Winter Sports Guide

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Back to Lake Tahoe & Eastern SierraWinter Sports

Skiing & Snowboarding

With the largest concentration of ski resorts in North America, Lake Tahoe is California's best skiing destination. The ski season typically lasts from November to May and frequently extends into the summer. Lift tickets last winter ranged from $45 to $75 per day for adults, and from free to $39 for children, with special rates for seniors. Ticket prices rise every year, but bargains are available, particularly midweek. Many resorts, hotels, and motels offer ski packages. Contact the visitor centers to look for these values. The resorts offer instruction for adults and children, equipment rental, special courses for snowboarding, and restaurants. Most have free shuttles.

Cross-Country Skiing -- In addition to the major resorts, here are some other excellent establishments: Royal Gorge Cross-Country Ski Resort, Soda Springs, near Sugar Bowl (tel. 800/500-3871 or 800/666-3871; www.royalgorge.com), is one of the largest and best cross-country resorts anywhere, with 90 trails, including 28 novice trails and 4 ski lifts. For North Shore visitors, Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area, 925 Country Club Dr., Tahoe City (tel. 866/SKI-TXCC or 530/583-5475; www.tahoexc.org), is a small (14 trails), full-service ski center run by a nonprofit community group. A quiet, full-service ski center off the beaten path, Spooner Lake Cross Country Ski Area, near the intersection of Highway 28 and U.S. 50 on the East Shore (tel. 775/749-5349; www.spoonerlake.com), offers some of the most scenic skiing at the lake.

Ice-Skating

Accessible only by a tram ride up the mountain, Squaw Valley's High Camp (tel. 530/583-6985) has an ice rink that's open year-round, with one of the world's most beautiful views for a skating rink. On the North Shore there are also ice rinks at the Northstar-at-Tahoe resort (tel. 530/562-0321), and the Resort at Squaw Creek (tel. 800/327-3353). South Lake Tahoe has two rinks: the South Tahoe Ice Arena (1176 Rufus Allen Blvd.; tel. 530/542-6262), open year-round, and the Heavenly Village Ice Rink at Heavenly Village on Hwy 50 (tel. 530/543-1423; www.theshopsatheavenlyvillage.com).

Snowmobiling

Snowmobile rental and tours are available at several locations in the Lake Tahoe Area. Call ahead for reservations and directions. The Zephyr Cove Snowmobile Center, 760 U.S. 50, about 4 miles northeast of the casinos (tel. 800/23-TAHOE or 775/589-4908; www.laketahoesnowmobiles.com), offers several exciting tours daily for all experience levels. The cost for a 2-hour tour is about $109 for a single rider, $149 for two. Lake Tahoe Snowmobile Tours (tel. 530/546-4280; www.laketahoesnowmobiling.com) offers 90-minute to 4-hour backcountry tours from Brockway Summit, about 3 miles north of Kings Beach on Highway 267; prices start at $90 for one, $120 for two.

Snow Play

For snow play beyond the resorts, try the North Tahoe Regional Park, at the top of National Avenue off Highway 28, Tahoe Vista (tel. 530/546-0605). This ultimate snow-play hill charges a $5 fee for a choice of sled, tube, or saucer. Taylor Creek Snow Park off Highway 89 in South Lake Tahoe is run by the U.S. Forest Service. Bring your own equipment for sledding and tubing. For information about California Sno Park locations, call the Sno Park Hot Line at tel. 916/324-1222.