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?
RELATED HEAVENLY POSTS
Sun Peaks Ski Resort Guide
Sun Peaks is the second largest ski resort in Canada, not that you would assume this from its lack of crowds and laid-back village. Formerly known as Tod Mountain, Sun Peaks continues to undergo development in and around the village with the lift infrastructure also having recent upgrades. Sun Peaks has firmly placed itself amongst the top Canadian ski resorts. The Sun Peaks trails are shared across three separate peaks with runs in total.
SUN PEAKS FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Arriving at Sun Peaks for a winter season I was pleasantly surprised by the Village feel. The purpose built village, at the base of the slopes, has everything you would need at a ski resort. This felt convenient and much less aggravation then having to continually travel up and down from the mountain. The ski area itself is pretty impressive with plenty to keep you interested. The only thing really lacking from Sun Peaks is any teeth clenching terrain that could excite the more advanced skiers and snowboarders.
SUN PEAKS SKI AREA
Sun Peaks ski area has a good mixture of terrain to suit all abilities. This is part of the reason why some see Sun Peaks BC as a perfect family ski area. Split across three mountains; Mt Tod, Mt Morrisey and, Sundance Mountain, each has its own characteristics.
MT TOD
Mt Tod marks the highest point in the resort, with the highest lift the West Bowl T-Bar at 2080m. Mt Tod is home to some of the gnarlier terrain at Sun Peaks with ♦♦ Green Door leading into some pretty awesome glades. You will also find the Gil’s backcountry area at Mt Tod. The Gil’s is a dedicated sidecountry zone which can be great fun in the right conditions. The only downside to the Gil’s area is the long cat track back out. It is not all black diamond runs on Mt Tod, with the longest green also available here, 5 mile. 5 Mile is popular as it allows learners to leave the beginners area and head up to the top of the mountain. Lower Mt Tod has some fantastic groomed blue terrain, perfect for laying into those carves.
SUNDANCE MOUNTAIN
Sundance Mountain is home to some of the best intermediate runs in the resort with perfect groomers like Sundance and Sundowner. This area of the resort comes into its own with some brilliant trees for intermediates. Lone Fir West and Lone Fir Centre offer widely spaced trees on a mellow pitch. Sundance Mountain is also home to the terrain parks at Sun Peaks. There are three main parks that run underneath the Sundance chair, with the features increasing in size towards the base area.
MT MORRISEY
Mt Morrissey is sometimes neglected by visitors to Sun Peaks which is exactly why you should go there. Morrisey sits on the other side of the valley and for this reason alone some visitors cant be bothered to walk across the car park to get to it. This means Morrisey is the place to go when you want some time to yourself away from the weekend visitors. On Mt Morrissey you can find some big bumps on ♦♦In Tatters and ♦♦Static Cling or stick to the groomers that run underneath the Morrisey Express Chairlift.
SUN PEAKS SKI AREA BY ABILITY
BEGINNERS TERRAIN SUN PEAKS
Sun Peaks has two dedicated ski school areas in addition to a nursery slope for the really young starters. The carpet outside the ski school base will be the first place to take your turns before moving to the Village Platter. If you are up and running but not looking for anything too challenging, then Homesteader leading into the bottom of 5 mile is a great place to start.
INTERMEDIATE TERRAIN SUN PEAKS
There is intermediate terrain everywhere at Sun Peaks so just pick a lift and go. If you are wanting to stay on the groomed runs then Sundance Express, Morrissey Express and Sunburst Express chairs will all take you to perfect wide blue terrain. If you want to try your hand at some ♦ single black diamond terrain then ♦Sting could be a good place to start.
ADVANCED TERRAIN SUN PEAKS
Bowls and trees will be the places to go to ensure you are making the most of the advanced terrain at Sun Peaks. ♦♦Green Door ♦Hattrick and ♦Crystal Bowl are all good places to start. If you can deal with the slowest lift on the mountain, Burfield, then you have to check out ♦♦Freddy’s.
SUN PEAKS FREESTYLE TERRAIN
The terrain parks at Sun Peaks are all found on Sundance Mountain and effectively run underneath the Sundance Express which has its positives and negatives. Positive, it means you can scope your line from the chair and get quick laps. Negative, everyone can see you from the chair which can be off-putting if you are not a narcissist. What was nice about the freestyle terrain at Sun Peaks, is that the Park Crew regularly changed it up with new features throughout the winter.
LIFTS AT SUN PEAKS
There are seven chairlifts, three button lifts and two carpets at Sun Peaks. Recently installed Orient chairlift is a Quad chair that accesses some mellow terrain near the village. Morrisey Express Quad, Sundance Express and Sunburst Express are all fast Quad chairs with the Sunburst Express having the added benefit of a bubble! Elevation and Crystal chairlifts are both slow but over short distances so they do the job. Whereas Burfield chair is an enigma. Some people love it because it deters people from riding the runs on that side of the mountain, keeping it quiet. Other (and probably rightly so) would say it should be replaced as its 23 minute journey time is ridiculous.
SUN PEAKS SNOW RECORD
Sun Peaks receives an average snowfall of around 6m per season. In comparison to other resorts in BC this isn’t impressive (Revelstoke 14m, Shames Mountain 12m). What is impressive though is the quality of the snow with Sun Peaks receiving dry BC powder.
SUN PEAKS PISTE MAP
SEASON DATES
Sun Peaks season dates tend to run between a late November start and and early to mid April close. The snow quality is good throughout the season with lots of smaller snow showers rather than huge dumps. The ski lifts at Sun Peaks tend to run from 9:00 until 15:30 although the Sundance lift opens at 08:30.
SUN PEAKS LIFT TICKETS
Sun Peaks season passes cost $1200 Canadian on the early bird deal which is not bad value for the amount of terrain on offer. A daily lift pass will cost around $95 for an adult pass with multi-day discounts available.
TRAVEL TO SUN PEAKS
WHERE IS SUN PEAKS?
Sun Peaks is close to the town of Kamloops in British Columbia. Kamloops has an airport that is a 45 minute drive from the ski resort of Sun Peaks. The closest major city is Vancouver which is situated South West of Sun Peaks.
DRIVING TO SUN PEAKS
The road between Kamloops and Sun Peaks is pretty mellow by mountain road standards. Driving between Kamloops and Sun Peaks will take around 45 minutes. If you would prefer to take a shuttle, I highly recommend Mostly Mental Shuttles who I used throughout my stay at Sun Peaks.
PARKING AT SUN PEAKS
Sun Peaks has parking at the base area and at the bottom of Burfield Chair. Parking at Sun Peaks is free but overnight stays in the car park are prohibited. If you have accommodation in the village, they will have dedicated overnight parking.
HOW TO GET TO SUN PEAKS
INTERNATIONAL
To fly into Sun Peaks from outside of Canada you will need to get a connecting flight. Kamloops Airport has regular connections with the larger international airports in Vancouver and Calgary. You can also fly via Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton or Toronto into Kelowna Airport. Transfers from Kelowna will cost more as it is a further two hours from Sun Peaks.
SUN PEAKS ACCOMMODATION
The Village at Sun Peaks has lots of great hotels and lodges. During my time in Sun Peaks I spent time staying at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel, a four star hotel on the foot of the slopes. There are many accommodation options for different budgets at Sun Peaks including the Sun Peaks Hostel, and the Peaks Bed and Breakfast. Most of the accommodation is situated in the village a short walk from the slopes however the hostel is closer to the Burfield Chair.
The Sun Peaks Village is very clearly European inspired with buildings that would not look out of place in Austria or Switzerland.If you stay in the village the Main Street remains snow covered throughout winter ensuring it is possible to ski from your accommodation to the lifts.
Away from the village centre it is possible to stay in East Village. East Village consists of many private accommodation rentals, mainly self-catering condos or houses. East Village is even more convenient with the introduction of the Orion chairlift.
SUN PEAKS PROS
Sun Peaks is the second largest ski resort in Canada (over 4,000 acres) meaning there is plenty of terrain to keep you occupied.
Sun Peaks ski resort has a village feel with ski-in ski-out accommodation
Snow quality at Sun Peaks is brilliant with regular cover and top up dustings of snow.
Sun Peaks lift infrastructure is mostly modern and quick.
The Tree skiing at Sun Peaks is great with widely spaced trees around the whole mountain.
SUN PEAKS CONS
The Burfield Chairlift… please someone just rip that thing out
There is a lack of real expert terrain at Sun Peaks.
The cheaper accommodation (Sun Peaks Hostel) is a 2km walk from the village.
SUN PEAKS GALLERY
SUN PEAKS ACTIVITIES
Away from the ski lifts Sun Peaks has plenty to offer. The 30+ km of cross-country ski tracks double up as a fat-biking trail which is a fun alternative to being in the resort. The village itself has; an ice-rink, spa, outdoor pool and dog sledding in addition to a large tubing area near the village platter.
If you fancy the trip 45 minutes downhill into Kamloops, then a trip to watch the Kamloops Blazers ice-hockey team is a must. In Kamloops you will find more facilities, like large supermarkets or shopping centres that could help you during your trip.
SUN PEAKS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS SUN PEAKS GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Sun Peaks is excellent for beginners with two dedicated beginners areas and some nice long green trails. At Sun Peaks beginners can move around the whole mountain as there is green terrain accessible from most chairlifts. Beginners will enjoy 5 mile, a long run that winds its way from top to bottom of Mt Tod.
WHAT IS SUN PEAKS KNOWN FOR?
Sun Peaks is probably best known for its European style village that is perfectly placed to ensure visitors can make the most of its three mountain peaks. Sun Peaks refer to this as Sun Peaks 360 due to the 360 degrees of skiing that is possible from the village. It is also pretty call that it’s possible to ski down the Main Street in Sun Peaks to the chairlifts!
WHAT IS THE LONGEST RUN AT SUN PEAKS?
Out of the 137 trails at Sun Peaks 5-mile is the longest. Not surprisingly, this green trail is 5 miles (8km) long and can be found at the top of Mt Tod.
WHERE IN BC IS SUN PEAKS?
Sun Peaks closest major city is Kamloops a town with 83,000 residents. Sun Peaks is a 45 minute drive to the North of Kamloops down the mountain road. Sun Peaks location close to Kamloops makes a trip to see the local ice hockey team, Kamloops Blazers, popular amongst guests.
HOW BIG IS SUN PEAKS RESORT?
As the second largest skiable area Sun Peaks boundary covers 4,270 acres of skiable terrain split across three mountains; Mt Tod, Sundance Mountain, and Mt Morrisey. The layout of Sun Peaks ensures crowds (if there are any) are spread out around the resort keeping lift queues to a minimum.
DOES SUN PEAKS HAVE NIGHT SKIING?
Yes, but don’t get too excited. Night skiing at Sun Peaks is an infrequent occurrence and involves the lighting of the two green slopes at the Village Platter chairlift. There is access to the lower terrain park with small features. I would love to see Sun Peaks light up Sundance Mountain for night skiing. The terrain on that mountain is perfect and would make a great addition to night-skiing.
SUN PEAKS APRÈS SKI
In general, Sun Peaks is a quiet village but there are some decent bars if you do want to dance the night away. At the base of the slopes you will find Bottoms. Check out Bottoms for their happy hour and a Canadian staple.. Poutine. As the evening gets later Bottoms changes from restaurant feel to nightclub with regularly hosted special events and DJ sets. Morrisey’s Bar in the village hosts an open mic night which is where some of the resort locals come to share their musical talent. If open mic isn’t your thing then head out back to the Morrisey’s games room, a great way to meet other people and challenge for the pool table.
GET IN TOUCH
Thanks for reading this Sun Peakls ski resort guide 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 Sun Peaks ski resort? How does Sun Peaks compare to other BC ski resorts?
SUN PEAKS SKI RESORT INFO
RELATED SUN PEAKS POSTS
Marmot Basin Ski Resort Guide
Marmot Basin near the town of Jasper in Alberta, is a ski resort inside the beautiful Jasper National Park. The area surrounding Marmot is filled with great views and landscapes that you won’t tire off. Much quieter than the resorts of Banff, Marmot Basin is a weekend ski destination for the locals in Edmonton. This means Monday- Friday you can feel alone at Marmot and that is not a bad thing. The lack of crowds can mean that fresh tracks can last for a couple of days following new snowfall, especially if you are prepared to hike for it.
MARMOT BASIN FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Having spent my first winter season at Marmot Basin it feels like a home from home for me. Arriving into the town of Jasper the locals were incredibly welcoming and I enjoyed my stay there. The Jasper in January celebrations were great as the whole town comes out. If you can plan your trip for this period I would recommend it. You will also receive discounts on lift tickets and lodging during this time. It is noticeable how cold it can be skiing or snowboarding at Marmot Basin and during January the lifts were shut for a few days due to the low temperatures. Come prepared, be sensible and you will have an awesome time.
MARMOT BASIN SKI AREA
Marmot has one of the highest base areas in Canada at 1698m. This helps not only maintain a high quality of snow but also ensures a longer season(November- May). With over 900m of vertical drop and 91 runs, including the new Tres Hombres area, Marmot is big enough to keep everyone happy.
The terrain is varied at Marmot with mellow beginner terrain accessible from the top of Eagle Ridge and the Canadian Rockies Express chairs meaning that first timers can still explore the mountain. For those wanting more challenge head to Eagles East which has lots of great double black diamond terrain. Hikes to Cornice and Peak Run are both well worth the effort and the views from the top breathtaking.
From a personal stand point, this was a fantastic resort for teaching at with a split of runs fairly even between beginner, intermediate and advanced trails. As a result, Marmot is therefore a fantastic place to learn or progress your riding. Marmot has two terrain parks, a beginner park with small rail and box features and a main park with a progression to larger jumps and rails.
Marmot Basin has 7 chairlifts with the Canadian Rockies Express being the fastest lift taking you from the base area. The Knob chair is slower but accesses some of the best terrain on the mountain so is well worth waiting for. The beginners slope School House has its own chair making sure life easy for never evers.
MARMOT BASIN SKI AREA BY ABILITY
BEGINNERS TERRAIN MARMOT BASIN
Marmot Basin is a fantastic resort to learn at. The Marmot Basin Ski School has two dedicated areas for beginners lessons. The Magic Carpet, next to the ski school base, and the School House Chair, a dedicated area with a few green trails; School House, Tranquilizer and Home Run. One real advantage of learning to ski and snowboard at Marmot Basin is that green terrain can be accessed even at the highest points of the mountain. This means that as a beginner you are not restricted to one area and can explore the who hill. Basin Run from the top of the Canadian Rockies Express Chair is a must for beginners.
INTERMEDIATE TERRAIN MARMOT BASIN
Marmot has plenty to offer intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Some nice groomed blue trails are available from the top of the Canadian Rockies Express Chair, whereas there are plenty of nice single black diamonds to progress onto. Highway 16 and Show Off are fantastic groomers when the conditions are right with lots of fun to be found of the Knob Chair and in the Bowls after fresh snow.
ADVANCED TERRAIN MARMOT BASIN
There is some really good advanced terrain at Marmot Basin. Eagles East was certainly an area I loved with a number of really interesting routes back down to the Eagle Express Quad. The top of Eagles East essentially is a ridge where you can drop in where you fancy. The glades in this area are also really fun. If you don’t mind a hike, then a trip to Cornice and the Marmot Peak are well worth the effort. The recently opened Tres Hombres area and Caribou Knoll are great places to go in search of freshies.
MARMOT BASIN FREESTYLE TERRAIN
Marmot Basin has two terrain parks. There is a mini rail park at mid mountain, which has a mixture of small rails and boxes that are mostly ride on. The main terrain park is near the base of the resort and has various lines to follow. The large terrain park is normally laid out with a medium to large jump line and other combinations of rails and boxes.
LIFTS AT MARMOT BASIN
Marmot basin has six chair lifts and a magic carpet. The lift infrastructure at Marmot Basin is a mixture of old and new, with the Canadian Rockies Express being the premium lift. The Canadian Rockies Express transports skiers and snowboarders from the base to the second highest lift accessed point in 8 minutes. The Eagle Express, Paradise and Eagle Ridge Chairs are all Quads with the Knob Chair being a slow double.
MARMOT BASIN SNOW RECORD
Marmot basin’s snow record isn’t anything to rave about with on average only 3m of the fresh stuff falling each winter. What makes Marmot stand out is its location, guaranteeing cold conditions and good quality snow and also low footfall. Marmot can feel like a mountain you have to yourself Mon-Fri which equates to less competition for first tracks.
MARMOT BASIN PISTE MAP
SEASON DATES
Marmot Basin has a long season lasting between November and May. The conditions at Marmot are particularly cold, especially throughout January and February.
MARMOT BASIN LIFT TICKETS
For up to date information on the Marmot Basin lift passes follow this link.
TRAVEL TO MARMOT BASIN
WHERE IS MARMOT BASIN?
Marmot Basin is located near the town of Jasper in the Jasper National Park. Getting to Marmot isn’t a short journey but the Icefields Parkway is one of the most scenic roads to drive down. You will not regret the commute.
DRIVING TO MARMOT BASIN
Driving to Marmot is an experience in itself. The Icefields Parkway has been voted amongst the top 10 scenic drives in the world. The road from Lake Louise to Jasper certainly makes it worth the effort of driving past the Banff resorts.
As Marmot Basin is located within the boundary of Jasper National Park you will need to pay to enter the park.
PARKING AT MARMOT BASIN
Marmot Basin has 4 parking lots on the hill which is free and on a first come first served basis. The layout of Marmot allows you to ski back to your car throughout the day if necessary to pick up that extra layer or maybe some snacks!
HOW TO GET TO MARMOT BASIN
INTERNATIONAL
The closest international airports to Jasper at Edmonton (229m) and Calgary (251m). Coming from Europe there are more likely to be affordable flights into Calgary.
From both Calgary and Edmonton tour operators offer transfers to Jasper. I used SUNDOG
MARMOT BASIN ACCOMMODATION
There is no in resort accommodation at Marmot Basin with the majority of guests staying in nearby Jasper. Personally I stayed at the Whistlers Inn which had the benefit of a rooftop hot tub with mountain views. In Jasper you will find everything from hostels to luxury lodge style accommodation.
MARMOT BASIN PROS
Marmot Basin is a quiet ski resorts where you will rarely see crowds. I spent a season riding at Marmot and barely remember a lift line.
Marmot Basin is perfect for beginners who can explore the whole mountain on green terrain
Marmot Basin’s Eagles East area offers plenty of ungroomed terrain, chutes, drops, and glades for advanced riders to enjoy.
Marmot Basin has a longer ski season than most ski resorts.
Driving to Jasper and Marmot Basin is an experience in itself.
MARMOT BASIN CONS
Marmot Basin gets incredibly cold in January. Make sure to ride with a friend and watch out for frost nip.
With no on site accommodation at Marmot Basin you will need to commute from Jasper on a daily basis. Marmot Basin shuttles are available on a regular schedule and car parking is available at the resort.
MARMOT BASIN GALLERY
MARMOT BASIN ACTIVITIES
Activities at Marmot Basin will all happen away from the resort and back in or around Jasper. Walking in Maligne Canyon is an awesome winter experience. The Ice Walk at Maligne Canyon takes you deep into the canyon surrounded by tall walls of ice. A similarly epic winter experience is ice skating on Pyramid Lake. There are two ice-rinks available in Jasper itself, but what is more Canadian then heading to a frozen lake for a skate. Back in the town there is a cinema, curling, and a number of bars / pubs to while away the evening hours.
MARMOT BASIN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS MARMOT BASIN GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Marmot Basin is an excellent ski resort for beginners to visit. The dedicated learning area at School House offers the perfect gradient to perfect those turns. The real benefit of learning at Marmot is the ability to ski from the top of the mountain via green trails. This means that once beginners are feeling confident they can explore the whole hill.
IS MARMOT BASIN A MOUNTAIN?
Marmot Basin ski area is located across four mountain faces. There is 3000ft of vertical drop at Marmot Basin with the highest point being 8,570ft (2,612m)
HOW FAR IS MARMOT BASIN FROM JASPER?
Marmot Basin ski resort is a 20km drive South of the town of Jasper, AB. There are a number of daily shuttles that run between Jasper and Marmot Basin.
WHAT TIME DO THE LIFTS RUN AT MARMOT BASIN?
9:00 - 16:00 with the exception of School House chair which runs until 16:30.
DO YOU NEED A PARK PASS TO GO TO MARMOT BASIN?
Yes, Marmot Basin is within the Jasper National Park so you will need a valid park pass if you are driving to Marmot Basin.
GET IN TOUCH
Thanks for reading this Marmot Basin ski resort guide 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 Marmot Basin ski resort? What were your opinions? Which is your favourite Alberta ski area?
MARMOT BASIN SKI RESORT INFO
CARE TO SHARE?
IF YOU FOUND THIS POST USEFUL AND YOU THINK IT MAY ALSO HELP OTHERS, PLEASE LIKE, SHARE AND COMMENT TO PROMOTE IT TO OTHERS
RELATED MARMOT POSTS
Killington Ski Resort Guide
Aptly named the ‘Beast of the East’, Killington ski resort is spread across 7 mountain areas. One area, Killington Peak reaches 4,241 ft making it the second highest point in the state. This all alludes to the fact that Killington has masses of terrain which will keep the family happy not just all week, but all season. New England’s largest ski resort, Killington, also opens earlier and closes later than all other East Coast ski resorts.
KILLINGTON FIRST IMPRESSIONS
One of my first experiences at Killington was sitting on the Snowshed Express Quad whilst it had broken down, luckily this was the only set back to my trip. Killington impressed as a resort, with extensive infrastructure, good grooming and a really good ski school. Killington is renowned for is après ski and nightlife which make the area around the base lively.
KILLINGTON SKI AREA
If you are looking for more terrain than any other East Coast ski area, well Bingo, Killington is that mountain. Looking at the stats Killington ski area is huge. Spread across 7 peaks, with Killington Peak (1293m) the highest point, there is 929m of vertical drop. A Killington lift pass allows skiing and snowboarding at both Killington and Pico Mountains. Combined these ski areas offer 1,977 acres of skiable terrain across 213 trails. There are 155 trails at Killington resort with the majority being either intermediate (40%) or advanced (43% terrain).
Killington is located just seven miles from Pico Mountain, a locals favourite, which is included with your Killington lift tickets.
KILLINGTON SKI AREA BY ABILITY
BEGINNERS TERRAIN KILLINGTON
There are two obvious learning zones at Killington; Sunrise Mountain and Snowshed. Snowshed has two lifts; Snowshed Express Quad and Snowshed Double, that access a few green slopes. Snowshed slope is wide but can become busy during peak times. The area at Sunrise mountain is serviced by the Sunrise Village Triple Chair. This area has a few gentle greens that lead back to the chair.
INTERMEDIATE TERRAIN KILLINGTON
From Killington Peak, intermediates will love taking the long Solitude blue run around the boundary of Killington ski resort. There are plenty of blues at Skye Peak and also on Snowdon Mountain that will keep intermediates interested. If you feel the need to push yourself further, my first black diamond was Superstar.
ADVANCED TERRAIN KILLINGTON
Killington has plenty to offer challenge to the advanced skiers and snowboarders who visit the 7 peaks. The glades at Devil’s Den and Growler on Bear Mountain offer plenty of fun. Killington Peak comes into its own with some aptly named Double Blacks; Flume, Double Dipper and Flume.
FREESTYLE TERRAIN KILLINGTON
Killington ski area has partnered with Woodward to produce some of the best freestyle terrain on the East Coast. The Stash offers features made out of natural materials, whereas Bear Mountain is also home to the Half-Pipe. Ramshead Mountain is where you will find the majority of freestyle terrain with everything from the Family Cross adventure zone to the Olympic Athlete (Red Gerard) inspired Red’s Backyard.
LIFTS AT KILLINGTON
Killington has an excellent lift infrastructure with 21 lifts in total. Three gondolas cover the largest journeys in the resort, with the K-1 Express heading up to Killington Peak and accessing some of the double black diamond terrain. Furthermore, there is a collection of Quads, Triples, Doubles, and even a six person chair.
KILLINGTON SNOW RECORD
Despite being on the East Coast of the USA, often known for having more ice then fresh snow, Killington averages 250 inches of snowfall every winter. Thats 6.35m of natural snowfall, more than resorts like Verbier in Europe. Further to the natural stuff, Killington has extensive snowmaking that ensures the 250 snow guns can blast out 12 inches of snow in a 24 hour period. If you are looking to visit Killington when the conditions are at their best, the most snow tends to fall in February and March with 55in and 57in averages respectively.
KILLINGTON PISTE MAP
SEASON DATES
Killington not only has one of the longest ski seasons on the East Coast but one of the longest in the whole of North America. Killington will open, snow dependent, in late October or early November and run well into May. Some really good snow years have ensured the lifts have been able to turn on Superstar into June.
KILLINGTON LIFT TICKETS
Killington charge $165 for a daily ticket if bought at full-price on the day. Luckily for all of us reading this, we are not that silly and like to plan a little in advance. Advanced tickets will always get you the lowest price and further discounts are available when purchasing a multi-day ticket.
An adult season pass will set you back $1479 but again booking early could save you over $400! You can also ski and ride at Killington and nearby Pico mountain on the IKON Pass with 7 days access.
TRAVEL TO KILLINGTON
WHERE IS KILLINGTON?
Killngton ski resort has been popular with the weekend crowds travelling up from New York or Boston a 4/5 or 3 hour drive respectively. Killington’s location in the South of Vermont has made it a mainstay of the two cities with substantial visitors making use of the good transport links.
DRIVING TO KILLINGTON
Killington is ideally located close to both I-89 and I-91.
PARKING AT KILLINGTON
Killington has three base areas at which is possible to park; K-1 Lodge, Snowshed Lodge and Ramshead Lodge. All of the base areas offer free-parking so choose the one that best suits your needs. For all relevant parking information check here.
INTERNATIONAL
International visitors will most likely arrive into either New York or Boston and then need to make their way to Killington. Car rental is advised as Greyhound or Megabus journeys are long!
KILLINGTON PROS
Killington has more terrain than other East Coast Ski Resorts
Killington ski area is spread out across 7 peaks so you can find a space away from the crowds.
Killington has good lift infrastructure
Killington gets a decent amount of natural snowfall, over 6m!
Killington ski resort lift tickets also allow access at nearby Pico Mountain Resort.
The freestyle terrain at Killington is quality!
KILLINGTON CONS
$165 for a Killington day ticket seems steep!
The East Coast can serve up some icy and cold conditions.
Killington ski area is a good 3/4 hour drive from international airports!
KILLINGTON GALLERY
KILLINGTON FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS KILLINGTON A GOOD SKI RESORT?
Killington has terrain to suit all abilities making it a great option for everyone. As a large ski resort Killington has lots to offer both on and off the snow with a renowned Après scene. East Coast resorts can get icy but Killington has a better snow record than other East Coast ski resorts. The infrastructure at Killington, including the snow-making is modern and can help during lean periods without snowfall.
IS KILLINGTON GOOD FOR BEGINNERS?
My first ever week skiing was at Killington and I had a great time. With no prior experience I started in the designated beginners area at Snowshed but soon progressed across the whole mountain. With a number of lifts that just service the beginners terrain and some magic carpets, beginners have plenty to get them started. My experience of the ski school at Killngton was very positive.
CAN YOU SKI FROM KILLINGTON TO PICO?
There are no interconnecting trails between Killington and Pico. You can however take a shuttle or self-drive between the two resorts.
IS KILLINGTON GOOD FOR KIDS?
Killington ski resort has plenty to offer away from the trails. Obviously, skiing and snowboarding is the main reason to visit but if your kids fancy a break why not head to the tubing park? There is also dogsledding, ice-skating and a cinema to keep the family occupied.
IS KILLINGTON ON THE IKON PASS?
At Killington you receive 7 days of skiing with an IKON PASS. These days are shared between Killington and Pico mountains.
GET IN TOUCH
Thanks for reading this Killington ski resort guide 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 Killington ski resort? What were your opinions? Are there better ski resorts on the East Coast?
CARE TO SHARE?
IF YOU FOUND THIS POST USEFUL AND YOU THINK IT MAY ALSO HELP OTHERS, PLEASE LIKE, SHARE AND COMMENT TO PROMOTE IT TO OTHERS
RELATED KILLINGTON POSTS
Northstar Ski Resort Guide
Northstar Ski Resort has everything you would expect from a destination ski area. Located north of Lake Tahoe in California, the Northstar ski area is owned by Vail resorts, therefore, is accessible using the Epic Pass. The resort and village are upmarket with a plethora of facilities to keep all the family entertained. Whether it is laps of the terrain park or the ice rink, Northstar California is guaranteed to be perfect for your family ski trip.
NORTHSTAR FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Arriving at Northstar and parking in one of the free car parks, you are transported to the village via a free shuttle bus. One thing of note was the driver spoke over a speaker, detailing what terrain was open and the forecast for that day and week. I thought that was a nice touch and something I have not noticed when visiting other ski areas.
When in the village you can see that the set-up at Northstar is first class. The village is clean and well-maintained, with a number of obvious facilities; ski rentals, shops, cafes, and the gondola. The gondola takes you from the village to the base of the Vista Express and the Tahoe Zephyr Express. Although you can ski back down to the village and the gondola base, the majority of the skiing is found above these two lifts.
Riding the Vista Express you get a pretty decent overview of the freestyle terrain managed by Northstar Park and Pipe crew. My last impression is just how much terrain is dedicated to the terrain parks at Northstar. This is a real USP for Northstar with features to suit skiers and snowboarders who are beginners all the way through to expert freestyle riders.
NORTHSTAR SKI AREA
Northstar ski resort is pretty big with nearly 100 runs, although its vertical drop of 695m can be considered fairly modest. There is nothing particularly gnarly at Northstar ski resort, which I think is why they have focussed on terrain parks to draw the advanced crowd.
There are three areas to the Northstar California ski resort; Mt Pluto, Backside, Lookout Mountain
MT PLUTO
Mt Pluto is accessible from the village Gondola and is where you will find the beginner trails in addition to the blue trails and terrain parks. The beginner trails, lead back to the village which is a nice way to end the day. The blue trails on Mt Pluto are groomed wide pistes, perfect for skiers and snowboarders who are ready to explore more of the mountain. You will also find the terrain parks on Mt Pluto. This is Northstar Resort’s main selling point. There are nine parks, including the pipe and being home to Burtons, The Stash. The stash is a terrain park made out of natural features, such as tree rides.
BACKSIDE
The backside is where you will find the majority of Northstars steeper terrain. There are some nice glades on the backside which make for some interesting tree skiing but nothing in comparison to Heavenly. The runs, as with all of Northstar, are pisted and well-maintained. Some may argue that some terrain on the Backside of Northstar should be left ungroomed.
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN
Lookout Mountain similar to The Backside has mostly single black diamond terrain serviced by one chairlift, the Martis Camp Express. The chair is named after Martis Camp a member-only lodge that sits adjacent to the lifts. One long blue, Washoe, also runs down to the base of Lookout Mountain.
With less skiable terrain than nearby Epic Pass partner Heavenly, Northstar has had to flex to secure the advanced ability guests. With little in the way of natural features for this crowd, Northstar Park and Pipe set up has been given the run of Mt Pluto with nine terrain parks to really draw the freestyle crowd. Given the success of events such as slopestyle at the recent winter Olympics, this is a shrewd move.
NORTHSTAR SKI AREA BY ABILITY
BEGINNERS TERRAIN NORTHSTAR
There are a handful of beginner runs at Northstar with the majority close to the gondola and the village. Village run, a mellow green, is a nice way to end the day by riding back into the main village. There is enough to keep never evers interested whilst learning their first turns, and a returning beginner will be excited by the amount of blue terrain they could progress onto.
INTERMEDIATE TERRAIN NORTHSTAR
Northstar can be considered an intermediates mountain. There are so many nice pisted runs across the whole mountain. The terrain on Mt Pluto is mostly blue with the odd single black diamond thrown in. Both the backside and Lookout Mountain have plenty of single black diamond runs with some interesting tree skiing to be found.
ADVANCED TERRAIN NORTHSTAR
Northstar has some interesting riding on the Backside of the resort. Here you can find some of the steeper groomers as well as some decent tree-skiing. If you catch the conditions right, these trees can be a lot of fun. The terrain parks at Northstar Ski Resort cater for advanced skiers and snowboarders with some pretty hefty features. The halfpipe sits in a prominent position near the Vista chair and there are a number of large kickers and rail features. No wonder Northstar Park and Pipe is so popular.
LIFTS AT NORTHSTAR
Northstar ski resorts lift system is modern and efficient. Really nothing else should be expected from a resort that charges $200+ for a day ticket. The lifts are quick and include two gondolas and 7 express chair lifts.
NORTHSTAR SNOW RECORD
Northstar is blessed with an average of 9m of snowfall per season! When you throw in the number of sunny days that Californian ski resorts tend to receive then that makes for a winning combination. There is also extensive snow-making at Northstar which is fantastic for the resort if there is a lean winter.
NORTHSTAR PISTE MAP
SEASON DATES
Due to the plentiful snow record and the substantive snowmaking at Northstar, the season is able to run from around mid-November through to the end of April.
NORTHSTAR LIFT TICKETS
Ok, so this is not a typo. A day ticket at Northstar is around $209! That’s extortionate. Luckily, early booking, online booking and multi-day discounts can be applied to that. When you consider that buying a Tahoe Local Pass via Epic Pass can be done for under $500, it is nonsensical to purchase a day pass at Northstar. Plan ahead to make the most of your trip to Northstar.
NORTHSTAR VIDEOS
TRAVEL TO NORTHSTAR
WHERE IS NORTHSTAR?
Northstar ski resort in California is North of Lake Tahoe just 4 miles from Truckee Airport. You can access Truckee for International airports, with San Francisco being a popular connection point. Similarly, Reno International airport is a short 40-minute drive from Northstar so offers a great access point.
DRIVING TO NORTHSTAR
Due to the amount of snow that falls around Tahoe it is sensible to keep an eye on the road information. You can find your latest travel information here and cameras here.
PARKING AT NORTHSTAR
Parking at Northstar is free at the Village View and Castle Peak car parks. The Village View car park is closer to the village and therefore the gondola. Castle Peak car park is closer to the main road as you enter Northstar ski area. Both car parks are serviced by free shuttle buses that take you to the village.
Paid parking is available in the village which is adjacent to the gondola. The cost is $20 during the week or $40 on the weekends.
HOW TO GET TO NORTHSTAR
INTERNATIONAL
If like me you are arriving from outside North America then you will probably find it cheaper and easier 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. It is also possible to fly into Sacramento and but you will have to connect via another US airport.
DOMESTIC
An internal flight to Reno or Truckee Airports will bring you to your closest access point to the Northstar ski resort. Reno offers a more regular schedule but is further away from Northstar.
NORTHSTAR ACCOMMODATION
Northstar has its own village at the base. This is an ideal place to stay if you want to have all the convenience of a resort ski holiday. More affordable accommodation can be found nearby in Truckee or close to Kings Beach North Lake Tahoe.
NORTHSTAR PROS
The terrain park set up at Northstar is insane. There is a whole side of the mountain dedicated to freestyle with features to suit all abilities. This is a real draw as to why people would visit Northstar.
The Village at Northstar is purpose-built, with everything you would need to make the most of your ski trip to Lake Tahoe.
Northstar would be a great choice of ski resort for a family ski trip. There is a really calm vibe, without the wild apres scene. The Northstar ice rink is just one of the potential evening activities for children and adults.
There is a fast lift system at Northstar. The Vista Express chair accesses the freestyle terrain and guarantees a quick lap. The Northstar gondola from the village is an efficient way to reach the main ski area.
Cruising blues? Intermediates will appreciate the nice wide pistes at Northstar. There are a number of single black diamond runs that will allow intermediates to progress further.
Contentious, but the Epic Pass makes Northstar affordable as a day visitor. I visited as day trips from my base in South Lake Tahoe. This meant more affordable lodging, and lift pass already included with Heavenly and Kirkwood on the Epic Pass.
NORTHSTAR CONS
Northstar is pricey. A stay in the village will hurt your wallet. Everything at Northstar is expensive. Whether it is lodging or lift tickets, food or facilities, you can be sure to spend a buck or two.
Northstar is fantastic and has a great reputation. Sadly this means crowds during peak weeks and weekends.
Northstar is missing the really gnarly terrain. It has a good area for tree skiing on the backside, but nothing to really get the heart pumping.
NORTHSTAR GALLERY
NORTHSTAR ACTIVITIES
The centrepiece of Northstar village is the ice rink. Within a stone’s throw of the slopes, it is possible to swap your ski boots for ice skates. Popular with families. the ice rink is surrounded by tables where those who would prefer to sit and watch with an apres pint may feel more comfortable. There are a number of fit pits to keep you warm as your family and friends skate the night away.
The Northstar Village is home to a number of shops and boutiques. At my time of visiting, there were a number of brand outlets such as; The North Face and Burton. If shopping isn’t your thing, then why not head out on a dog sled tour, go to the tubing run, or hit the cross-country ski trails.
NORTHSTAR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS NORTHSTAR GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Northstar ski school has an excellent reputation and is a fantastic place to learn to ski or snowboard. There is nothing too steep or daunting at Northstar so beginners should feel comfortable exploring the mountain.
WHEN DOES NORTHSTAR OPEN?
Although this date will change year on year and be dependent on snow conditions, Northstar normally opens towards the end of November.
WHICH IS BETTER HEAVENLY OR NORTHSTAR?
Ultimately this comes down to opinion. Heavenly is the largest resort in Tahoe and therefore offers more terrain. If my only goal was to ride in a terrain park I would head to Northstar as their set up is insanely good. Beginners will also appreciate Northstar for the mellow terrain and less traversing around the mountain. Overall, I believe that Heavenly is a better mountain. There is more expert terrain and areas like Mott Canyon are so much fun. The Village at Northstar is more compact, whereas Heavenly has larger-scale hotel options.
IS HEAVENLY OR NORTHSTAR BETTER FOR BEGINNERS?
There is more mellow terrain at Northstar and less scary intermediate terrain. If I was learning I would choose to head to Northstar. There are a few nice dedicated beginner areas at Heavenly on both California and Nevada side. I feel that Northstar is a more navigatable mountain and this would factor into my decision making as a beginner.
WHO OWNS NORTHSTAR?
Northstar was bought by Vail Resorts for a huge $63million! This purchase brought Northstar into the Epic Pass family and means pass holders can ride for free at Heavenly, Kirkwood and a number of other US and world ski resorts.
HOW LONG ARE THE RUNS AT NORTHSTAR?
Obviously, the runs will vary in length but the longest run at Northstar is 2.6miles long. Northstar has 675m of vertical drop meaning that you can combine a number of runs from the summit of Mt Pluto to the village for a longer run.
IS NORTHSTAR GOOD FOR SNOWBOARDING?
Northstar California is a great mountain to snowboard on. The terrain parks and the widely spaced tree runs make Northstar incredibly snowboarder friendly. There are no long traverses and the mountain is serviced by a number of fast lifts.
GET IN TOUCH
Thanks for reading this Northstar ski resort guide 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 Northstar ski resort? What were your opinions? Are there better ski resorts in Lake Tahoe?
RELATED NORTHSTAR POSTS
Kirkwood Ski Resort Guide
Kirkwood California is probably the best ski resort you have never heard of. A real locals mountain tucked away from the crowds of South Lake Tahoe, Kirkwood is one for your ski and snowboard bucket list. With an incredible snow record and some impressively challenging terrain Kirkwood excels in pretty much every area.
Since joining the Epic pass revolution Kirkwood is growing in popularity and there are a number of locals who don’t like that. The resort is changing both in regards to facilities and popularity and before long I am sure that Kirkwood will cement it’s place as a must visit US ski resort. There is a purpose built village at the base of Kirkwood with lodging, restaurants, and bars. There are a number of newer accommodations being developed within a short walk of the lifts.
Despite all the developments, Kirkwood remains laid back. The lifts are slow but that’s ok because your legs will need the time to recover. I was drawn to Kirkwood to snowboard on ‘The Wall’ a popular run accessed by the famous number 10 chair. But in reality I enjoyed riding around the whole resort. From outstanding tree runs, perfect pistes, and big bumps Kirkwood is an all-rounder.
KIRKWOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Turning into Kirkwood the goosebumps had already started. Snow was falling and there were only a few cars in the car park. Walking through the village there was a calm to the place. No one was rushing, despite the fact that it was a powder day and the lifts were about to start turning. I guess the locals knew there was enough to go around.
KIRKWOOD SKI AREA
Kirkwood Ski Resort is blessed with some pretty awesome terrain. 80+ trails offer plenty of variety and ensure there is always something new to ride. The terrain is heavily biased in favour of expert skiers or snowboarders however there is a designated beginners area and some fun intermediate terrain. Kirkwood has everything an expert skier or snowboarder would want with wide bowls and fantastic tree skiing. There are a number of natural terrain features such as cornices and couloirs to keep things interesting.
The frustrating thing about Kirkwood ski resort is the lift system. There are 13 lifts but only a few actually access the highest terrain on the mountain. Chair 4, 6 and 10 alongside the Vista T-Bar offer the best access to advanced terrain. The layout of Kirkwood and its lift system can mean that long traverses are needed to get to different parts of the resort.
I personally had a lot of fun from Number 4 Chair. The hike from the top of Sunrise to Cold Shoulder and Larry’s Lip being particularly fun. The Vista T-Bar also accesses some short but challenging double black diamond’s.
It is hard to talk about the Kirkwood ski area without mentioning Number 10 chair and The Wall. The Wall is a pretty imposing double black diamond that overlooks the Kirkwood mountain village. The access chairlift for the wall has a famous skull and crossbones warning sign notifying you that it is expert only. The Wall is good fun after heavy snowfall and if you like big bumps.
Another favourite was the traverse into Sentinel Bowl deem Number 6 Chair. Although the traverse itself was fairly dull, the terrain in Sentinel Bowl is well worth it. There were plenty of interesting tree runs to explore in tis area.
KIRKWOOD SKI AREA BY ABILITY
BEGINNERS TERRAIN KIRKWOOD
Honestly, I would not recommend Kirkwood as a beginners ski resort. There is only a small amount of Green terrain which will see you repeating runs until they become tedious. The beginners area, Timber Creek, is away from the main runs, so at least that gives beginners a quiet place to learn.
INTERMEDIATE TERRAIN KIRKWOOD
Similar to beginners there isn’t much in the way of intermediate terrain at Kirkwood. What there is though is really fun. Runs like Elevator Shaft and Devil’s Draw give you the opportunity to nip in and out of the trees whereas pistes like Lower Zachery are wide and well groomed. Kirkwood could be a great resort for intermediates to take their first turns in the trees.
ADVANCED TERRAIN KIRKWOOD
This is where Kirkwood comes into its own. There is such a great variety of advanced terrain at Kirkwood that you can always find a challenge. The tree skiing is excellent and the bowls offer opportunities to drop some nice ledges or navigate through rocky outcrops.
LIFTS AT KIRKWOOD
Kirkwood’s lift system is far from a reason to visit. Behind the times in many ways the lift system is probably one of the things that keeps Kirkwood quiet. The interesting terrain at Kirkwood is accessed via fairly slow fixed grip chairs that ensure you get a rest between runs. Honestly I am torn. Quicker lifts and Kirkwood probably gets buried in crowds and loses its charm… small price to pay?
KIRKWOOD SNOW RECORD
Kirkwood is blessed when it comes to annual snowfall with it regularly receiving over 15m throughout the season. The quality of the snow is pretty decent as well especially when compared to other Californian ski resorts that have lower base and summit elevations. Kirkwood ski resort doesn’t really do snow-making… well why would it need to?
KIRKWOOD PISTE MAP
SEASON DATES
The ski season at Kirkwood runs from late November until the third week of April with snow permitting. In California you can ski at Squaw or Mammoth for longer… but then is it as good?
KIRKWOOD LIFT TICKETS
Buying a day pass for Kirkwood is $109 which isn’t cheap. If you are planning a multi-day trip or plan to ski at other resorts during the season then it is worth considering the Epic Pass or one of the local Epic Value passes. An Epic Pass costs $979 at full value although discounts are normally available if purchased early. This means just 9 days of use to break even when compared to equivalent day passes.
KIRKWOOD VIDEOS
TRAVEL TO KIRKWOOD
WHERE IS KIRKWOOD?
Kirkwood Mountain Resort is a 45 minute drive from South Lake Tahoe if you are already in the area or a 3 hr drive from San Francisco. Because of the extreme amounts of snow that Kirkwood receives this can affect the conditions on the road. You will find the latest road information here but it is important to be prepared for winter driving conditions.
Beware GPS
During the winter certain roads in California close due to the winter conditions. Mormon Emigrant Trail may show as your fastest route however this road is not accessible during winter.
HOW TO GET TO KIRKWOOD
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. It is also possible to fly into Sacramento but you will have to connect via another US airport.
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 Kirkwood ski area.
KIRKWOOD ACCOMMODATION
Kirkwood has its own village at the base. At Kirkwood you will find all sorts of hotels, condos and cabins. Consider using the link to look for your Kirkwood Accommodation.
KIRKWOOD PROS
Kirkwood ski resort has a really nice variety of terrain with challenging runs for experts as well as mellow beginners pistes
The Kirkwood snow record is insane! Kirkwood regularly receives more snow than the majority of ski resorts in the world
Kirkwood is generally quieter then other Tahoe ski areas. This shows itself in a really laid back vibe.
Kirkwood has a purpose built village that allows you to stay close to the slopes.
Free parking available in certain Kirkwood car parks
KIRKWOOD CONS
Lifts at Kirkwood can run slow which can put off many visitors
Kirkwood has a quiet village with few Apres opportunities.
KIRKWOOD GALLERY
KIRKWOOD FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS KIRKWOOD PART OF LAKE TAHOE
Kirkwood Mountain Resort is located in South Lake Tahoe, California. Kirkwood is around 45 minutes drive from the Lake Tahoe itself.
IS KIRKWOOD GOOD FOR BEGINNERS?
If you are a never ever taking your first turns for a day or two… yes, there is a designated beginners area at Kirkwood Mountain Resort. However the lack of beginner terrain in general means that Kirkwood is not the best option for beginner skiers or snowboarders
IS KIRKWOOD A DIFFICULT MOUNTAIN?
Kirkwood ski resort has some pretty gnarly terrain. There is a great variety to the advanced terrain at Kirkwood, meaning you don’t need to be doing anything crazy to find a challenge. However if you want to drop-in of a cornice or to navigate a narrow couloirs you can. The majority of terrain at Kirkwood is steep and mostly ungroomed, this can add to the intensity of the terrain.
DOES KIRKWOOD MAKE SNOW?
Kirkwood doesn’t need to make snow as it gets such a good natural snow fall. Kirkwood has a long season due to its snow record, but some snowmaking is in place to ensure that the beginning and end of the season conditions remain epic.
DOES KIRKWOOD HAVE TUBING?
There isn’t much in the way of off-snow activities at Kirkwood however the tubing hill is perfect for families looking for a break from skiing and snowboarding. Bonus about tubing at Kirkwood is there is a rope tow to help you get back to the top.
IS KIRKWOOD GOOD?
Crazy question. Kirkwood is genuinely one of the best ski resorts I have visited. LOVE IT!
HOW LONG IS THE KIRKWOOD SKI SEASON?
Kirkwood regularly opens for winter operations in November and closes in April!
GET IN TOUCH
Thanks for reading this Kirkwood ski resort guide 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 Kirkwood ski resort? What were your opinions? Are there better ski resorts in Lake Tahoe?
CARE TO SHARE?
IF YOU FOUND THIS POST USEFUL AND YOU THINK IT MAY ALSO HELP OTHERS, PLEASE LIKE, SHARE AND COMMENT TO PROMOTE IT TO OTHERS
RELATED KIRKWOOD POSTS
North America Snowboard Guide
Skiing and snowboarding in Canada and the USA are a must on any winter bucket list. With a variety of ski resorts from the huge Whistler Blackcomb in BC to lesser known Brian Head in Utah, a North American ski trip can suit everybody’s requirements. North America offers some of the best powder skiing in the world, locals who are passionate about their mountain and some epic landscapes. On the East Coast you will find Killington warmly referred to as ‘the Beast of the East’ alongside lots passionate East Coast skiers and snowboarders. Skiing the East coast isn’t always easy and this is reflected in the hardy locals. On the West Coast you will find the incredible Lake Tahoe home to a group of stellar mountains; Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, and of course Squaw Valley to name a few.
Canada is known for having great snow coupled with big mountain terrain and incredibly scenic resorts. Because of the popularity of skiing and snowboarding in Canada, the resorts tend to spend money updating facilities and infrastructure meaning fast lifts and great base area facilities. The quality of the resorts coupled with the welcoming people and of course… poutine, make Canada an appealing choice for any ski trip.
Whereas the Canadian Resorts may have a more relaxed vibe, it’s fair to say that the USA tends to think that bigger is better. With a number of resorts offering masses of terrain, think; Mammoth, Killington and Park City, there is a whole load of choice when it comes to a US ski trip. Although a contentious subject, the introduction of Epic and Ikon passes in the USA has made it easier for skiers and snowboarders to visit more resorts on a budget. When you combine great resorts with a large annual snowfall you are onto a winner. Although with Deer Valley, Alta and Mad River Glen still refusing access to snowboarders there are some resorts a little behind the times.
MULTI RESORT LIFT PASSES
There are two main options in the USA and Canada for multi-resort ski passes; Epic Pass and Ikon Pass. Other multi-resort passes such as Mountain Collective do exist and may suit your needs, but tend not to offer the mass amounts of unlimited snowboarding I would look for in a season pass. The Epic Pass is owned by Vail Resorts and if you are a Vail local makes perfect sense, as you will pay for your season pass with just 4 days of skiing or snowboarding. For me it made perfect sense as well. In the 2019/2020 season I will use my Epic Pass in France, Italy, USA, Japan and hopefully Australia, which shows the versatility of this pass.
I considered the Ikon Pass which is also a great shout if you solely intend to ride in the USA and Canada but offered less options for skiing in other parts of the world on an unlimited basis, although it does offer 7 days with NZ Ski at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt… you can read more about those resorts here.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A NORTH AMERICAN SKI TRIP
If a multi-resort pass isn’t an option for you then a trip to Canada will be easier on your wallet than the US, which has quite high lift pass prices. Both a Canadian and American ski trip may feel a little different from a European perspective with less on snow accommodation in favour of ski towns a short distance from the slopes. This can actually feel like a better environment with ski towns being more functional than the European ski-in ski-out villages. A major benefit of the ski town experience is the access to a range of other activities such as; curling, cinema’s, ice rinks, etc.
EXPLORE BY COUNTRY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many ski resorts are in North America?
This article lists 817 ski resorts in North America which should be enough choice to keep most people happy! Not only is there a great amount of ski resorts in North America but also a great diversity of ski resorts. With local run ski resorts like Mt Bohemia and large corporate resorts like Vail you can choose ski resorts not only based on terrain and ability but also somewhat on beliefs!
What is the largest ski resort in North America?
There are a number of huge ski resorts on the North American continent but the biggest is still Whistler Blackcomb in Canadas British Columbia. Whistler is not just a massive ski area but a year round resort that is worth visiting at all times of year. Whistler offers skiing in both the winter and in the summer with access to the Whistler glacier possible during the summer months. Other notable large North American ski resorts are Park City in Utah and Big Ski in Montana that have 7,300acres and 5,800acres of terrain respectively. Although Whistler is the largest ski resort in Canada at 8,171acres the second largest is nearly half the size with Sun Peaks, BC having 4,270acres of terrain across three mountains.
What ski resort gets the most snow in America?
Not only do the ski resorts in North America receive large amounts of snowfall, in some areas it is up there with the best in the world. The most snow recorded falls at Mt Baker in Washington where they record season averages of 16.5m, which is more than Tsugaike Kogen in Hakuba! The snow quality can vary a lot across North America with the coastal resort of Whistler having sometimes wetter heavier snow with British Columbias interior resorts like Whitewater having a dry light powder snow. Other notable resorts that receive large snowfalls are; Snowbird 13m, Kirkwood 12m, and Mt Hood Meadows 11.5m.
FEATURED RESORTS
NORTH AMERICA GALLERY
Everything You Need To Know About Heavenly Ski Resorts California Side | Video
Looking at the Heavenly ski resort map you will see that the resort is split across two US states; California and Nevada. It is possible to ski between the two sides however having an understanding about what each side has to offer can help save you time and potentially effort traversing. This post is all about Heavenly ski resorts California side but if you want to take a tour of the California side be sure to watch the video below.
HEAVENLY VILLAGE
Heavenly has a purpose-built resort village with; restaurants, accommodation and shops. For a full overview of the Heavenly Village Map look here. For visitors staying in the village, the Heavenly gondola is probably the route they will choose to access the mountain. The heavenly village provides the most direct route into the centre of Heavenly ski resort via the gondola. Unloading at Tamarack Lodge, the Heavenly gondola takes 15 minutes from the village to reach the top. The views from the gondola are worth the journey alone with an open panorama looking back at Lake Tahoe. If you need to park, then consider avoiding the gondola and instead head to California Lodge. Parking at the Heavenly gondola costs around $25 per day, whereas parking at California Lodge is free.
CALIFORNIA LODGE
A short drive from the Heavenly Village and you will be at California Lodge. California lodge offers two routes of uplifting onto the mountain, The Tram and Gunbarrel Express. The Heavenly Tram uplifts around 650 people per hour from the California Lodge car park to the top of Patsys run. The Tram is a popular method of getting onto the mountain but personally, I prefer the Gunbarrel Express chair. Gunbarrel Express runs parallel to the Heavenly Tram and uplifts to a very similar drop off point, the top of Paty’s run. A four-person quad chair, I prefer to ride Gunbarrel as you can ski off away from the lift with your gear already on. Just makes for a faster start to the day.
From the top of Gunbarrel or The Tram, you will find yourself at the top of Patsy’s run with two options… one take Patsy’s run or head down The Face, where you will find a number of Double Black Diamond graded trails and the perfectly groomed blue, World Cup.
Patsy’s is a mellow green and with its own chairlift, this is a popular place for people to learn. The area can get busy as it is an access point to the mountain but this clears outside of peak times. At the bottom of Patsy’s run, you will find two further chairlifts.
GROOVE CHAIR
The Groove runs parallel to Patsy’s chair and accesses the first of two terrain parks on the California side. The Groove Park is great with a beginners line that features small jumps and ride on box features. There is are also some larger jumps, two medium and two large, at the top of the Groove Park with a rail garden following both these lines. The rail garden allows for progression from the ride on boxes found in the small line. The Groove Park laps back down to the Groove Chair meaning you can just lap until your legs are done. The Groove chair is a slow 2 person chair but it gives a great view of the features as you ride back up.
POWDERBOWL EXPRESS
If you want to access further Heavenly ski resort terrain, you will want to take the Powderbowl Express chair. This fast 6 person lift takes you to the top of Powderbowl Woods. This area has a few Black Diamond graded trails, with bumps found on Powder Line and Waterfall. One of the most fun trails here is Mombo, a blue groomer that just feels great to bomb first thing in the morning.
If you want to head further into the resort, take the bottom of Ridge Run towards the Sky Deck.
SKY DECK
Sky Deck offers some really cool outside dining and access to two of the most popular chairs on the California side; Canyon Express and Sky Express. On the weekends this area can become hectic so potentially it is best to avoid it.
CANYON EXPRESS
Canyon Express Chair is one of my favourites on the California side. Shorter and less crowded than the Sky Express it accesses my favourite groomed run High Five. High Five is one of a few really nice groomed runs off the Canyon Express that are perfect to explore first thing in the morning.
SKY EXPRESS
Sky Express gives you some fantastic options with it possible to ride down Ridge Run back towards Canyon or Powderbowl Express chairs. My favourite option from here however is to take the Skyline trail and then find a spot to drop into the Ski Ways Glades or Pinnacles. These two areas have some really fun tree skiing and allow you to get away from the crowded groomers.
Skyline trail will also take you all the way over to Milky Way and the Nevada Side, but as this post is about California I’ll save that for another day.
Interested in Nevada Side Click Here.
From Skyline Trail you can take California Trail and Cascade, two fun Blues that will take you to the Tamarack Lodge and the top of Heavenly Gondola. Perfect if you want to head into the village for some lunch. Staying on the mountain? Well, the area around Tamarack Lodge is a base for ski school, with Easy Street and Big Easy perfect learner trails. There is also a Tubing Hill and Mountain Coaster found here in the Adventure Peak area.
The Tamarack Express is a fast 6 person chair that will give you access to California trail for the traverse back to California Lodge. The trails off the Tamarack Express are shorter than off Sky Express but are perfectly suited to intermediate skiers and snowboarders.
CALIFORNIA SIDE BEST FOR…
BEST FOR BEGINNERS
The ski school is based at Bear Cave near Tamarack Lodge with good access to Easy Street. This is a pretty good place to learn as the lodge is nearby if you need some rest. There is also progression close by with the opportunity to take the Tamarack Express to access some blue terrain.
Similarly, there is beginners terrain at California Lodge with Green runs Puma Trail and Enchanted Forest of the First Ride chairlift. There is another ski school base at California Lodge.
BEST FOR INTERMEDIATES
For me, its a choice of two places on the California side, either the Powderbowl Express or Canyon Express chairs. I am excluding the Tamarack Express as the runs there are quite short and could become boring very quickly. The runs off the Powderbowl Express chair are really fun having already mentioning Mombo. The Powderbowl Woods are a great place for intermediates to get their first experiences of glade skiing or snowboarding. Similarly, High Five and Ridge Run, accessed from the Canyon Express chair are great for intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Nice long groomed trails, leading back to the chairlift for another lap.
BEST FOR ADVANCED
It is hard to look past The Face for challenging terrain on the California side. The runs back down Gunbarrel and East Bowl are legendary and the moguls here are some of the largest on the mountain.
High Roller Park
High Roller Park has features much larger than I feel comfortable riding so would offer those with a freestyle focus more challenge than the Groove Park.
BEST FOOD WITH A VIEW
The best views from a restaurant on the California side at Heavenly has to be Booyah’s, Lakeview Lodge. The Lakeview Lodge has an outside terrace with uninterrupted views of Lake Tahoe. The Lodge can be found adjacent to the Heavenly Tram, near California Lodge.
BEST DRINK STOP
If you are looking for a place to celebrate your last run, or just have a cold one at lunchtime then Steins is a pretty good place to do it. Steins can be found next to Patsy’s and have lots of outdoor seating with deck chairs. If you have weary legs this is the best place to reboot.
BEST VIEW CALIFORNIA SIDE
At the top of Sky Express, there is a ski patrol station. Directly opposite, near the ski area boundary line, there is a scenic photo spot. Take off your ski’s and your board and head through the trees where it will open up to views across to Nevada. Stunning!
In terms of views from a run, the views from The Face or Gunbarrel looking back over Lake Tahoe are also pretty epic.
LOOKING FOR MORE HEAVENLY INSPIRATION? CHECK OUT THESE RELATED POSTS
GET IN TOUCH
You’ve heard from me, now it’s your turn to get involved! Have you visited Heavenly Ski Resort? What is your favourite run on the California side? Do you prefer skiing at Heavenly California or Heavenly Nevada? Let me know in the comments or via socials.
PIN IT FOR LATER
Best Snowboard Shops Heavenly
When heading out on your ski trip finding the right equipment or place to tune your gear can be really important. Regardless of age or ability, you will want to find the best equipment at the lowest prices but most importantly get top advice. Well, South Lake Tahoe has a ton of ski and snowboard shops and I visited them all before breaking them down into this list. The ski shops on this list will guarantee to have you heading out the door with high-quality gear so you can make the most of your day on the snow.
THE VILLAGE BOARD SHOP
Hands down the best service I received whilst in Heavenly was at The Village Board Shop. The team at VBS was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful but not in a pushy kind of way. VBS is split across two floors with the downstairs being the location for their rental gear. You will also find your accessories downstairs with displays for; goggles, gloves, socks etc. Upstairs is where it gets interesting for me as this is where the hard goods are found. VBS had a good selection of snowboards with brands like; Jones, Salomon, and Nitro available. Even better they had a couple of last year’s boards available at pretty decent prices. When it comes to bindings and boots VBS had a decent selection of beginner through advanced gear with Union Bindings and a good selection of boot brands including; Thirty Two and Vans.
VBS can also take care of your tuning needs and I used their workshop for a full tune on my board. I was pretty happy with the finish and would use them again.
Probably worth mentioning if you are looking for ski gear then VBS isn’t going to be the store for you.
The Village Board Shop is a short drive from Heavenly Village and the main hub of accommodations but it is worth it. At VBS they do get less foot traffic due to their location but this means you get a better service as there are fewer customers in the store at one time.
FINDING VBS
If you are driving there is space for one car in front of the store, but there is parking around the back. To get to the store you will need to head along Route 50 towards the Bijou golf course. You should see the big VBS sign from the road.
SHORELINE OF TAHOE
If you are looking for a ski shop on the Nevada side then look no further than Shoreline. Shoreline probably had the best selection of equipment and outerwear out of all the ski stores at Heavenly. The vibe at Shoreline was pretty relaxed which is really nice for an American shopping experience with staff giving you the time to browse without being hassled.
Shoreline had a good selection of snowboards and splitboards, as well as probably one of the larger boot collections out of the various South Lake Tahoe stores. Shoreline does have a rental department and a tuning workshop so you can ensure your gear is in perfect condition.
I visited Shoreline in search of snowboard boots and I was really impressed with the knowledge of the staff and how un-pushy they were when it came to making a sale. I was a much more relaxed shopper in this environment and it made for a really nice experience.
Check out the shoreline website
FINDING SHORELINE
Getting to Shoreline is fairly simple although you will have to leave the Heavenly village area and cross the Stateline. There is ample parking outside the store and if you are hungry after all that shopping you can grab a decent burger next door.
SPORTS LTD
Possibly the biggest shop for outdoor gear at Heavenly is Tahoe Sports Ltd. Sports Ltd is basically a one-stop-shop for; skiers, snowboarders, mountain bikers, walkers, campers, and fishermen. In terms of ski and snowboard gear Sports Ltd has a good selection of hardware and soft-goods from big-name brands; Salomon, Jones, Armada, Black Diamond, and Capita but also makes room in its line up for the likes of Academy.
Sports LTD South Lake Tahoe
Sports Ltd is ideally located for those based in Heavenly Village and is one of the stores accessible without the need for a car. Because of its location, it gets a lot of custom and you can spend time waiting to be served at the peak periods. I was pretty happy with the service I received in Sports Ltd who helped me to deal with a warranty replacement, although it did seem like they didn’t really want to help initially.
If you are looking for one store that has all your needs covered then Tahoe Sports Ltd could be the best option for you. Check out their website here.
FINDING SPORTS LTD
Head towards the Heavenly gondola and in the retail park next door, you will find two Sports Ltd stores. One store is specifically for rentals and the main store has all the gear that’s for sale.
THE BOARDINGHOUSE LAKE TAHOE
The Boardinghouse Lake Tahoe gets an honorable mention on this list. The boardinghouse isn’t the largest store in Tahoe and it doesn’t have the greatest range of equipment but it is a great snowboard store. There is a refined list of brands and equipment for retail at The Boardinghouse and they have narrowed their offering to the brands they clearly trust. The friendly retail staff is on hand to assist with any questions and they are clearly knowledgeable about the products they sell. If you are not looking for a massive collection but instead want to find the most trusted brands in snowboarding, head to The Boardinghouse.
The BoardingHouse South Lake Tahoe
GET IN TOUCH
I have had my say, now it’s time to have yours… What is your favourite ski shop at Heavenly ski resort? Where has the best deals? And who provides the best service? Let me know in the comments or via the socials.
