go is just stunning. For example if you are driving from Heavenly to Squaw Valley, travel on the west side of the Lake and take time to stop at a couple of viewpoints around Emerald Bay - the views are fantastic!

Three hours south of Tahoe is Mammoth Mountain. Set on the eastern side of the High Sierras, Mammoth is California’s favourite mountain resort, and is ranked third most frequented resort in the whole United States. Mammoth, originally established as a gold mining town, has since gained prominence for another kind of treasure - its incredible skiing terrain and its staggering beauty. With over 3,500 acres to enjoy it is well worth spending a few days here and the friendly local ambiance of the town of Mammoth Lakes will soon win you over. For more information please see our Mammoth information pages.

Why not take your time and explore more of what California has to offer:

• Sacramento - Filled with unique restaurants, theatres, festivals, abundant recreation opportunities and colourful Wild West history, Sacramento is a necessary stop and an unexpected highlight of any trip to California. Why not stay in the riverboat hotel, the Delta King.
• Wine Tasting Tours - California is famous for its wines so it would really be rude not to have a little taste… Some of the most popular areas include the Lodi and Amador wine region.
• Yosemite and Central Valley - if you are in the area then parts of Yosemite National Park are open all year round. Giant glaciers, granite cliffs and magnificent waterfalls encircle visitors.
• Silicon Valley - within close driving distance and offers a wide variety of cultural and recreational opportunities with great golf courses, unique museums, fabulous shopping and world-class restaurants.