LAKE TAHOE

California, USA

Photo: North Lake Tahoe / Jeff Dow

Heavenly Ski Resort. Photo: Vail Resorts

Kirkwood Valley at night. Photo: Vail Resorts

Lake Tahoe offers up 15 resorts and some amazing skiing, all set against a backdrop of the stunning blue lake rimmed with snowcapped mountains.

SCOUT LOVES

Sunny days that create views of the lake so spectacular it’s almost unbelievable.
HUGE dumps of powder are common, particularly at Squaw Valley.
Kirkwood, or Kirkweird, has managed to maintain its quirky, rustic atmosphere despite the recent purchase by Vail Resorts.
The more laid-back atmosphere of North Tahoe and the cute towns in the area.
A vibrant nightlife in South Tahoe and chance to test your luck off the mountains in the casinos.

SCOUT TIPS

While it is possible to ski all the resorts from anywhere in the area, if you are planning on skiing several you may want to decide between North Tahoe resorts or South Tahoe resorts and stick to them to avoid too much travel.
The road down the eastern shore is often closed due to avalanche risk, so if you decide to drive between North and South plan on using the western shore road.
Tahoe is a great area to ski if you have an Epic Pass from Vail Resorts – Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood are all included.

LAKE TAHOE SKIING

With a multitude of resorts to choose from in the Lake Tahoe area, it's just a matter of picking the best resort to match your skiing ability level and style. Let's break it down by resort to find the best one for your perfect ski vacation...

Northstar
- Perfect for beginners
- Incredible terrain park setup including superpipe
- 3 main areas to ride, catering well to intermediate level skiers
- Great tree-skiing for advanced riders

Heavenly
- Largest skiing area in all of California
- Some of the best tree-skiing
- Good mix of terrain for all ability levels
- Fantastic off-piste terrain, gladed tree skiing, alpine bowls & chutes for the advanced skier
- Incredibly family friendly

Squaw Valley
- Over 14 mountain zones spread across Squaw and Alpine Meadows
- Beginner & novice skiers will love the mellow terrain
- Best known for its expert terrain - wide open bowls, cliff drops, chutes & gullies & epic hike-to areas
- Long cruisy groomers for intermediates
- Heart-stopping terrain & mountain views to match

Kirkwood
- Caters well to advanced & expert skiers
- Perfect for intermediates, with long groomed runs, and progressive terrain
- Tight trees, chutes, and alpine bowls with hike-to & backcountry options
- Higher elevation than other resorts in Tahoe
- Limited options for beginners & novice skiers & snowboarders

LAKE TAHOE FOR FAMILIES

Choosing the best ski resort for your family vacation can mean the difference between a memorable, hassle-free holiday or a logistical nightmare. Let us help you decide on the best option for your family ski holiday by checking out our top tips for each resort below:

Northstar
- Made for families with exceptional customer service & all the bells & whistles
- Highly regarded ski school with a multitude of programs for kids aged 3 and up, and adults
- Super fun Adventure Zone with extra activities to keep the whole family entertained
- Great main village with good facilities and close to lodging options

Heavenly
- Comprehensive range of facilities & amenities, both on and off mountain
- World-class ski school with 3 locations across the resort area
- Endless activities for the kids in South Lake Tahoe
- Lodging options to suit any budget, and convenient access to resort facilities

Squaw Valley
- Endless terrain for all ability levels
- Family Fun Zone at SnoVentures is perfect spot for beginners & those learning to ski
- Squaw Kids Children Centre with fantastic half and full day programs
- Lots of down-day activities for the whole family

Kirkwood
- Perfect for families that are more independant & don't require all the facilities of a major resort area
- Affordable lodging super close to the slopes
- Mellow nightlife (non-party scene)
- Small central village with all the amenities you need in one location

GETTING THERE AND AROUND

Lake Tahoe is about 3 hours drive from the San Francisco area, though sometimes on winter weekends it can take double that due to traffic.

An alternative to driving is to fly to Reno, which has plenty of direct daily flights and is a 70-minute drive to South Tahoe and 40 minutes to Truckee in the North.

You can also fly to Sacramento, although it’s about 2 hours’ drive to either end of the lake.

If you are staying in a resort and not planning to ski other areas you won’t need a car – shuttles are available from Reno airport. In North Lake Tahoe there are some public buses into the town areas from the ski resorts, but if you're planning on moving around a bit, you may want to rent a car.

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