Lake Tahoe (California) > Reviews > skiing Lake Tahoe

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money	Excellent
Shopping	Average
Nightlife	Good
Ease of getting around	Average
Family Friendly	Good

Advantages:	everything !  especially dollar rate this year
Disadvantages:	none, although maybe long flight may put people off

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

We both agree this our very favourite place to snowboard. We have visited the Tahoe area twice, both times doing a 2 centre holiday to take advantage of the ski resorts on either side of the lake.
Getting there - we flew direct from London to San Francisco and hired a car. It's a 3-4 hour drive and we defiinitely recommend getting a 4x4. We were a party of 4 and hired this massive beast of a car - a Jack Baauer style V8 which was actually really easy to drive. We called it the Canyonero (any Simpson fans will know what I mean) and I know we're not doing the environment any favours but it was spacious enough for 4 adults, 4 snowboards and 4 sets of luggage, and once you get to Tahoe everyone has them. The car is king in the USA and you will use it a lot in Tahoe so honestly get a 4x4 it's not worth messing about with snow chains etc. And petrol is SO cheap over there, it cost about 55 bucks to fill the beast up!
Staying there
Lake Tahoe is gorgeous, the scenery is absolutely stunning. It straddles the California/Nevada state line, and you can certainly tell when you have crossed to Nevada! Heavenly is the main ski resort and the town is called South Lake Tahoe. It is mostly in Nevada and it can be cheaper to stay here because of the casino's. There is also all the entertainment you could want, gambling, cinema, bars, cheap casino food, shows, concerts etc.. we saw a comedian called Bobby Collins one night, he was well funny.
We have stayed in the Heavenly area twice, combined once with Squaw Valley and once with Tahoe city (which isn't a city at all but a nice little town on the north west of the lake) We have mostly been in condo's and once stayed in a travelodge but they have all been of a high standard. If you're going to do a single centre south Lake Tahoe/Heavenly is the most convenient place to stay but we really like splitting it as on the opposite side of the lake is Squaw Valley, Northstar and Alpine Meadows. (and if I'm honest I prefer the Califonia side as casino's and neon lights aren't my cup of tea)
The ski resorts
All of them have something to offer - even the smaller resorts have extensive runs, off piste/unpisted but secure, but don't go out of bounds though..big fine, jail etc..really well maintained parks etc. The larger resorts can get busy at weekends but nothing like France busy!! Orderly queues with no pushing in, and if you don't mind riding the lift with strangers join the singles line to save queueing. Everyone is genuinely pleasant and respectful on the slopes, they seem to be much more laid back than in Europe. In the parks everyone waits their turn with no one cutting in.

Heavenly is the biggest and the highest and featured in most brochures. Yes it's a good resort but it's also the most expensive and quite often the busiest. I think last year a day ticket was about $70. The view was almost worth it though, at one point you can see the lake and snowy mountains in one direction and the desert in the other. South of Heavenly (past the Adidas outlet mall) is Sierra at Tahoe and Kirkwood. Kirkwood is gnarly and extreme with often the best, deepest snow. Quite a few challenging black runs and a nice bar at the bottom for when you've had enough! Sierra at Tahoe is one of my favourites it is such a laid back resort with a great atmosphere. It has a good boardercross, beginner and expert jump parks and a big half pipe. It also has some cool places to eat and chill out with a bud!
The main resorts on the other side of the lake are Squaw, Northstar, Homewood and Alpine Meadows
Squaw Valley is a good base as it has quite a lot of facilities, ie accommodation, shops, restaurants etc.and is an attractive newly built village. The ski area is great we had an awesome powder day here. There are no graded pistes instead the lifts are graded red, black etc and you can make your way down however you please. The off piste is some of the best we have experienced, and the lift KT22 serves up some really steep runs. You can also go night skiing on the lift pass here. We stayed a week at the Red Wolf Lodge, and would go back there tomorrow! The only negative - compared to South Lake Tahoe prices for food and drink seemed expensive. (tip - a 5 -10 minute drive takes you to Tahoe City where they have some really good reasonable restauarants and nice shopping too)
Alpine Meadows and Homewood are an easy drive from Squaw and offer quiet pistes and cheaper tickets and Homewood has some of the best views of the lake
Northstar we visited on a Saturday and it was quite busy. There was masses of work going on at the base as they are building lodges etc, when finished it will be very impressive. It was a good all round resort with something for everyone, head to the backside for some good fast black runs.
One last resort worth a mention is Mount Rose, going towards Reno. It has a whole section of double diamond black chutes and a really good park, and here you will have the cheapest lunch ever!!!

I could go on and on about Tahoe, but one last tip - try and buy a lift pass in the UK before you go. You can buy 1 ticket valid for all the major resorts and it gives a huge saving but you can't get it in resort.

Oh and the food, such choice and huge portions!

for more ski resort reviews see my site www.franceandbeyond.co.uk