Early November always brings a bit of teaser snow on the high peaks around Lake Tahoe. It might or might not be much, but even a few flakes are enough to light the fire of anticipation among skiers and boarders twitching to make tracks at their favorite snow-sport resorts.
Opening dates depend on weather and conditions, of course, with most resorts prepared to start turning their lifts between now and mid-December. But you don’t have to ski or ride to enjoy what ski areas have to offer. All are seeking to attract a broader audience, especially first-timers, with an array of alternate recreational options. Tubing — sliding on an inner tube down a groomed track — has gotten so popular that virtually every Tahoe-area resort has a tubing hill.
Look, too, for snow-play areas, snowshoe and cross-country ski venues and lots of concerts and other forms of entertainment on mountain as well as at street level. “We’re working hard to introduce more people to snow sports,” says John Rice, president of Ski California, a nonprofit trade association representing 36 California snow-sport resorts.
This year, the season coincides with the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan/Cortina, Italy, in February. Tahoe-area ski resorts have produced 11 gold-medalists so far, Rice notes, plus many more silver and bronze winners. Look for special events and watch parties at the resorts and also at hotels, bars, clubs and other venues around the lake.
Here’s a peek at what’s new in Northern California for the 2025-2026 season:
Badger Pass Ski Area, Yosemite National Park: Yosemite is sublime in winter, not to mention uncrowded. After a year out of service due to lack of snow, the oldest ski area in California (dating to 1935) is set to welcome skiers, boarders, tubers, snowshoers and cross-country enthusiasts starting in mid-December, weather permitting. Free shuttle buses access the area from several points in Yosemite Valley. travelyosemite.com/winter/badger-pass-ski-area
Bear Valley Mountain Resort and Adventure Company: Situated on Highway 4 in Alpine County, Bear Valley ski resort and its adjacent cross-country venue offer rural experiences in a gorgeous setting. Bear Valley boasts 10 lifts serving a mix of terrain. The Adventure Company venue across the road is a top cross-country resort that also sports sledding and tubing hills as well as groomed snowshoe trails. www.bvadventures.com, bearvalley.com
Boreal/Woodward Tahoe: The closest Interstate 80 resort to the Bay Area is a multifaceted complex that includes a family-friendly downhill ski area with many terrain park features, as well as a tubing hill offering 90-minute slide sessions. There’s also an indoor “bunker” with foam pits, skateboard ramps and other features for indoor fun and training. It’s the only Tahoe-area resort offering night skiing and riding. Check the website for a variety of access options. rideboreal.com
ASC Training Center: The Auburn Ski Club Training Center, adjacent to Boreal on Donner Summit, is a nonprofit organization offering alpine, Nordic, biathlon (combining skiing and marksmanship) and snowboard programs for all levels, beginner to expert. Many competitions in all four disciplines are on tap during the season. asctrainingcenter.org
Diamond Peak: Off the beaten track, yes, but this community-owned ski area in Incline Village, on the Nevada side of the lake, is intimate and exciting with 655 acres of ski territory including three terrain parks. That’s not to mention the incredible views. Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the resort is offering $60 lift tickets and discounted equipment rentals and lessons. diamondpeak.com
Granlibakken Tahoe: This sprawling conference center near Tahoe City transforms in winter to a family-friendly getaway destination offering downhill and cross-country skiing plus sledding, snow play, snowshoe terrain, lessons and more. Check website for affordable access options. granlibakken.com
Heavenly Mountain Resort: You can’t miss Heavenly if you pass through South Lake Tahoe/Stateline on Highway 50. The resort’s iconic gondola rises up from the busy tourist area, showcasing Gunbarrel and other double-diamond runs on the steep slope known as the Face. But don’t worry; it’s not all scary. Heavenly, a Vail Resort, straddles the California/Nevada state line and has plenty of terrain for beginners as well as experts. It’s a top spot for world-class competitions, too, with most visible from the California base area, no lift ticket required. Tubing, mini-tubing and an alpine coaster are other recreation options. The resort is celebrating its 70th year with a full lineup of events. Be sure to check on parking policies before you go. skiheavenly.com
Homewood Mountain Resort: A decade of change and uncertainty over community development issues has been smoothed out to see Homewood, a landmark resort on Tahoe’s west shore, reopening with a host of upgrades. Enhanced snowmaking, an ice-skating rink and a new, eight-passenger gondola are on the books for this season, along with a new mid-mountain lodge and learn-to-ski area with a dedicated beginner lift. skihomewood.com
Kirkwood Mountain Resort: One of three Tahoe resorts under the Vail Resorts umbrella (the others are Heavenly and Northstar), Kirkwood, in a spectacular setting off Highway 89, is a bit removed from the Tahoe tourist scene but has an extremely loyal following. A full lineup of freeride competitions is on tap this season, while the adjacent Kirkwood Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Center offers a wide range of lessons and clinics. kirkwood.com
Mammoth Mountain: It’s a four-hour trek south from Reno on scenic Highway 395, but holders of the Ikon Pass (good for more than 60 destinations) don’t mind the drive. Mammoth, the biggest ski resort in the state, has invested $9 million in enhanced snowmaking and added entertainment features including a dual zip line at Woolly’s Adventure Summit. The race department marks 50 years with an enticing schedule of high-speed events. In the same neighborhood is June Mountain, a smaller but no less scenic venue. mammothmountain.com, junemountain.com
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: With the highest base area (8,260 feet) in the region, Mt. Rose, on the Nevada side of the lake, is known to open early and enjoy a long season. This year, $6 million in improvements includes a new WildSlide Tubing Center with 20 lanes stretching 750 feet down the mountain. The lanes are groomed differently for tubers who like to go from fast to slow, and tubes are textured for speed control. WildSlide comes with its own lodge and parking lot. The idea, says a spokesman, is to get people into snow sports affordably and easily. skirose.com
Northstar California: One of three Vail Resorts at Tahoe, Northstar, near Truckee, is known for its wind-protected slopes and a base village centered on an ice-skating rink offering some of the best people-watching at Tahoe. This year the resort is celebrating the social side of skiing with “Tōst,” a ski-up experience offering a complimentary taste of bubbly, along with complimentary weekend s’mores by the firepits at the base area. Parking reservations required weekends and holidays. northstarcalifornia.com
Palisades Tahoe: A two-pronged complex encompassing the resorts formerly known as Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley, Palisades, on Tahoe’s west shore, is huge and multifaceted. The two areas are connected by a gondola. New snowmaking investments and a full schedule of events, from music concerts to world-class ski races, are on the calendar. There’s always some kind of entertainment going on in the base village. Check out the parking program before coming on weekends and holidays. Tubing and ice skating are offered, too. palisadestahoe.com
Royal Gorge: The largest cross-country ski area in North America boasts 90 groomed trails across 6,000 acres, along with eight warming huts. Classic cross-country, plus skate skiing and snowshoeing for all levels are on offer. There’s a new kids’ Nordic program, too. The resort is in Soda Springs, near Donner Summit on Interstate 80, and is managed in partnership with Sugar Bowl. royalgorge.com
Sierra at Tahoe: The closest Highway 50 resort to Sacramento and the Bay Area has had to reinvent itself since being severely damaged during the 2021 Caldor Fire. But it’s worked. Yes, things are different now, but a loyal clientele backed by a steady stream of improvements has resurrected the legacy. Look for two new trails in West Bowl, more learner terrain off Easy Rider, weekly live music and signature events including Subaru Winterfest. sierraattahoe.com
Sugar Bowl: If you haven’t been to this historic Interstate 80 resort in a while, prepare to be blown away with the many changes underway as a $100 million development plan continues to progress. Look for a new Village Lodge Terrace, removal of outdated buildings, expansion of training facilities and signature events including the Silver Belt Freeride competition. sugarbowl.com
Soda Springs Mountain Resort: Looking for a place to get your little kiddos started? Consider Soda Springs, a smallish resort near Donner Summit that offers sledding and tubing (Tube Town and Planet Kids) for families. It’s all targeted to beginners, with two “magic carpets” to transport tots to the top of the runs. Kids and parents can also play in the Family Fun Zone, build snowmen, go snowshoeing and more. skisodasprings.com
Tahoe Donner Downhill and Cross-Country: The downhill ski area in the neighborhood north of Truckee debuts a new ski lodge this winter, while the expansive cross-country resort celebrates its 40th birthday with a host of special events. tahoedonner.com
Tahoe XC: This resort near Dollar Point gets a new lodge and recognition as the first net-zero-energy commercial building in the Tahoe Basin. To increase access to outdoor recreation, the resort offers free day passes to anyone under age 19 or over 70. tahoexc.org
What To Know About Passes, and More
About those passes: Do you really need a season pass? There are dozens of multi-resort choices, from Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass (the full version covers 90 resorts on four continents, but Tahoe-only passes are available, too) The popular Ikon Pass covers 60 destinations worldwide, including Sierra at Tahoe, Palisades and Mammoth in California. Smaller resorts have multivenue offerings, too. The Cali Pass, for example, is good at Bear Valley, Dodge Ridge, China Peak and Mountain High in California, plus three days at each of 14 Powder Alliance resorts worldwide. The Indy Pass, offering two days at each of 270 destinations, is another option. But if you’re sticking to one resort rather than traveling around, consider more economic offerings like the three- and four-day passes offered by most ski areas. Try to avoid single-day passes, which can top $150 at some resorts. epicpass.com, ikonpass.com, indyskipass.com, thecalipass.com
Getting there: Quite a few resorts now require parking reservations (for a fee) on weekends and holidays.
How to avoid? Park your vehicle remotely and take TART (Tahoe Area Rapid Transit), providing free shuttle service from Truckee to east- and west-shore resorts. tahoetruckeetransit.com
Or, summon the Mountaineer, a free, app-based shuttle service (it’s dog-friendly, too) serving the two Palisades base areas and other destinations in Olympic Valley. mountaineertransit.org
Lake Link on the South Shore is a similar on-demand service serving residential as well as commercial destinations. ltva.org/lake-link-transportation/
Need to know: Learn more at skicalifornia.org, where you can also download the digital Mountain Safety Guide for tips on skiing and snowboarding responsibly. safety.skicalifornia.org