Winter 2009-10 Guide to Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts
Largest Concentration of Ski Spots in North America Means Choices
Oct 9, 2009
Now that the first snow of the season has fallen on the Sierra Nevada, thoughts turn to skiing. It’s never too early to think about the upcoming ski season. Especially if choices are as many and varied as those in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
That’s because Lake Tahoe is surrounded by the largest concentration of ski areas in the United States, each with its own personality. The combined statistics of these resorts is impressive. More than 175 lifts, 800 runs, almost 25,000 acres of terrain and an average annual snowfall of 35 feet.
Tahoe Sun and Snow Reports
A huge Tahoe bonus is that there’s a good chance the sun will be shining, since the area has an average of 300 days of sunshine a year. While some resorts traditionally receive more snow than others, that isn’t always the case because of the capricious nature of the wind in the High Sierra. Good sources for area weather reports and forecasts are radio broadcasts and TV telecasts originating in nearby Reno stations.
Resorts Northwest of Lake Tahoe
Several of the ski spots feature Nordic as well as Alpine skiing. They are Northstar-at-Tahoe, Diamond Peak, Kirkwood and Tahoe Donner. Eleven of the resorts feature only downhill, and four of them are exclusively for cross-country skiers. Several of the downhill ski operations also welcome snow-boarders and some resorts offer areas for other snow sports such as sledding, tubing, snow-shoeing and snowmobiling.
Biggest Alpine ski resort in the Tahoe Basin – Heavenly – is at the south end of the lake near Stateline. Kirkwood and Sierra at Tahoe, both downhill resorts, are a few miles farther south. Sorenson’s Cross-Country is in the Kirkwood vicinity
Other Tahoe Ski Resort Locations
The largest number of ski resorts lies to the north west of the lake and includes Boreal, Donner Ski Ranch, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Soda Springs, Squaw Valley USA, Sugar Bowl and Tahoe Donner downhill areas. Squaw Creek Cross-Country, Royal Gorge and Tahoe Cross Country resorts are also in that part of the basin.
Two downhill resorts – Granlibakken and Homewood Mountain – are east of the lake; Mt. Rose and Diamond Peak to the northeast. The Spooner Lake Cross-Country area is near the lake’s western shore.
Ski Schools
Ski schools vary, with some resorts offering daily instruction by well-know skiers to others that offer instruction during only part of the season. Amenities at the ski areas range from day lodges, snack bars and cafeterias at the smaller operations to luxury shopping, live entertainment and gourmet restaurants in the villages at Squaw Valley and Northstar-at-Tahoe.
Most of the resorts are now involved in environmental projects such as reforestation, recycling, use of biodiesel fuel, solar mechanisms and erosion control. Since each resort may have different age requirements, rates and hours, it's a good idea to contact them before planning a trip.
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