Top 10 Best Ski Resorts in the Tahoe Area
A look into some of the best ski resorts in the Tahoe area.
The Rankings:
Palisades Tahoe- This spectacular resort offers a vast 6,000 acres across two mountains for you to explore. It has beautiful, scenic, and hardcore terrain for experts while still having ample options for beginners and intermediates. It also boasts a rich Olympic history, having hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics. It's also noted that Palisades has long seasons and reliable snow every year, making it an excellent option to visit. Overall, Palisades is just a world-class ski resort with a rich history and amazing terrain.
Heavenly- If you want to ski at a resort with some of the best views out of any resort at Tahoe, then Heavenly is the resort for you. With 4,800 acres of beautiful terrain to enjoy, you won't have a dull moment. This resort offers a varied range of options, from experts to beginners, and features wide, groomed runs that transition into steep, expert chutes. Heavenly is truly a one-of-a-kind resort, boasting a beautiful view of Lake Tahoe.
North Star- While it may not be directly on the lake, North Star is a wonderful luxury ski resort for families and seasoned skiers and snowboarders alike. It hosts a vast array of runs of beginner and advanced terrain. This means it's truly an amazing option for those who have families but still want the option of advanced terrain. North Star is truly a versatile, blissful resort for people seeking an all-around experience. While some people note it has an "overly-commercialized" atmosphere and is too expensive, the pros far outweigh the cons.
Kirkwood- There is one thing that attracts advanced skiers and adrenaline junkies alike, and that is a resort that offers a wide variety of advanced and expert terrain. Kirkwood is also known for its amazing, deep, dry powder that attracts many skiers and snowboarders to this fantastic resort. Kirkwood may not have the same expansive lake views that other resorts in the Tahoe area have, but it has beautiful views of the surrounding Sierras. While Kirkwood isn't exactly known for its beginner skiing terrain, they do offer a great separate area for beginners known as Timber Creek. Overall, Kirkwood is a perfect choice if you want expert terrain, stellar powder, and beautiful mountain vistas.
Sugar Bowl- A true classic California ski experience, and a unique, historic ski resort that really is one of a kind. Sugar Bowl is known for having some of the most snow in the Tahoe Region, and even in the U.S. as a whole. With four skiable peaks with runs ranging from beginner to advanced. There is not shortness of enjoyment to be found in this quintessential ski resort. Sugar Bowl holds a rich history that dates back to 1939, when it was established by Hannes Schroll with some help from Walt Disney, making it one of the oldest resorts in California.
Sierra-at-Tahoe- If you're more concerned about finding a family-friendly resort that has fair prices and hosts a strong sense of community, then Sierra-at-Tahoe may be the resort for you. It's known for its beginner-friendly runs and atmosphere, while still having a great terrain park and some solid advanced terrain for the more advanced skiers in the family. Sierra-at-Tahoe is a superb choice if you want a ski resort that is laid back and family-friendly, while still having decent options for advanced terrain.
Homewood- This resort is another great choice for people seeking a chill, family-friendly resort. While Sierra-at-Tahoe has great lake views, the truth is that Homewood offers superior, more dramatic views of the lake. However, it doesn't host the varied terrain that Sierra-at-Tahoe has. Despite that, Homewood truly lives up to it's family friendly and chill reputation, as it's perfect for skiers who just want to cruise down some blues and greens without much hassle at all.
Mt. Rose- If you live in Reno or Carson and you've been trying to find a convenient resort that still excels in many categories, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe should be in your consideration. Mt. Rose is a family-owned, local resort that offers varied terrain, and despite the fact that it's not on the lake, it offers great views of Reno and Carson. With plenty of greens and blues, it offers a great choice for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. It also hosts a solid amount of black diamond and double black diamond runs (The Chutes), making it a good choice for advanced skiers, too. Overall, if you want a resort that is a good all-rounder and family-owned, Mt. Rose is a good choice.
Diamond Peak- Another Family-Owned ski resort that boasts wonderful views of the lake and has relatively uncrowded runs. While it may not be the all-rounder resort, Mt. Rose is it generally has a great family-friendly atmosphere with its beginner and intermediate options. Often called a "hidden gem" by locals, it has a great community-first, relaxed atmosphere along with calm, groomed runs.
Boreal Mountain- This option is amazing for people who live in the Bay Area, as it's conveniently placed just off of I-80. This resort is also a great choice for people who want a family-friendly atmosphere and calm runs. It also offers good night skiing and very strong beginner programs to help people get into skiing and snowboarding. While it may not be the ideal spot for expert and advanced skiers, it's still a solid choice for folks living in the Bay Area who don't want to drive too far up into Tahoe.
Disclaimer:
All the rankings info is subjective and is based on the general consensus of multiple reports. This does not mean you should prioritize certain resorts over others, but take this information as a guide to what can be offered at these resorts. Happy skiing and snowboarding, folks!