Lake Tahoe Skiing: a Heavenly Vacation

Lake Tahoe, located near the boundaries of California and Nevada, boasts an abundance of snowfall from November to April, making it a prime skiing destination for a full six months of the year.

A number of ski resorts are found in Lake Tahoe. If you enjoy Alpine skiing, you can find it at Alpine Meadows, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Squaw Valley, Donner Ski Ranch, Homewood and Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe. Heavenly Mountain Resort offers the largest skiing area around Lake Tahoe. Squaw Valley USA is well-known as the host of the 1960 Winter Olympics.

If you prefer Nordic skiing, you may want to head on over to Clair Tappaan, Eagle Mountain, Hope Valley, Royal Gorge, Spooner Lake, Sugar Pine, and Tahoe Donner.

Alpine Meadows

What's to like: seven open bowls, top-to-bottom cruisers, forested glades.

Mountain Stats:

• 13 Lifts
• 100 runs
• Terrain: 25% beginner, 40% intermediate, 35% advanced/expert

Heavenly Mountain Resort

What's to like: one of North America's largest mountains, 3,500 foot vertical, incredible tree skiing. Also, for those seeking a real adrenaline rush, check out the Heavenly Flyer, a ZipRider located at Adventure Peak. This high speed thrill ride takes you from the top of Tamarack Express back to the top of the Gondola, a vertical drop of 525 feet. It's the longest ZipRider in the lower 48 U.S. states.

Mountain Stats:

• 30 lifts
• 95 trails
• 3,500-ft. vertical rise
• 360 inches average annual snowfall
• terrain: 20% beginner, 45% intermediate, 35% advanced/expert
• Season: mid-November through April

Kirkwood Mountain Resort

What's to like: It's new Skier/Boarder Cross Course. Called the "snow version of motocross", Skier/Boarder Cross is slated to become an Olympic Medal Event in 2010. Kirkwood will be one of only a handful of ski areas in the West to offer a course such as this. Also, you may like "The Playground," which is a place to explore freestyle terrain, with mini jumps, rollers and low to the snow boxes and rails.

Mountain Stats:

• 15 lifts
• 65 trails
• 2,000-ft. vertical rise
• 2,300 skiable acres
• longest run: 2.5 miles
• 600 inches average annual snowfall
• terrain: 15% beginner, 50% intermediate, 20% advanced, 15% expert
• Season: Mid-November into Late April
   

Squaw Valley

What's to like: thousands of acres of open bowl skiing, 16 open bowls, Lake Tahoe's most extensive night terrain, which includes the 3.2 mile Mountain Run

Mountain Stats:

• 34 lifts
• 100 runs
• 2,850-ft. vertical rise
• 4,000 skiable acres
• 450 inches average annual snowfall
• terrain: 25% beginner, 45% intermediate, 30% expert

Donner Ski Ranch

What's to like: one of California's first ski resorts, family-owned and operated, relaxed and simple

Mountain Stats:

• 6 lifts
• 52 runs
• 460 skiable acres
• longest run: 1.5 miles
• 7031-ft. base elevation
• 396 inches average annual snowfall
• terrain: 25% Beginner, 50% Intermediate, 25% Advanced

Homewood

What's to like: spectacular lake views, excellent powder skiing, The Shredwood Forest Terrain Park

Mountain Stats:

• 8 lifts
• 56 runs
• 1,260 skiable acres
• terrain: 15% beginner, 50% intermediate, 35% advanced/expert
• 450 inches average annual snowfall

Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe

What's to like: great tree skiing and riding, short lines, great for beginners

Mountain Stats:

• 6 lifts
• 43 trails
• 8,260 ft. base elevation (highest in Tahoe)
• longest run: 2.5 miles
• terrain: 30% beginner, 30% intermediate, 40% advanced
• 400 inches average annual snowfall

It is easy to find accommodation in Lake Tahoe, no matter what your preferences and budget are. Ski resorts offer a wide variety of lodging environments. Luxurious hotels and condominiums are available if you want to be pampered. If you prefer to rough it and stay close to nature, there are forest cabins and chalets. In addition to the ski resorts, you can visit the numerous restaurants and casinos around the area.

Synonyms: Ake, alke, llake, lke, lkae, laake, lae, laek, lakke, lak, lakee are typos for Lake. Ahoe, athoe, ttahoe, thoe, thaoe, taahoe, taoe, taohe, tahhoe, tahe, taheo, tahooe, taho, and tahoee are typos for Tahoe. Skiiing and sking are popular typos for "skiing."