Kirkwood
With its awesome, serrated peaks, this just might be the most visually impressive resort in the Tahoe region. Snowboarders have access to entire mountain.
Terrain: 2,300 acres, 65 runs (longest, 2.5 miles).
Base elevation: 7,800 feet; summit: 9,800 feet. (15 percent beginner, 50 percent intermediate, 35 percent advanced). No snowmaking.
Location: Off Hwy. 88 at Carson Pass, 30 miles southwest of South Lake Tahoe.
Contact: Kirkwood, P.O. Box 1 Kirkwood, CA 95646; (209) 258-6000
Snowphone (209) 258-3000
(800) (reservations) 967-7500.
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Heavenly
The only Western Ski area to straddle two states (California and Nevada), Heavenly also has the highest top elevation (10,040 feet) in the region. Not to mention Heavenly’s free shuttle bus system to and from area lodging is the most extensive in Tahoe.
Terrain: 4,800 skiable acres, 79 runs (longest, 5.5 miles). Base elevation: 6,540 feet (California side), 7,200 feet (Nevada side); summit: 10,040 feet. (20 percent beginner, 45 percent intermediate, 35 percent advanced). Snowmaking on 66 percent of cleared trails.
Location: At the end of Ski Run Boulevard, off U.S. 50 in South Lake Tahoe.
Contact: Heavenly Ski Resort, P.O. Box 2180, Stateline, NV 89449; (702) 586-7000.
Snowphone: (530) 541-7544.
Reservations: (800) 2-HEAVEN/243-2836.
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Sierra-at-Tahoe
Tahoes most underrated resort is often overlooked by out of towners because of its low profile and modest distance from South Lake Tahoe (25 minutes). Yet this is an amazingly well designed mountain, with exceptional terrain for all ability levels.
Terrain: 2,000 acres, 46 runs (longest, 2.5 miles).
Base elevation: 6,640 feet; summit: 8,852 feet. (25 percent beginner, 50 percent intermediate, 25 percent advanced). Snowmaking on 27 acres.
Location: Off Hwy. 50 at Echo Summit on Sierra-at-Tahoe Road, 12 miles west of South Lake Tahoe.
Contact: Sierra-at-Tahoe, 1111 Sierra-at-Tahoe Road, Twin Bridges, CA 95735; (916) 659-7453.
Snowphone: (916) 659-7475.
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Ski Homewood
This is the best “hidden” family resort in the region and the closest to the lake-right across the street. A unique feature of the resort is its accessibility by ferryboat; the Tahoe Queen runs a daily breakfast trip (skiers and weather permitting) from the end of Ski Run Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe across the lake to Homewood Marina.
Terrain: 1,200 acres, 57 runs (longest, 2 miles).
Base elevation: 6,230 feet; summit: 7,880 feet. (15 percent beginner, 50 percent intermediate, 35 percent advanced). Snowmaking on 15 acres.
Location: On highway 89 in Homewood, six miles south of Tahoe City.
Contact: Ski Homewood, 5145 West Lake Boulevard, Homewood, CA 96141; (916) 525-2992.
Snowphone: (916) 525-2900.
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