Heavenly Ski Resort Guide
Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe could not have a more incredible location. Divided across the states of California and Nevada, Ski Heavenly has panoramic views of Lake Tahoe in one direction and Nevada desert vistas in the other. A snowboarding trip to Heavenly is more than just incredible views though with Heavenly offering everything from steep tree-skiing, to two terrain parks, and some great family fun. This Heavenly Mountain ski resort review aims to give you all the information to make the best out of your trip to Heavenly.
HEAVENLY FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Arriving at Heavenly after the long drive from San Francisco I headed straight up for an afternoon of exploration. Taking the gondola from the Heavenly village on the California side I was first struck by stunning views across Lake Tahoe. I don’t think it is over the top to say this may just be the prettiest place I have ever snowboarded. Certainly, it would be up there with Cerro Catedral, Argentina, and the views from Coronet Peak in Queenstown. At the top of the gondola, there is a small beginner area and a lodge, but a quick ride up the Tamarack Express provides you with a dilemma.. to stay in California or head over to the Nevada side. Wherever you go you will be able to find; awesome tree runs, big bump lines, great groomers, and of course insane views!
HEAVENLY SKI AREA
Heavenly is the largest ski area in Lake Tahoe, around 800 acres larger than the popular Squaw Valley Resort. The amount of terrain is a fantastic pull for skiers and snowboarders to Heavenly, especially given how it serves all abilities of skiers and snowboarders.
There are dedicated beginner areas at both the California Lodge and the Tamarack Lodge which are both meeting places for the ski school. The slopes at Heavenly are particularly suited to intermediates who will make the most of the groomed terrain on both California and Heavenly side. The groomers at Heavenly are exceptional with High Five being a particular favorite.
If you want to avoid the crowds then the Nevada side certainly sees less traffic. Looking for more challenging terrain? You will not be disappointed! Heavenly has an expanse of exciting tree runs across the resort with Mott Canyon offering steep skiing in bounds. At Heavenly you will also find a lot of moguls and it seems that Heavenly skiers like their bumps big.
An iconic run down Gunbarrel at the end of the day will ensure the best views as well as sore legs! Heavenly ski resort offers the most vertical drop as well as the largest ski area in Lake Tahoe. Heavenly also has two terrain parks, both on the California side of the resort. You will find that the Groove and Remix Parks cater to different abilities but both are excellent. Groove Park has entry-level through to medium size features and is served by its own chairlift. Remix Park is home to the large jumps and rails.
LIFTS AT HEAVENLY
Heavenly ski resort has a modern system of 24 lifts across the resort, but they are not without fault. Let’s start with the positives, you have a choice of where you would like to access the mountain with three main uplift sites. California Lodge offers two options for uplifting, a tram and the Gunbarrel chairlift both take you to the top of Patsy’s run so you can start your day. Alternatively, you can take the gondola from Heavenly village which rises over 1000m to the Tamarack Lodge. If you are looking for a quieter start to your day consider heading to Nevada and Stagecoach lodge where you can uplift on the Stagecoach Express chair. Nevada side in general sees fewer crowds.
Once on the mountain, the modern lift system mainly consists of fast quad or six-seater chairs, although beware of the bottleneck at Sky Deck, with Sky and Canyon chairs having serious crowding on weekends.
One major negative about the lift system at Heavenly is that key chairs are prone to wind closures. This is common across many ski resorts but sadly it can really affect your day at Heavenly. If you park on the California side and ski over to Nevada before Dipper and Comet chairs close, you can then find yourself stranded across the state line.
If this occurs, Heavenly does not run its bus service between the two states so you could end up needing to pay for a taxi. The best advice is to pay attention to the weather and if in doubt stay on the side you park.
HEAVENLY SNOW RECORD
Heavenly ski resort receives an average of 9m snowfall throughout its winter season, which is plenty to keep the fun rolling well into April. Helped by its elevation and extensive snowmaking Heavenly does a pretty good job of maintaining snow quality throughout the season.
SEASON DATES
The ski season at Heavenly runs from late November until the third week of April with snow permitting. Nearby Squaw does have longer season dates with skiing possible into July!
HEAVENLY LIFT TICKETS
Buying a day pass for Heavenly isn’t cheap with prices above $100 per day. If you intend to ski at Heavenly book your multi-day pass in advance of your trip to secure a discount. I visited Heavenly as an Epic Pass Holder and found being an Epic Pass holder to be an affordable way to ski across many resorts. With an Epic Pass, you can also ski at nearby Kirkwood and Northstar.
TRAVEL TO HEAVENLY
WHERE IS HEAVENLY?
Heavenly ski resort is split between the states of Nevada and California and is located in South Lake Tahoe. To access Heavenly is easiest with self-drive car hire although shuttles are available from downtown San Francisco.
HOW TO GET TO HEAVENLY
INTERNATIONAL
If arriving internationally you will be best served to fly into San Francisco International Airport. From San Francisco, you can continue your journey by either taking an internal flight to Reno or take the 3-hour drive to South Lake Tahoe straight from San Francisco.
DOMESTIC
An internal flight to Reno will bring you to your closest access point to the South Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts, but realistically you will still require car hire to get you the 1.5hr from Reno to Heavenly ski area.
HEAVENLY ACCOMMODATION
At Heavenly you will find an array of accommodation options available. The unique opportunity to stay in a casino at a ski resort is possible here, but be wary of low room prices that may tempt you to spend your spare change in the slots. Alternatively, you can opt for a stay in condos, lodges, or motel-style accommodations.
SEARCH HEAVENLY ACCOMMODATION
HEAVENLY PROS
Heavenly Ski Resort has insane views that are unrivalled!
Heavenly Mountain’s modern lift system with various entry points to the mountain
Heavenly is a purpose-built town with a lively Apres scene.
Mott Canyon offers a great inbounds challenge with steeps and bumps accessible by Heavenly’s lift system
Heavenly Ski Resort has a really good beginner’s area.
HEAVENLY CONS
Lifts at Heavenly Ski Resort can close due to high winds, which can lead to you getting stranded and needing to find a way back across the Stateline.
Heavenly Mountain, like many US ski resorts, is incredibly expensive with budget options few and far between.
Heavenly gets way more crowds at peak times than nearby Kirkwood and Northstar.
HEAVENLY ACTIVITIES
Despite being a pretty epic ski resort at Heavenly there are many alternatives on and off-snow activities to take part in. Near Tamarack Lodge you will Adventure Peak, which has a mountain coaster and tubing hill. These activities are an additional cost to your ski lift ticket.
Near the resort, it is possible to take snowmobile tours, skate at the village ice rink, or see the latest films at Heavenly Cinema. A trip to Lake Tahoe is a must, with a walk along the beach possible as well as lake cruises or fishing excursions.
The Casinos at Heavenly provide entertainment with regular shows, nightclubs, and of course the casino floor itself. But don’t get sucked into spending too much time in the casinos. Heavenly Village has a number of really good restaurants and bars to explore.
HEAVENLY GALLERY
NEARBY SKI RESORTS
HEAVENLY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS HEAVENLY SKI RESORT GOOD FOR BEGINNERS?
Heavenly has a really good beginners area near the Tamarack Lodge and another at the California Lodge base area. Heavenly resort is mostly suited to intermediates but beginners will find it a good place to learn as they will find plenty of blue graded pistes to progress onto.
IS HEAVENLY A GOOD SKI RESORT?
Honestly, the simple answer is yes. I would struggle to find reasons other than price why people would not enjoy a trip to ski at Heavenly. The pistes are well maintained, the terrain parks are great, and the tree skiing is so much fun. Add to this the location and the views that Heavenly ski resort offers and it all adds up to being a fantastic ski resort.
HOW MUCH IS THE GONDOLA RIDE AT HEAVENLY?
Don’t panic, if you are at Heavenly to ski then the gondola price is of course included with your ski pass. If however, you are a foot passenger than the $50 sightseeing pass may seem a bit steep. This pass will allow you a return trip on the gondola from Heavenly village.
WHERE SHOULD I STAY WHILST STAYING AT HEAVENLY?
This question really depends on what you are in fact looking for from your ski holiday. I stayed at Econo Lodge as I was looking for the most budget option I could find. It was well placed to explore the village and for access to both California Lodge and the Heavenly Village gondola. It was actually much nicer than I was expecting as well and would stay again.
A lot of people I spoke to at Heavenly opted for casino accommodation to be in the thick of the action, alternatively, if you are looking for a quieter holiday then head to Nevada where the accommodation is cheaper and less in your face.
HEAVENLY FINAL THOUGHTS
Visiting Heavenly ski resort was a trip I had wanted to take for years and it did not disappoint. In California, you are spoilt for choice with a number of quality ski resorts but Heavenly is up there with the best. I would say for an all-round experience if you were looking for everything in one place then Heavenly is a good choice that will meet most people’s requirements from a ski holiday. For me, I would love to return if only to take in the Lake Tahoe view just once more.
GET IN TOUCH
Thanks for reading this Heavenly ski resort review and I hope it has answered many of your questions. I’ve given my opinion but I’d love to hear from you in the comments or via the socials. Have you been to Heavenly ski resort? What were your opinions? Are there better ski resorts in Lake Tahoe?
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