Okay, to say we are a tad excited is an understatement. It’s that time of year again and we are counting down the days until our ski parks open. The opening dates below are resort estimates and may change with the weather. Info courtesy of On The Snow
Opening Day
- Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe (Nevada) – October 19
- Boreal Mountain Resort – November 13
- Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows – November 15
- Soda Springs – November 16
- Northstar California – November 22
- Heavenly Mountain Resort – November 22
- Kirkwood – November 23
- Sugar Bowl Resort – November 30
- Sierra-At-Tahoe – December 1
- Tahoe Donner – December 7
- Diamond Peak (Nevada) – December 12
- Homewood Mountain Resort – December 14
- Donner Ski Ranch – December 20
Resorts
New to the area? Note that there are 14 ski resorts in the greater Lake Tahoe area. Below is a quick snapshot of each one and their infamous offerings.
North Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts
North Lake Tahoe is comprised of multiple lakeside towns, including Truckee, Tahoe City, Kings Beach and Incline Village. While each area offers its own unique atmosphere, they’re all big on ski-resort access and lake views.
Northstar-at-Tahoe, just outside of Truckee, is a complete destination resort with its own Ritz Carlton Club. Northstar offers 20 lifts, 100 trails and 3,170 acres.
Squaw Alpine is a favorite for its phenomenal views of the lake, long runs and challenging terrain with more than 177 runs. This is not a self-contained resort, so you can stay anywhere in the region and get to the hill via ski bus or car.
Boreal is fairly small (380 acres) and draws a young crowd. It’s big enough for 8 lifts, however. Diamond Peak, smaller yet, has 6 lifts and 655 acres of terrain, providing astounding views of Lake Tahoe from its main quad lift. Donner Ski Ranch, located near I-80 and Boreal, provides 8 lifts across 505 acres.
Homewood Mountain Resort, located on the west side of Lake Tahoe, serves skiers and riders with 8 lifts and 67 trails. Soda Springs, the longest-running ski resort in California, offers 2 lifts and 15 trails.
Mt. Rose is a convenient stop if heading up from the Reno Airport. It’s a large area that deserves some of your attention, particularly if you choose to stay in Reno and take advantage of good hotel rates and gambling. There are 6 lifts, 60 trails and 1,200 acres.
Sugar Bowl is another winner and a historical resort on Mt. Disney, with 13 lifts, 103 trails and 1,500 acres. Tahoe Donner, although small, is a very family-friendly resort with 5 lifts and 15 trails.
South Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts
The Heavenly gondola leaves from the center of town and takes you into this terrific ski and snowboard area with 28 lifts, 97 trails and over 4,800 acres.
The South Lake resorts also include Kirkwood Ski Resort, which is a bit over a 30-minute drive from Stateline. There are 15 lifts, 86 trails and 2,300 acres to explore. The resort is known for its quality snow and a variety of terrain. Sierra-at-Tahoe is a family-friendly resort that offers 1 lifts, 46 trails and 2,000 acres.
Where to Go Cross-Country Skiing in the Lake Tahoe Area?
One more thing: Do you cross-country ski? Then, for certain, take some time to glide around Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort with 92 trails and 6,000 acres of skiing.
Info Courtesy of:
“Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts.” OnTheSnow, 2019, www.onthesnow.com/lake-tahoe/ski-resorts.html.
