Skiing Reno - Lake Tahoe
Reno, Nevada, may seem an unlikely ski destination, but its close proximity to Lake Tahoe's numerous ski resorts—plus Mt. Rose—and its city features make it an ideal ski and snowboard spot.
Reno, Nevada, is no longer just a gambling and divorce destination. It's growing like crazy, and there's plenty to do-especially skiing and snowboarding.
Some 17 Lake Tahoe ski areas are reachable within an hour's drive of downtown Reno; add another 15 minutes to the trip and you get 18 ski area choices.
In a week—seven straight days of skiing and snowboarding——eleven ski writer pals and I managed to pretty much ski our way around the Reno-Tahoe area,hitting, among us, nine resorts. And, we had a grand time doing it.
Our ski resort visits included:
- Alpine Meadows
- Diamond Peak
- Heavenly Resort
- Homewood Mountain Resort
- Kirkwood
- Mt. Rose
- Northstar-at-Tahoe
- Sierra-at-Tahoe
- Squaw Valley USA
Some thoughts on the resorts in the order that we visited them:
Mt. Rose. Top notch skiing/riding 20 minutes from downtown Reno? Who knew?
Upside:
- uncrowded
- super steeps
- excellent novice area
- easy-going attitude
- ready access to Reno where the culture is rapidly expanding beyond gaming and divorce to sophisticated dining and an active arts community
Downside:
- not on Lake Tahoe
- no slopeside accommodations
- no day care
Northstar-at-Tahoe. With a new base village and more easily reached expert terrain, Northstar is developing into a major destination. We discovered that regulars ski/ride here when the winds blow because it's among the most wind-protected of the North Shore resorts.
Upside:
- great snow
- fine intermediate runs
- super terrain parks
Downside:
- traffic nightmare getting in and out on popular weekends and holidays
- dicey shuttle system
- no nightlife
Squaw Valley USA. The 1960 Olympic site still ranks among the country's big hitters. You can find incredible challenges off almost every lift, and the top-of-the-mountain novice area gives beginners a unique experience.
Upside:
- fantastic expert terrain
- $5 child's lift ticket
- enormous scale that disperses crowds
- unique novice area
Downside:
- wind susceptible
- terrain and size can be intimidating
- intermediate terrain can be overly challenging
Alpine Meadows. A classic with no slopeside development, Alpine has a doggedly loyal following. Although our guys skied it in a whiteout, they still had a ball.
Upside:
- super bowl skiing/riding
- excellent expert terrain
- good intermediate terrain
- low-key atmosphere
Downside:
- route to the bottom can be hectic and crowded
- limited green-rated trails
Diamond Peak. A hidden gem, to be sure, this "little" area (relative to its neighbors, that is) is family-friendly, low-key, and hides deceptively challenging trails.
Upside:
- uncrowded
- fantastic lake views
- super tree skiing that's not all for super experts
- a unique "last tracks" program with wine-tasting offered weekly
Downside:
- lack of frills may not satisfy some
- shorter runs
- limited terrain parks
- no day care
Homewood Mountain Resort. A forgotten spot, except among locals, it's much bigger than it looks, and new ownership has grand development plans.
Upside (according to colleagues):
- great general skiing/riding
- superb lake views
- fine family programs
- excellent intermediate and beginner terrain
- inexpensive
Downside:
- somewhat limited expert offerings
- too low-key for glamour hounds
- no slopeside lodging (for the present)
Heavenly Resort. One huge place, Heavenly holds anything and everything a destination resort can offer.
Upside:
- large scale means terrain for all
- good tree skiing for intermediates and above
- strong terrain parks
- set in the heart of busy Stateline-South Tahoe where dining and nightlife thrive
- Nevada side access means lower-key ambience
Downside:
- so big that you can spend much time getting from point-A to point-B
- can be crowded, especially on popular trails
Kirkwood. Famous for its backcountry access and backcountry-like in-bounds offerings, there's a full range of snowsliding here.
Upside:
- terrific expert terrain
- excellent backcountry skiing and programs to teach you how to handle it
- super kids' ski/ride school and programs
- excellent novice trails
- higher elevation can mean more and better snow
Downside:
- isolated
- limited dining and nightlife choices
- can be difficult to get to in bad weather
Sierra-at-Tahoe. A nifty place that's often overlooked, Sierra's range of offerings might surprise many.
Upside:
- trails universally follow the fall line; few cross-over runs
- excellent kids' programs, unique backcountry access and guiding program
- plentiful in-bounds tree skiing
- good grub at more reasonable prices than most ski areas
- strong commitment to terrain parks
- layout that's not too big or small but just right
Downside:
- no slopeside lodging
- can seem crowded
- shorter runs than some of the competition
