Sierra-at-Tahoe

Friendly tree skiing, back after the Caldor fire.

The closest Tahoe resort to Sacramento and the Bay Area, off Highway 50, celebrating its 80th winter. The 2021 Caldor fire burned across the mountain; it reopened, added West Bowl trails and finished replanting more than 60,000 trees in 2026. Relaxed, good value and family-friendly, and now on the Ikon Pass.

The mountain

Vertical drop

2,212 ft

Summit

8,852 ft

Skiable terrain

2,000 acres

Trails

50

Lifts

14

Average snowfall

480″ a year

Longest run

2.5 mi

Terrain mix

• Beginner 25%
• Intermediate 50%
• Advanced 25%

What’s here besides skiing

• Terrain park
• Snow tubing
• Kids programs

Holidays and events

2026–27 dates where they’re posted. “Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• FestivalAround Dec 21Usually

  80th anniversary celebration

  Celebration around the resort’s original 1946 opening date, plus a historic photo gallery in Aspen Cafe all season.

Where to stay

• hotelHotel Becket

  Family-friendly boutique hotel near the Heavenly Gondola in South Lake Tahoe.

  30 min drive
• hotelThe Coachman

  Small boutique hotel near Heavenly Village.

  30 min drive
• hotelThe Landing Tahoe

  Lakefront luxury resort and spa in South Lake Tahoe.

  30 min drive
• cabinZephyr Cove Resort

  Lakeside cabins on the Nevada shore.

  40 min drive$105 / night · Winter escape offer

Rates are typical winter lows before taxes and fees, and change constantly. Book on the property’s own site.

Things to do

• Blizzard Mountain · At the base

  Tubing lift and snow play area at the base; tubing $65, snow play $45.

• 360 Smokehouse BBQ · On mountain

  Barbecue off the Grandview Express with lake views.

• Adventure Mountain · 10 min drive

  Tubing and snow play at 7,400 ft on Echo Summit.

• Heavenly Scenic Gondola · 30 min drive

  Gondola ride from Heavenly Village to an observation deck over the lake.

• Zephyr Cove snowmobiling · 40 min drive

  Guided snowmobile tours above the lake.

Après and nightlife

• The Pub

  Main Lodge pub with microbrews, a daily happy hour and live music.

• Corkscrew Bar

  Cocktails, with outdoor service on The Plaza on sunny days.

• Grand Brew

  Coffee in the morning, beer and cocktails after the lifts close.

These themes are our summary of recent skier reviews, not quotes.

Getting there

• Reno-Tahoe International (RNO) · about 1 hr 35 min drive
• Sacramento · about 1.75 hr
• San Francisco · about 3.25 hr

Directions in Google Maps