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
The copyright of the article Skiing Reno - Lake Tahoe in Winter Sports is owned by Mitch Kaplan. Permission to republish Skiing Reno - Lake Tahoe must be granted by the author in writing.