Travel & Places Skiing

Tahoe Snow - Over a Dozen Resorts to Choose From

Winter is in full swing and the snow is coming down in feet.
It's time to mention our favorite winter destination - Lake Tahoe.
Why is Tahoe our favorite? Try more than a dozen major ski resorts, several cross-country ski parks, major gambling casinos, fine dining lakeside and one of the most beautiful views you'll find in all of California.
Tahoe is easy to get to with Interstate 80 connecting to both Sacramento and Reno.
Only the heaviest of storms can close I-80 down and typically only for short periods.
Lake Tahoe can be reached within 45-minutes from Reno and an hour and a half from Sacramento.
Not bad for some of the best snow California can offer.
Now that you know how to get there, you need to know where to go.
Squaw Valley is by far Tahoe's premier ski resort and the lift ticket prices prove that they know it.
You'll be hard pressed to find a deal at Squaw but what you will find is cornice drop-ins, huge open bowls and plenty of prime terrain for any level of skier or boarder.
Squaw has a history too.
The 1960 Winter Olympics were held at Squaw and they still operate the mid-mountain, Olympic-sized ice skating rink for those willing to hop on the gondola.
Next to the rink is an Olympic museum with all kinds of patriotic memorabilia, restaurants and several outdoor hot tubs full of lazy skiers & boarders.
Looking for views? The most popular resort is Heavenly - so named for its heavenly views over Lake Tahoe.
It could just as well have been named Gluttony for its expansive size.
Located on the south shore, Heavenly offers nearly 100 runs of varying difficulty and is the only place you can ski or board in both Nevada and California.
Two other resorts that offer some of the best views of the lake include Diamond Peak and Homewood.
Though much smaller than Heavenly, the views are equally stunning and locals love the deals these resorts seem to always have.
If you're looking for a quick one-day trip, there are several resorts within quick reach of Reno and Sacramento.
Mt.
Rose is close to 30-minutes from Reno and is no slouch when it comes to challenging terrain.
On the west side, Soda Springs and Sugar Bowl can be reached in a little over an hour from Sacramento.
Sierra-at-Tahoe and Kirkwood are at the southern end of the lake off Highways 50 and 88 respectively.
Kirkwood is a favorite with locals and offers some of Tahoe's most challenging terrain.
Be sure to carry chains or have a 4-wheel-drive vehicle.
If you're flying in, we can't stress enough to upgrade to a 4x4.
It'll save you having to install chains on an unfamiliar vehicle and you'll surely be able to make it through during most big storms.
Just because you made it in without chains doesn't mean you're going to make it out that way.
Plan on entering from Interstate 80 if storms are present.
Often times, I-80 is the only road that remains open during big dumps.
Also, carry water and snacks since snow can often slow traffic to a crawl adding hours to the trip.
We hope this has motivated you to get out there and carve some tracks.
If you've never been to Tahoe you're in for a huge delight.
You'll definitely be back.

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