Your Guide To Skiing Lake Tahoe's Top Resorts

Since 1924, the mountains of Lake Tahoe have been inviting adventure lovers to come and enjoy their powdery white slopes. Set along the border of California and Nevada, Tahoe is "home to the highest concentration of ski resorts in the country within a 100-mile radius." With 15 resorts to choose from, 300 days of sunshine, and an average of 500 inches of snowfall per year, the possibilities for winter fun in Tahoe are endless.  Each resort is built with different levels of skiers in mind — from those just getting their introduction to the world of skiing to the more seasoned veterans, there's something for everyone to enjoy. 

Aside from spending a day on the slopes, Lake Tahoe offers a full vacation experience complete with fabulous accommodations, stunning mountain views, and loads of off-mountain activities. From snowshoeing, ice skating, sleigh rides, live-music events, and tons of family fun activities — there is no shortage of fun to ensure you have the best time escaping those winter blues. Here is a list of the top resorts to get you prepped and ready to hit the slopes. 

Starting the list is one of the best Tahoe resorts for family-friendly activities – Northstar California Resort. Set in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, this resort is a great escape for those just getting their ski legs, as they offer a wide range of terrain ideal for beginners. The area boasts 3,170 acres of skiable terrain across 100 trails, with 60% of these trails at intermediate levels. The resort is also home to a ski and snowboard school, which offers lessons to all ages looking to learn how to tackle the mountain. There's also a kids' adventure zone — a ski trail designed with carvings of animals for kids to "find" on their way down the hill. Aside from skiing, visitors to Northstar can enjoy other winter activities on the mountain, such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and fat tire snow biking.

Off the mountain, the resort is a great place for family fun, offering an ice-skating rink, live music events on weekends, fire pits for s'mores, a movie theater, and tons of great shopping and dining options. Although there are no passes available for the 2025 season, day tickets range from $237 for adults and $166 for children, with a 20% discount when you book in advance. When passes are available, the resort's website recommends that first-timers purchase an Epic Day Pass, which allows visitors to choose from one to seven passes to use throughout the season. With this pass, holders can also access Heavenly and Kirkwood resorts. Northstar Ski Resort is located about 45 minutes from Reno, Nevada, and about 15 minutes from Truckee, California.

Next on the list is Sugar Bowl Resort – one of the oldest ski resorts in California. First opened in 1939, this resort has an interesting backstory with none other than Walt Disney, one of its original shareholders. Sugar Bowl was also home to the state's first chairlift and the West's first ski gondola — but don't worry, they have been updated since 1939. The resort offers a great mix of terrain for all ski levels and is known to continuously receive the most snow of any resort in the area. It is also easily accessible from the San Francisco Bay Area, making it a great weekend escape. Sugar Bowl Resort offers up to 1,650 skiable acres across 105 trails with multiple lifts, and 15% of its trails are designed for beginners. Visitors can also save money by signing up for the first-timer package, which starts at $149 and includes a half-day ski or snowboard lesson, a full-day lift ticket, and all-day equipment rental. Regular lift tickets range from $99 to $244, depending on the day of the week and month.

For those looking for more mountain fun off the slopes, Sugar Rush Tubing is a great spot to grab an inner tube and enjoy family-friendly fun. The resort also boasts the largest cross-country ski area in North America. According to the Sugar Bowl website, the Royal Gorge is "known for its sweeping views of the Northern Sierra and eight distinct trail systems. Featuring 92 trails with over 86 miles of groomed, tracked trails for human-powered outdoor recreation spread across 6,000 acres, guests of all ages and ability levels are invited to try classic cross-country skiing, skate skiing, and snowshoeing." Sugar Bowl Resort is about an hour's drive from Reno-Tahoe International Airport. 

Third on the list is Heavenly Mountain Resort — a place whose views of Lake Tahoe alone are fitting of its name. Featuring 28 ski lifts, 34 miles of wide open groomers, 1,600-foot double black diamond trails, and all the tree skiing you could ever want, this resort is a must for those looking to conquer the mountain from dusk to dawn. It's so big, in fact, that it reaches from California to Nevada! 80% of the terrain here is built for those at an intermediate level, with a small part of the resort carved out for beginners. That's not to say those just starting can't enjoy a day here, as the resort offers lessons catered to different levels. However, it may be best to stick to one of the other resorts that have many more green trail options. Prices start at $232 for adults and $162 for kids on weekdays, with discounts applying for those who book in advance. 

For those looking for an escape off the slopes, Heavenly Village is a great place to go for fantastic dining, shopping, and entertainment options. For stunning views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains, hop aboard the Heavenly Mountain Gondola, which picks up from the village and takes patrons on a 2.4-mile ride past snow-covered ridges. Visitors taking a gondola ride can also enjoy more family fun, with inner tubing and a mountain coaster available near the gondola exit. Visitors can also check the events page for exciting things happening on and off the mountain. Heavenly Mountain Resort is about 60 miles from Reno-Tahoe International Airport and is accessible by shuttle or rental car.

Fourth is a resort that secured the coveted title given by the Wall Street Journal in 2023 of best ski resort in the United States and second in all of North America. Sometimes referred to as "The Eighth Wonder of the World" due to its astounding beauty, this resort is highly acclaimed among ski enthusiasts worldwide. Palisades Tahoe first gained international fame as the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. With more than 6,000 skiable acres across two mountains, the resort caters to skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels, from Olympians to those just learning — though it does remain a favorite among professionals. Take, for instance, the KT-22 chairlift – a legendary lift that takes skiers up to some of the steepest slopes in North America. Probably best to stay off this one if you are still learning how to pizza and french fry your way down the mountain. 

The resort is also home to North America's first base-to-base ski gondola, connecting Palisades Tahoe's two mountains and making it the largest ski resort in California. Another must-see at the resort is the Aerial Tram, which takes visitors on a stunning vertical trip up the mountain to High Camp, located 8,200 feet above sea level. Here, patrons can visit the free Olympic Museum and glide their way down miles of snow-covered terrain. One-day lift tickets range from $111 to $289 for all ages, depending on the day of the week and month. Aside from skiing, the resort also offers regular and nighttime disco tubing sessions for ages 4 and up, as well as concerts throughout the season. Reno-Tahoe International Airport is about 45 minutes to the resort by car, Sacramento International Airport is two hours, and San Francisco International Airport is about three and a half hours.

Next is a fan favorite of those who love skiing along wide-open spaces off the beaten path. Kirkwood Mountain Resort entices experienced skiers annually with its 2,300 acres and 86 trails of advanced and varied terrain. With its narrow chutes, big cliffs, steep walls, and an excess amount of snowfall annually (up to 500 inches), it's a well-known playground for those who love a challenge in a backwoods setting. According to Kirkwood General Manager Ricky Newberry in an article from The Tahoe Daily Tribune, "Kirkwood is just geographically special," he explained. "The natural playground is augmented by its unique location atop the Sierra Crest, which is part of what gives meaning to Kirkwood's timeless adage — the "K-Factor." Geologically, the "K-Factor" refers to the fact that the location allows the mountain to receive some of the "lightest, driest, and most plentiful snow in the Tahoe region due to its location — which means smooth, buoyant turns and that floating sensation." 

While Kirkwood is less suitable for families and those just starting, it does offer lessons, and beginners can head to the Timber Creek Express area for practice. While the resort is best known for its many challenging runs, those seeking non-skiing activities can enjoy things like snowshoeing, dog sled tours, and backcountry access tours.  The closest airports are Reno-Tahoe International Airport and Sacramento International Airport. Luxury shuttle buses from major areas like San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Oakland, and more run most weekends and some weekdays.

Last but not least is a fabulous "locals-only" mountain resort that has 2,000 acres of skiable terrain: Sierra-at-Tahoe. Though smaller than the other resorts on the list with fewer than 50 trails, what it lacks in size, it makes up for in fun for families and those new to skiing. Reviewers on TripAdvisor say that the resort offers plenty of milder trails and has lessons for those just starting — though they recommend the private vs the group lessons. In comparison to other resorts in the surrounding area, Sierra-at-Tahoe has the most relaxed vibe — and goes all out to cater to beginners with their great package deals like the Adult Learn to Ride 3-Pak. This package provides beginners three days on the mountain, access to group lessons, and rental equipment. 

For those who want to break away from friends learning to ride, the resort also features excellent terrain parks, a few black diamond trails, and the only superpipe on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. There are also options for inner tubing, sledding at Blizzard Mountain, and three miles of snowshoe trails. Located in Eldorado National Forest, Sierra-at-Tahoe is close to many airports: Reno-Tahoe International Airport (75 miles), Sacramento International Airport (98 miles), Oakland International Airport (175 miles), and San Francisco International Airport (181 miles).

To formulate the list of the top ski resorts in Tahoe, we compared reviews across Trip Advisor and Google Reviews and looked at statistical information from onthesnow.com. We chose our featured list based on a combination of awards, skiable terrain, prices and packages, and additional mountain excursions and activities available.