SKIING AND SKI RESORTS AT LAKE TAHOE

Click Here for Ski Conditions at All Tahoe Resorts

Incline Village is a great place to stay if you want to have access to all of the ski resorts at Lake Tahoe.  Since the dozen or so major resorts are scattered around the lake and just outside the basin, no matter where you stay you will have to do some driving if you want to ski at more than 1 place.  With all the variations in terrain, snow pack, and the spectacular views, it's best if you give yourself the opportunity to ski at several different ski areas around Lake Tahoe. 

The ski season at Lake Tahoe generally starts in late November or early December and ends in late April or May.  In big snow years Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley might stay open until the end of May or into June, but this is rare.  Most resorts close sometime in April due to the lack of paying customers, not a lack of snow, except in drought years.

Every ski area has a web site that is usually updated around 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. each day during ski season.  You can also watch RSN - Cable 12 to get the daily ski and snow conditions along with the latest weather reports.

The parking lots at all ski areas tend to fill quickly on weekends and holidays, so try to take shuttles whenever possible.  Many ski areas have free shuttles that will pick you up at your hotel or major stops along highways.

Alpine Meadows
530-581-8374 or 530-583-4232
Located 6 miles north of Tahoe City on Highway 89.
Driving time – 40 minutes. Driving distance – 25 miles.
Base elevation – 6835 feet.
Vertical Drop – 1800 feet.
Novice – 25% - Intermediate – 40% - Advanced – 35%
Ski-able terrain – 2000 acres
Super place on a powder day; big open bowls and great trails. 

Boreal Mountain Resort
Castle Peak/Boreal exit off I-80 near Donner Summit
Driving time – 1 hour+. Driving distance – 45 miles.
530-426-3666
Base elevation – 7200 feet
Vertical Drop – 600 feet
Novice – 30% - Intermediate – 55% - Advanced – 15%
Ski-able terrain – 380 acres
Beginner's paradise.  Night skiing is a big attraction.

Diamond Peak Ski Resort
At the Top of Ski Way (off Country Club Drive)
Incline Village, Nevada
Driving time – LOCAL
775-831-3211 or 775-832-1177
Base elevation – 6720 feet
Vertical Drop – 1840 feet
Novice – 18% - Intermediate – 46% - Advanced – 36%
Ski-able terrain – 755 acres
Best ski school for kids at Lake Tahoe.  Some of the best views at Tahoe.  Rarely crowded on weekdays.

Donner Ski Ranch
3.5 miles from I-80 off the Soda Springs exit.
Driving time – 45 to 60 minutes. Driving distance – 32 miles.
530-426-3635
Base elevation – 7031 feet
Vertical Drop – 750 feet
Novice – 25% - Intermediate – 50% - Advanced – 25%
Ski-able terrain – 435 acres
Easy access from I-80; small but has short, some challenging runs.

Granlibakken
¼ mile south of Tahoe City on Highway 89.
Driving time – 30 minutes. Driving distance – 20 miles.
530-581-7533
Base elevation – 6200 feet
Vertical Drop – 300 feet
Novice – 25% - Intermediate – 75% - Advanced – 0%
Ski-able terrain – 10 acres
Great snow play area for kids.  Oldest and smallest of the Tahoe ski areas.

Homewood Mountain Resort
6 miles south of Tahoe City on Highway 89.
Driving time – 40 to 50 minutes. Driving distance – 30 miles.
530-525-2900 or 530-525-2992
Base elevation – 6230 feet
Vertical Drop – 1650 feet
Novice – 15% - Intermediate – 50% - Advanced – 35%
Ski-able terrain – 1260 acres
Looks are deceiving, you only see 10% from the road.  Lots of hidden advanced and expert terrain. Cheap lift tickets!

Kirkwood Ski Resort
On Hwy 88 east of the junction of Hwys 89 and 88 south of Myers, CA
Driving time - 1.5 to 2 hours
209-258-6000
Base elevation – 7800 feet
Vertical Drop – 2000 feet
Novice – 15% - Intermediate – 50% - Advanced – 35%
Ski-able terrain – 2300 acres
Home of the annual Extreme Skiing (aka Free Ride) Championships, Kirkwood requires some effort to drive to but it rewards you with uncrowded slopes and the best snow conditions anywhere in Northern California or Nevada.  Why go helicopter skiing when you can have the same quality of snow and variety of terrain at this out of the way resort.

Mount Rose Ski Area
11 miles from Incline Village on Highway 431 toward Reno
Driving time – 15 to 30 minutes depending on road conditions. Driving distance – 11 miles.
775-849-0704
Base elevation – 8260 feet
Vertical Drop – 1500 feet
Novice – 15% - Intermediate – 35% - Advanced – 50%
Ski-able terrain – 1500 acres
Packed on weekends with Reno locals, weekdays are empty.  Highest base elevation of any ski area at 8200 feet means more snow that stays longer than any other resort.  High speed lifts plus "The Chutes" will wear anyone out.

Northstar-at-Tahoe
7 miles from Kings Beach on Highway 267
Driving time - 30 to 40 minutes. Driving distance – 18 miles.
Base elevation – 6330 feet
Vertical Drop – 2280 feet
Novice – 25% - Intermediate – 40% - Advanced – 35%
Ski-able terrain – 2420 acres
This is becoming a self-contained village much like Whistler in Canada.  Great variety of terrain, food, lodging and easy access to I-80 make this a popular resort.  Season pass is a super deal at only $299 for both Northstar & Sierra.

Soda Springs
1 mile off I-80 at Soda Springs exit near Donner Summit
Driving time - 1 hour+. Driving distance – 45 miles.
530-426-1010
Base elevation – 6700 feet
Vertical Drop – 650 feet
Novice – 30% - Intermediate – 50% - Advanced – 20%
Ski-able terrain – 200 acres
Small ski area with just a few lifts, plus snow tubing available for kids. 

Squaw Valley USA
7 miles north of Tahoe City off Highway 89
Driving time – 35 to 45 minutes. Driving distance – 30 miles.
530-583-6955 or 530-583-6985
Base elevation – 6200 feet
Vertical Drop – 2850 feet
Novice – 25% - Intermediate – 45% - Advanced – 30%
Ski-able terrain – 4200 acres
Home of the 1960 winter Olympics, this resort just can't seem to expand enough.  Along with the 31 lifts and big vertical drop come a big hotel, big restaurants, big crowds, every imaginable type of diversion not related to skiing and the obligatory inflated prices.  Still, Squaw has the best terrain of any ski area at Lake Tahoe, it's just that finding some of it to ski on without running into other people is getting more and more difficult.  Anyone who says they made tracks in fresh powder after 11 a.m. was talking about a run they took in the 1980s.  So, arrive early and enjoy it while you can, and hope you don't run out of gas sitting in a traffic jam while you're waiting to exit the parking lot.   

Sugar Bowl
3 miles off I-80 at the Soda Springs exit
Driving time – 1 hour+. Driving distance – 45 miles.
530-426-1111 or 530-426-9000
Base elevation – 6883 feet
Vertical rise – 1500 feet
Novice – 15% - Intermediate – 45% - Advanced – 40%
Ski-able terrain – 1500 acres+
The highest, westernmost peak of any ski resort in the Sierras, Sugar Bowl gets more snow than any other resort near Tahoe, except maybe Kirkwood.  While you're measuring snow in feet not inches at this resort, the powder skiing is some of the best found anywhere in the States.  Fabulous tree and bowl skiing, lots of hidden spots to find powder late in the day and 2 well appointed lodges make this a well kept secret of the local crowd.  

Tahoe Donner Ski Area
4 mile drive along Northwoods Boulevard, approximately 2 miles west of Truckee, CA
Driving time – 45 minutes+. Driving distance – 34 miles.
530-587-9494 
Base elevation – 6750 feet
Vertical rise – 600 feet
Novice – 40% - Intermediate – 60%
Ski-able terrain – 120 acres
Small, local ski area in the Tahoe Donner development.  Good for kids and beginners.

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