Skiing in Lake Tahoe
Located in the midst of the Sierra Nevada range, Lake Tahoe is just about the perfect place for skiing and is one of the premiere ski locations west of the Rockies. Boasting 7 ski resorts - Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe™, Sierra-at-Tahoe®, Squaw Valley USA, Alpine Meadows, Heavenly, and Kirkwood – this popular winter destination includes more than 17,000 total skiable acres, 535 groomed trails, 125 lifts, and 21 terrain parks. Skiers of all ability levels are welcome in Lake Tahoe, with beginner terrain accounting for about 28 percent of all skiable acres available. Intermediate ski runs number about 42 percent and the remaining 30 percent accommodate expert/advanced skiers who really enjoy a challenge.
Ski season in Lake Tahoe typically runs from November through May and the 300+ days of sunshine annually make this a pleasant place to practice the sport. The annual snowfall here is 420 inches or about 35 feet and the region currently boasts the largest concentration of ski resorts in North America. Add to that an abundance of great hotels, vacation rentals, and all sorts of activities, and it’s no wonder that this destination has remained popular with avid skiers for decades.
The ski resorts here are divided between those in North Lake Tahoe and those in the South Lake Tahoe region. All offer something a little different and everyone has their own favorites. Some are humongous while others are much more intimate.
North Lake Tahoe
- Squaw Valley USA – One of the largest ski resorts in the area, Squaw Valley USA includes 34 lifts that service more than 170 ski runs and 4,000 acres. Night skiing is offered and there is a wealth of other things to do here as well, including ice skating, snowtubing, and snow shoe tours.
- Northstar-at-Tahoe – The 92 runs here are mostly suited to intermediate skiers (62 percent), while there’s not a lot for beginners or expert skiers. Nonetheless, it’s a popular resort that includes 3,000 skiable acres and 19 lifts. There is also 40 kilometers of groomed, scenic trails for cross country enthusiasts and snow shoers.
- Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe – This smaller resort is heavy on the expert trails, with advanced terrain accounting for 50 percent of the runs. It has 60 runs and 8 lifts that service 1,200 skiable acres. Boarders enjoy 3 terrain parks
- Alpine Meadows – Terrain is divided pretty equally here for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiers. There are more than 100 runs, 13 lifts, and a total of about 2,400 skiable acres. There’s also a cool terrain park and plenty of instructional opportunities available, including the chance to learn how to heli-ski.
South Lake Tahoe
§ Kirkwood – This pretty ski resort boasts 65 runs and 12 lifts. Terrain is divided into 15 percent beginner, 50 percent intermediate, and 35 percent expert. There is a total of about 2,300 acres. An additional 70 kilometers of cross country trails are offered as well.
§ Sierra-at-Tahoe – The smallest facility in the area, more than 50 percent of the runs here are for intermediate skiers with the remainder of the runs split equally between beginner and advanced. There are 12 lifts and 46 runs, making this the ideal resort for those who prefer not to be in the middle of a large crowd.
§ Heavenly – With 4,800 skiable acres, this resort offers a bit of everything. 30 lifts take skiers up the mountain to 90 different runs – 20 percent beginner, 45 percent intermediate and 35 percent advanced. When not skiing, visitors can enjoy sleigh rides, dog sled rides, snowmobiling, skating, and much more at Heavenly.
Return to Lake Tahoe Travel Guide Main Page