The 7 Best Ski Resorts in Lake Tahoe

Homewood Mountain Resort

 Homewood is Tahoe’s best-kept secret and home to the best views you’ll find in Tahoe. From the top, it looks like you could ski right into the lake, and you almost could, since the beach is only 30 feet from the base lodge. The parking lot is small, but that helps keeps the crowds down. Don’t expect a fancy base area, but do expect deep powder on snow days and fantastic tree runs on the backside. 

Parking is sparse at Homewood, so you’ll probably be better served by parking in Tahoe City at the Transit Center and taking the free ski shuttle to the resort. 

• Number of lifts: 7
• Maximum lift ticket price: $154
• Number of skiable acres: 1,260

Squaw Valley

“Squallywood” is one of the most well-known, largest, and most iconic resorts in the skiing world. Squaw Valley is a paradise for every level of skier as the mountain is a series of bowls, chutes, and curving cat tracks—consider it a choose your own adventure kind of mountain. Squaw has a huge base village, 30 lifts, and some seriously advanced terrain; it’s not unusual to run into professional athletes on the trails. Fortunately, it’s well-loved by beginners, too, as the easy terrain still has amazing views of the lake. 

The 20-minute drive from Truckee to Squaw can take 2 hours or more on very busy powder days. But since Squaw has so many lifts, people get dispersed pretty well once they’re on the slopes 

• Number of lifts: 30
• Maximum lift ticket price: $179
• Number of skiable acres: 4,000

Alpine Meadows

Squaw’s sister resort is just a few minutes drive down Highway 89 and has similar terrain. Expect big, wide bowls, plenty of trees and chutes, and (of course) views of Lake Tahoe from the top. Unlike Squaw, there’s no large base village, which helps keeps the crowds down. In fact, locals often go to Alpine Meadows when Squaw Valley is too crowded. Because they’re owned by the same company, one lift ticket covers both mountains, so you can start your day at Squaw Valley and then take the shuttle to finish the afternoon at Alpine Meadows. 

The backside of Alpine Meadows (accessed via the Sherwood lift) turns into a social scene on spring weekends. The cash-only “Ice Bar” on the backside has beer, small snacks, and a DJ spinning tunes most afternoons. 

• Number of lifts: 13
• Maximum lift ticket price: $179
• Number of skiable acres: 2,400

Northstar California Resort

Known by locals as Tahoe’s luxury mountain, Northstar is focused on families, with an excellent learn to ski program for children and adults. Trails are more defined, unlike Squaw’s open bowls, making it more appealing to skiers who prefer to map and track their runs. There’s a large village at the base, complete with an ice rink and complimentary s’mores during apres-ski. It has excellent grooming and great intermediate trails, as well a few terrain parks. 

You’ll need to take a ski shuttle from the Northstar parking lots, but you can rent a locker in the village for your shoes and ski bags. 

• Number of lifts: 13
• Maximum lift ticket price: $179
• Number of skiable acres: 2,400

Sugar Bowl Ski Resort

Sugar Bowl is located high up on the crest of the Sierra Nevada ridgeline, so it usually gets the most fresh snow from each storm (and often has the most snow of the whole season.) Despite the excellent snow, the vibe at Sugar Bowl is much more relaxed than other resorts. There are two main parking lots, but if you park at the lot off Donner Pass road, you can take a vintage gondola ride to reach the base lodge. Many of the lifts whisk skiers away to advanced and intermediate trails, so it’s easy for athletes of different levels to all ski or ride together. 

Sugar Bowl is one of the few privately owned resorts left in the country and doesn’t have a corporate feel. It was opened in the 1930s and still has a vintage feel—enjoy it!

• Number of lifts: 13
• Maximum lift ticket price: $125
• Number of skiable acres: 1,650

Heavenly Mountain Resort

Tahoe’s biggest mountain is also its most popular, partially because it’s in downtown South Lake Tahoe. The resort is split between California and Nevada and yes, you can ski from one state to another. One side of the mountain looks out on the lake while the other looks east to the Nevada desert. Heavenly has terrain to please all ability levels, but it can get crowded. Advanced skiers and riders can avoid the crowds by spending time in the double blacks on Mott and Killebrew Canyons. 

Most of the trails feed down into the same base area and congestion on the trails towards closing time is common. Try to stay high up for most of the day to avoid playing skier slalom.

• Number of lifts: 28
• Maximum lift ticket price: $180
• Number of skiable acres: 4,800

Kirkwood Mountain Resort

At nearly 8,000 feet, Kirkwood has a higher base elevation than most other ski resorts, which gives it exceptionally good quality snow. It’s about an hour’s drive from South Lake Tahoe, so it tends to be less crowded—especially as there’s a mountain pass to get there that’s often restricted by chain control. Kirkwood is owned by Vail, but it doesn’t have a super corporate feel. Some of the lifts are older and the base lodge feels vintage, but that’s all part of the charm. Come mid-week to feel like you’ve got the mountain all to yourself. If you head to Kirkwood on a powder day, be sure you have chains for your tires and know how to put them on.

• Number of lifts: 12
• Maximum lift ticket price: $129
• Number of skiable acres: 2,300