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The sheer abundance and concentration of Lake Tahoe ski resorts that surround the largest alpine lake in North America—some 13 in a 60-mile radius—can make deciding where, exactly, to ski here a daunting task. Asking around about whether to aim for the chill-but-robust ski resorts of North Lake Tahoe or lively South Lake with its off-mountain revelry—a select few of which sit along the tippity top of the Sierra Crest ridgeline, known for getting clobbered on powder days—will set you to spinning with highly strong recommendations from fans on either side. This is the beauty and the bane of Lake Tahoe: so many ski resorts, so little time.
We cut to the chase for you. Below, we've rounded up the seven very best Lake Tahoe ski resorts, from North to South—plus where to après, eat, and stay in Lake Tahoe to round out a bomber ski vacation. (For more ski trip inspiration, check out our 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards for the best ski resorts in North America.)
All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
North Lake Tahoe, California
Palisades Tahoe
Host of the 1960 Winter Olympics and North Lake’s crown jewel, Palisades Tahoe is one superlative after another. Boasting one of the longest ski seasons in the country (November to mid-May), it’s California’s largest ski resort with 6,000 skiable acres across two mountains, the 9,050-foot Palisades and 8,637-foot Alpine Meadows with its hike-to back bowls. Both valleys will be newly connected this season by a game-changing 2.4-mile gondola. The majority of the resort is famously heaven on earth for extreme skiers who come to rip KT-22 and off-piste terrain, the one place, according to U.S. Hall of Fame big-mountain skier Kristen Ulmer “where every born-to-ski skier, at some point or other, wants to move to [and] make it as a 'professional' skier." But you’d be remiss to think this enormous Lake Tahoe ski resort doesn’t offer something for everyone. Think mountain-top beginner slopes, fantastic groomed runs, and a properly stacked village with restaurants, bars, shopping—even a climbing wall. In February, Palisades Tahoe will also host men’s slalom and giant slalom events as one of four U.S. stops for the World Cup.
The pass situation: The pass situation: Full day adult passes are dynamically priced, starting at $127 in advance or $177 at the window. Weekends and holidays jump to $229 in advance (or $269 at the window). Palisades is also part of the Ikon Pass network.
Where to aprés, eat, and drink: In Palisades’ base village, Le Chamois (aka the Chammy) is synonymous with après for skiers in the know, and the outdoor spot to kick off your boots and knock back a few beers. Grab pizza here or go for gourmet-style pie at Fireside. There’s also the cozy Auld Dubliner Pub for Irish grub and some 100 whiskeys, or excellent chicken tortilla soup and spicy margaritas at Tremingo.
Where to stay: Staying slopeside is the move at the ski-in/ski-out Village at Palisades Tahoe, where you’ll find everything from standard hotel rooms with a microwave to three-bedroom condo-style suites with a full kitchen. In the village, a stay at the 55-room boutique PlumpJack Inn should also mean a fancy meal and pours of its namesake vintages at PlumpJack Café.
Northstar California Resort
Impeccable groomers, long cruisers, and generally mellow terrain—there’s a reason Northstar is considered one of the best family ski resorts in the U.S. and Canada. Its 3,000 acres also offer an excellent place to progress in a day, whether you’re warming up on the easy Skid Trail to Lumberjack (perhaps taking a break at the mid-mountain Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, to create your own gourmet s’mores and hot cocoa from a new wall of chocolates and candy), taking in sweeping views of the lake from the blue East Ridge trail, or hitting the black-diamond Promised Land for an evenly groomed slope. Northstar is also home to the best terrain parks in Tahoe, one of which boasts an 18-foot halfpipe. Lift lines can get crowded on big ski days but a breather is expected with the newly upgraded mid-mountain Comstock Express, now a high-speed six-person chair to the top of the 8,610-foot mountain. Want the ultimate crowd-free experience? New this season, pass holders can access the mountain a half an hour earlier on Mondays at 8:30 a.m. for first tracks.
The pass situation: Day passes for non-peak days purchased online start at $159 or at the window from $199 (or $235 on peak days). Northstar participates with Epic Pass.
Where to aprés, eat and drink: Centered around an ice rink with firepits and seating plus live music on Saturdays from 2 to 5 p.m., the Village at Northstar is the place for everything après. Grab a cocktail at the Rink Bar or outdoor Cabana Bar, gourmet fries at Frites, fun donuts for the kids at White Rabbit, Starbucks, you name it. For dinner, Michael Mena’s new Bourbon Pub is the spot for playful comfort food (like Tokyo Hot Chicken). Then, get moving again with a nighttime celestial experience with Tahoe Star Tours, a top 10 ski-town adventure for non-skiers.
Where to stay: You can have an entire experience unto itself at the slopeside Ritz-Carlton. Check out the new après Ice Bar serving champagne and caviar along with a family-friendly menu. For groups and reasonably priced home rentals, check out Northstar’s condos or Airbnbs just off the main shuttle route.
Sugar Bowl Resort
In a snowstorm, the drive to Sugar Bowl is especially rough and not for the faint of heart, but the payoff for die-hard skiers and riders is huge. That’s because the 8,383-foot mountain at the top of Donner Summit is among the lucky few on the Sierra Crest ridge line, making it a magnet for massive dumps of deep snow. It’s also the first Lake Tahoe ski resort you’ll hit on the drive in from Sacramento and among the best from the San Francisco Bay Area. Expect massive steeps, jaw-dropping views, and crowd-free lines. Drop into the East Face bowl off the Christmas Tree chair for the chance to straight line it in on a steep groomed run. Across its 1,650 acres, Sugar Bowl is also home to great groomers, so have a ball with the kids on long runs down Mt. Lincoln through the trees to Judah Lodge.
The pass situation: Adult day lift tickets must be purchased at least one day prior to arrival, and start at $98. Sugar Bowl is newly part of the Mountain Collective pass system.
Where to aprés, eat, and drink: You won’t find a big après scene or loads of dining options, but there's enough to satisfy any post-ski day itch. Go for craft beer at the Palisades Bar with killer views of the famously steep spines of the Palisades cliff faces, signature mac n’ cheese at the Mid Mountain Café & BBQ, and a California-style menu with extensive wines at the Dining Room at the Village Lodge.
Where to stay: The fact that there is only one hotel simply named Hotel speaks volumes to Sugar Bowl being a local’s mountain. But the recently remodeled hotel—just steps from the lifts—does the trick with comfy modern rooms that can accommodate up to six for Wednesday to Sunday stays. For more space, look to Airbnb or any number of home rental options with Donner Summit Lodging.
Diamond Peak Ski Resort
An underrated gem just minutes above Incline Village, Diamond Peak wins a spot on our list for its approachable family-friendly terrain backed by incredible views of Lake Tahoe. An easy 30-mile drive from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, small-but-mighty Diamond Peak comes in at 644 skiable acres, but those acres are generally uncrowded, easy going, and mindblowingly scenic, especially from the 8,540-foot summit. Another perk from its largely untrammeled slopes: A fresh-snow feeling and quality powder tend to stick around, even days after storm.
The pass situation: Adult day passes purchased online in advance will run you $130 on weekdays, $145 on weekends, and $155 on peak days. Plan to tack on $10 when you buy at the window.
Where to aprés, eat, and drink: Craft beers are the go-to for onsite après, whether at Diamond Peak’s Loft Bar or its mid-mountain Snowflake Lodge, where you should order a locally made Snowflake White IPA by Alibi Ale Works, which uses Lake Tahoe water in the brewing process. Better yet, head to Incline Village to Alibi’s Incline Public House for more of its brews alongside a Mediterranean Mezze board, beer brats, and weekly events from bingo and trivia nights to live bluegrass.
Where to stay: There are three hotel options along Diamond Peak’s shuttle route and the best is the lakefront Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino. Only a few minutes from the ski resort, the property has plenty to keep you occupied, including a heated outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, spa, casino, and the Lone Eagle Grill with a two-story stone fireplace, lake views, and a must-order chocolate spin on a Baked Alaska, the “Baked Tahoe.”
South Lake Tahoe
Heavenly Mountain Resort
Straddling both California and Nevada, skiers and riders can check off a lot of boxes at Heavenly, a favorite for Olympian and alpine skier Seba Johnson. The resort boasts the largest and tallest mountain in Lake Tahoe at 10,067 feet and arguably the best and most expansive views of the lake itself. Made for the European skier with mostly on-piste skiing (think groomers) and seriously fun intermediate runs, Heavenly offers superb tree skiing and plenty of opportunities to pop in and out of side-country terrain. You’ve also got a good chance for snowy slopes with one of the largest snowmaking operations around the lake. The best part: this Lake Tahoe ski resort is known for its low-key vibe. Basically, Heavenly is vast and well-equipped with something for everyone. It’s also easy to plan a carless vacation around; get there via a 50-minute shuttle ride from Reno-Tahoe International airport and take advantage of gondola access to several lodging and après options.
The pass situation: Day passes for non-peak days purchased in advance start at $151 on Heavenly’s site, or from $189 at the window ($225 on peak days). Heavenly participates with Epic Pass.
Where to aprés, eat, and drink: Popular après options with fire pits are at the ready in Heavenly Village at the base of the gondola. Nab a serious cocktail or hot toddy at Gun Barrel Tavern & Eatery, order the Thai curry tacos at Azul Latin Kitchen, or plan ahead if you want to eat at busy Base Camp Pizza. Casinos surround Heavenly, and, inside, spendy options worth a special night out include Gordon Ramsay's Hell’s Kitchen and the 19th-floor Sage Room steakhouse at Harveys Resort and Casino, Friday’s Station Seafood & Grill at Harrah’s, and Ciera Steak + Chophouse at Bally’s Lake Tahoe.
Where to stay: Lakefront luxury options are the way to go and you can do no better than the new Desolation Hotel, a boutique adventure resort with a pool, spa, and an ethos inspired by the namesake wilderness to the east. Its 21 units all come with indoor fireplace, kitchenette, and private balcony with a soaking tub. The secluded Landing Resort & Spa is a draw, too, if only for the 1,500-bottle wine vault at the onsite Jimmy’s Restaurant. South Lake Tahoe’s most well-known luxury hotel, the high-style Edgewood Tahoe Resort offers a range of accommodations from suites to new two- to five-bedroom lakefront villa suites, plus a shuttle to Heavenly and a ski rental delivery service.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Shredding the gnarly cliffs, chutes, and gladded terrain that define the majority of Kirkwood with its air-thinning summit elevation of 9,800 feet is a dream for extreme skiers. More specifically, the advanced and infamous Wall is the best place to check yourself on a wide open, choose-your-own-adventure steep, while Sentinel Bowl with the fattest skis you can tolerate is a blast on powder days. Newbies in the group need not fear. In fact, this tiny-but-mighty Lake Tahoe ski resort is a bit of a find; check out its solid learning area with great beginner lifts and an uncrowded magic carpet.
The pass situation: Day passes start at $116 when purchased online in advance, or from $145 (or $165 on peak days) at the window. Kirkwood participates with Epic Pass.
Where to aprés, eat, and drink: Options are limited near the resort but there’s one no-brainer. Founded over a century before the ski resort even opened, the cozy Kirkwood Inn has long been the place to après around a fire and a great bar. There’s also family-friendly Cornice Pizza, but you’ll generally need to hoof it 30-plus minutes from the resort for more of a scene.
Where to stay: Another go-to: The condo units at the ski-in ski-out Mountain Club, steps from Kirkwood Village and complete with kitchens for your own après soiree.
Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort
With just 47 trails, Sierra-at-Tahoe is a dark horse for the full days of extreme skiing it delivers across the front and back side of the mountain. Especially great on powder days, you can expect to pack in more runs than you’d ever dream of at more popular Lake Tahoe ski resorts. The Caldor Fie wildfire ravaged Sierra-at-Tahoe and its beloved terrain in September 2021; this winter will be its first full season since. Locals say it’s something about the energy here that is the draw, but now there’s new excitement in the air to see the changed resort come back to life.
The pass situation: You’ll save 40 percent on lift tickets purchased in advance, with prices starting at $86; at the window that looks like $135. Sierra-at-Tahoe is also on the Powder Alliance pass.
Where to aprés, eat, and drink: Midday you’ll want to hit the top of the mountain's 360 Smokehouse BBQ for St. Louis style ribs, followed by après micro brews and live music at the Sierra Pub above the Main Lodge. Ten minutes away in the town of Meyer, Divided Sky is worth the drive for a salmon kiva sandwich and freshly squeezed greyhounds.
Where to stay: On the south end of town, historic Camp Richardson offers rustic cabins and 27 lodge rooms plus snowshoeing on Lake Tahoe. Closer to the mountains, Black Bear Lodge is newly expanded with 22 additional rooms, a comfy mountain-style design, and fireplaces.
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