SKI RESORTS
Where to Ski & Ride
Tahoe’s 14 downhill resorts are each refreshingly unique. Tahoe has the largest concentration of ski areas in America, including huge resorts that encompass multiple peaks served by dozens of super-efficient ski lifts. Each of Tahoe’s “Large” resorts listed below have enough terrain to satisfy advanced skiers and riders for multiple days. But they also have more expensive day passes and thousands of season passholders adding to lift lines on busy days. Tahoe’s “Medium” resorts are large enough to be popular with many local skiers and riders, who tend to buy mid-week, non-holiday season passes and leave the slopes largely to day-pass visitors on weekends. Young families and beginners may find Tahoe’s “Small” resorts just the right fit. These ski areas have few season pass holders and generally less-expensive day passes.
Large PALISADES TAHOE 42 Lifts—6,000 acres A premier American winter resort and expert mecca, with multiple mountains of terrain. A new era dawned last winter when the long-awaited gondola connected the neighboring ski mountains of Palisades Tahoe, the resorts historically titled Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley. The 2.4-mile-long gondola officially creates the third largest ski resort in the U.S. with, arguably, the best terrain of them all. This huge area is an epic experience of steeps, bowls, intermediate trails, and even excellent beginner terrain. When avalanche conditions permit, open boundaries also allow exploring of the Sierra Crest.
HEAVENLY MOUNTAIN
The snow-filled bowl at the top of Palisades Tahoe, PHOTO BY BEN ARNST, COURTESY PALISADES TAHOE
28 Lifts—4,800 acres Huge winter resort with much to offer every ability. Heavenly is a two-state experience, with 34 miles of wide intermediate trails and some of the most spectacular views in the ski world. The resort has four entry points; Heavenly Village gondola and California Main Lodge lifts are the two most commonly used. There are beginner runs atop both the gondola and California Main Lodge lifts. Heavenly boosts the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system and Tahoe’s highest summit elevation.
14 WINTER/SPRING 2023/24 | Lake Tahoe Visitor Guide
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