LAKE TAHOE SKI RESORTSThere are seven major Lake Tahoe ski resorts, and they offer some of the best skiing & snowboarding opportunities that you’ll find anywhere – plus lots more that you may not know about! And there’s a major storm forecast for the Sierras & Northern California this weekend (December 6, 2009), so it’s time to check out your winter sports options . . . LAKE TAHOE SKI RESORTS IN CALIFORNIA Now, I don’t want to offend anyone on the Nevada side of the border, but – IMHO & acknowledging that I’m probably biased – California has the best of the best when it comes to ski resorts. I am willing to admit, though, that we share one of the best resorts with Nevada, as you’ll soon see. But, for now, let’s take a look at California’s Lake Tahoe ski resorts.
By the way, when we speak of ski resorts these days, we’re really talking about a whole lot more than snow skiing! Ice skating, cross-country skiing, sledding – these have been around pretty much forever. But now we have to include snowboarding, terrain parks, snowshoeing, snow biking, and a myriad other winter sports you may or may not have heard of! We really should change the names of our "ski resorts" to "winter sports resorts"! But, without further ado and – as they say on Dancing with the Stars - "in no particular order," here’s the first group of Lake Tahoe ski resorts – the ones on the California side: Alpine Meadows If you’re looking for good winter sports opportunities without all the hoopla, then Alpine Meadows is the place for you! Located on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore, Alpine Meadows consists of 2400 acres, provides challenging terrain with over 100 runs & 13 lifts, and offers an unpretentious big-mountain experience for winter sports enthusiasts.
At Alpine Meadows, you’ll certainly enjoysome of Lake Tahoe’s best skiing, but also excellent snowboarding, terrain park features, freestyle terrain, an open boundary that allows access to the backcountry, AND Olympic Athlete, Errol Kerr, of the Jamaica Ski Team! What you WON'T find at Alpine Meadows is much in the way of lodging & other amenities, so no nightlife, no entertainment, no gambling, no Broadway-style shows - like I said, "no hoopla" . . . but there's a rental & repair shop, a day lodge with sundeck, bar, & food, and a sports shop. What more do you need when you're focused on having fun in the snow? Check here for the latest weather at Alpine Meadows:Snow Report And don't worry about where to stay - It's not far from Alpine to lots of wonderful lodging possibilities to satisfy even the most picky of us! Kirkwood Located in South Lake Tahoe at Carson Pass, Kirkwood offers some truly unique experiences! With 2300 acres, 12 lifts, & 65 runs, Kirkwood provides plenty of skiing pleasure, as you would expect from a "ski resort." And you'll find terrain parks, snowboarding, backcountry terrain, cross-country skiing, & most of the other usual winter activities. What sets Kirkwood aside is their Evening Snow Cat Tours & their dogsledding!
If you're looking to combine something different with your snow sports, Kirkwood is a good place to be! Reserve a spot aboard a snow cat, meet the other riders in Off the Wall Bar & Grill for pre-ride cocktails & appetizers, then take off in your snow cat for the top of Red Cliffs for a spectacular view of the high Sierras! Or book a date with Running Creek Dog Sled Rides! You've several choices: the scenic Meadow Loop Ride (a 30 minute tour), The Adventure Ride (ride on the back of the sled), or a Moonlight Tour (barking dogs, shushing sled rails, Mr. Moon, & you). Or better yet, try all three! Check here for the latest weather at Kirkwood:Kirkwood Snow Report Northstar-at-Tahoe With 2900 acres, 17 lifts, 89 runs, & a village of their own, Northstar-at-Tahoe provides the complete family resort experience with something for everyone from tiny tots to Grammy & Gramps!
Take for granted the usual skiing, boarding, etc., then add ice skating (a 9000 square foot rink), making s'mores, tubing down the hill, bungy trampolining for safety in flipping, bouncing, & acrobating, adventure parks for the kids to jib, whoop, bump, & slide, village crafts & activities (wine tastings, jewelry & candle making, . . . ), cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, telemarking, geocaching for prizes, Meet the Mountain Tours, plus the Pool + Spa + Fitness Recreation Center (WITH its adult quiet area). Northstar-at-Tahoe offers the complete Lake Tahoe ski resort experience! Check here for the latest weather at Northstar: Snow & Weather Report Sierra-at-Tahoe One of Lake Tahoe's smaller ski resorts, Sierra-at-Tahoe is, nevertheless, worthy of recommendation here - especially if you're bringing the kidlettes along!
They have the greatest themed & educational Adventure Zones for kids & their parents - The Bear Cave, Gold Rush, Pony Express, Teepee Town. Plus skiing, boarding, tubing, snowshoeing, dining, lodging, & Après Ski! But the real draw for me is the Adventure Parks! I'm a sucker for neat kid-stuff!! They get to follow the trails through each adventure, experiencing life-like activities, sights, & sounds - the hibernating bear roars fiercely if they wake him; there's gold in them thar hills & Black Bart is on the loose; they gallop the Pony Express Trail; & they explore Native American life along the trail. I would have LOVED that when I was a kid! Like Nancy Drew & the Hardy Boys, Narnia, & Mickey Mouse Club all rolled into one & brought to life! Check here for the latest weather at Sierra:Snow & Weather Report Squaw Valley USA And now we come to one of the most famous ski resorts in the world - Squaw Valley USA; home to the 1960 Winter Olympic Games!
And this year is special, as this is their big "50/60" Anniversary Season - That's 50 years since the 1960 Games were hosted, & 60 years since Squaw Valley first became a ski resort! With 34 lifts, over 170 runs, & 4000 acres, they have good reason to celebrate, & they have lots to offer the winter sports enthusiast! In addition to traditional skiing & boarding, you'll find several terrain parks, snowshoe tours, cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowtubing, cable car rides, a climbing wall, a swimming lagoon & spa, restaurants & bars, shopping, lodging - everything, in short, that you could possibly want from a Lake Tahoe ski resort. But you can do something else here that’s a real treat! - Night Skiing & Riding! Every evening through the season, Squaw Valley USA lights up their 3.2 mile mountain run with a specially-made floodlight system, allowing you to ski a truly unique experience! Check here for the latest weather at Squaw Valley: Today's Grooming List You can see why I brag about our California ski resorts at Lake Tahoe! And there's one more to go, after we've taken a look at the Nevada side of the lake. LAKE TAHOE SKI RESORTS IN NEVADA Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe In Nevada you'll find a small, intimate ski lodge that is loved by anyone who's ever spent time there!
Mt. Rose is the smallest of the Lake Tahoe ski resorts, with 8 lifts, 60 runs, & only 1200 acres, but it's not to be dismissed lightly - it's a largely undiscovered gem! Mt. Rose's special claim to fame is its Chutes (for both skiers & boarders) – it’s 1500 foot vertical & 40-55 degrees; some of the steepest in the country! And you can traverse The Chutes practically side-by-side with rolling cruisers. It's a great place for experienced riders to take their skills to the next level! Check here for the latest weather at Mt. Rose:Snow Report Mt. Rose doesn’t have much in the way of amenities, but Reno's only a half hour away! THE STRADDLER Heavenly Mountain Resort And at last we come to the Lake Tahoe ski resort that's shared by California & Nevada! Known fondly & simply as Heavenly, this site offers 30 lifts, over 100 runs, & 4800 acres, giving it a real WOW factor!
Offering varied terrain that spans the South Lake Tahoe area, including the state line between California & Nevada, it includes rolling glades, terrain parks, Adventure Peak, & challenging steeps. Add the casinos, lodging, dining, nightlife, & entertainment available both onsite & at nearby Stateline, and you've got yourself a real ski resort experience! Check here for the latest weather at Heavenly:Snow Report And Heavenly is home to one of the few ziplines in Northern California – it’s the Heavenly Flyer As you can see, there's plenty to do in Lake Tahoe during the wintertime, and the many Lake Tahoe ski resorts will provide you with everything you need to spend a wonderful winter vacation! The best part is, you can keep coming back - pick a favorite ski resort to return to year after year; or visit a different one every time. They each offer something unique, so you'll never run out of something new to do! Come back soon for more about Lake Tahoe - Winter, Summer, Spring, and Fall! Please continue your exploration of what Northern California has to offer by using the Nav Bar at the left, by using the links at the bottom of the page, or by using the customized search box below to find the specific topic that interests you. Like what you're finding here at DiscoverNorthernCalifornia.com? Then please share with your Social Network (see the buttons in the NavBar to the left, or at the bottom of the page). For more pictures of Northern California and other great stuff, check out my facebook page, www.DiscoverNorthernCalifornia.com. Become a fan, write on my Wall, contribute to the Discussion Board, post a Review -- join in the fun!  Return to Discover Lake Tahoe from Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts Return to Discover Northern California Home Page from Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts
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