With trails cutting through dense evergreen forests, Sierra-at-Tahoe evokes images of its sister resort, Northstar-at-Tahoe—only Sierra has a slightly steeper pitch.

The compact base area and no-frills, laid-back atmosphere (as exemplified by its motto, “Just Chill”) also make Sierra, like Northstar, a good place to bring the whole family.

The base area offers affordable, kid-friendly value meals, and the Parent Predicament lift ticket allows considerable family flexibility; for the cost of a full-day adult ticket, one parent can ski while the other stays with the child until they’re ready to swap duties.

Parents can also opt to leave their brood with Wild Mountain, a licensed daycare facility. But don’t let this cast the impression that it’s a families-only resort; the four new terrain parks have become quite the draw for area freestyle and daredevil skiers and ‘boarders alike.

The area claims to have 2,000 skiable acres and over 2,200 vertical feet, but it doesn’t ski that big—runs typically top out at around 1,500 vertical. Still, there is more than enough terrain and activities here to keep skiers of all abilities entertained.

For the nervous novices, there’s a range of snow toys available for rent, from the Snowscoot to the Skifox. Advanced skiers, meanwhile, can take a four-hour backcountry tour with the ski patrol for a measly $25.

Spectacular views of the lake are a constant, and the five recently opened backcountry gates leading into El Dorado National Forest make the overall skiable terrain damn near limitless.

One word of caution, however: check the weather report before you leave. The winding drive from South Lake Tahoe over Echo Summit can be pure treachery on a snowy day.

Article by: Elizabeth Zektick

Photo by: Jeff Engerbretson

Near Lake Tahoe’s upscale Incline Village is Diamond Peak Ski Resort, home to the area’s “friendliest mountain.”

It has gentle terrain for beginners but still offers challenging trails, tree skiing, open bowls and glades for experts. All trails funnel down to the same base area, so everyone in your family or group can have their fun on separate runs, then easily meet up at the end of the day.

Diamond Peak has a vertical drop of 1,840 feet, 655 skiable acres, 30 trails, a high-speed lift and a terrain park for skiers and snowboarders. It also boasts some of Lake Tahoe’s most stunning high-altitude views. Families like Diamond Peak for its Child Ski Center.

Your pulse rises, you take a deep breath and you’re off. Brilliant sun. Incredible snow. Crisp, fresh air. Freedom at last. At Diamond Peak you can go up and down our mountain all day, and you will never get over the views. Come experience Diamond Peak and rediscover why you started skiing and snowboarding in the first place.

The resort’s classic design offers terrain to encourage beginners and challenge the best. Families in particular feel safer here as all of the runs funnel into one base area.

Kids can actually ski by themselves while Mom and Dad take some turns on their own, worry free.

It’s an undiscovered mountain which means lift lines are shorter, prices are more affordable, and service is second to none.

The Reno/Tahoe International Airport is about 35 miles away.

Squaw Valley is the American birthplace of extreme skiing. About twenty years ago, Squaw locals began skiing impossible lines from the Palisades, essentially a cliff with snow stuck to it.

To earn your spurs as an extreme skier or snowboarder—or “freerider” in the current nomenclature of mountain sports—all roads lead through Squaw. 

But the extreme reputation aside, Squaw is actually a reasonably well-rounded ski area. There’s a good amount of skiing for all ability levels, and the relatively new Resort at Squaw Creek is an exercise in extreme pampering. Squaw skiing can be ridiculously intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. An on-mountain demo center opened in 2005.

Squaw’s extreme rep may overshadow the mellower side of the mountain, which is more substantial than you might think. From High Camp, about halfway up the mountain, there is plenty of novice and lower-intermediate terrain.

Intermediates tend to congregate around High Camp, too, although there are longer intermediate runs from the Squaw Creek Chair.

As for expert skiing, the number of intriguing lines is impossible to calculate. KT-22 and the Headwall Express are particularly popular.  Read more…

Squaw Valley USA
Snow Phone/24 Hour Info: (530) 583-6955
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Boreal Mountain Ski Resort in Truckee, near Lake Tahoe is nothing short of a thrill. The resort comes equipped with something to do for everyone.

With a vertical rise of just 500 feet, Boreal’s emphasis is on terrain parks rather than expansive terrain, a place where snowboarders and new-school trick skiers in particular can get their kicks.

But Boreal’s real selling point is as a place for first-timers to learn to ski or snowboard. The area claims to have taught more than 300,000 “never evers.” If you want to learn the sport before heading to the bigger resorts in the Tahoe area, Boreal is a good place to start.

For kids, there’s the Big Kid Surface, and a tubing hill that was installed last season. A moving carpet was also added to get you to the top. There are now three four-person (Quad) chairlifts, as well as five other lifts that will take you to any of their forty-one exhilarating runs.

Boreal is located in Truckee, a mere thirty minutes from North Lake Tahoe, directly off of I-80. An easy location to reach, and an even easier place to adore.

For more information, please visit the Boreal web site