Everything you need to know about all the area resorts

Where to ski? What a blissful dilemma to be faced with! In the Lake Tahoe area, there are more than a dozen resorts vying for your skiing and snowboard pleasure. Heck, half of them want you to come snowshoeing and cross country skiing, not to mention sledding, ice skating ... well, you get the picture.

Take a look at our ski resort reviews, written before the season by folks who've spent the better part of their sick days on these slopes in years' past. They know these resorts inside and out, and after the snow flies, we'll be sending them back up to check out what's up for this year.

So get ready, Powderhounds ... it's snow time!

Alpine | Boreal | Diamond Peak | Donner Ski Ranch | Heavenly | Homewood | Kirkwood| Mt. Rose | Northstar| Sierra-at-Tahoe | Squaw Valley USA | Sugar Bowl| Tahoe Donner

Alpine Meadows
Far different from the resort neighboring to their north, Alpine Meadows doesn’t focus on a pedestrian village or tableside lunch service. Alpine is all about the mountain – and what a tremendous mountain it is. ...Read More Back to top

Boreal Mountain Resort
Boreal is a great place for freestyle ski and snowboarders and for beginners who need to learn the basics. Not as popular with the advanced ski crowd, Boreal offers many beginner runs that are fun and offer small challenges while two terrain parks make this a local freestyle skier and boarder favorite. The views are beautiful, plus it's easy to get to from Reno or Lake Tahoe. ... Read More Back to top

Diamond Peak Ski Resort
For families with young children, there is no better ski area in the Tahoe Basin than Diamond Peak. Located on the northeast shore of Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, this resort is small, friendly and caters to families by offering special packages and a transferable parents pass. A special mini pass works like a gift card and is also transferable. All runs funnel down to one central base lodge with a large deck where everyone can meet during or after a day of skiing. It is practically impossible to get lost at Diamond Peak. ... Read More Back to top

Donner Ski Ranch
A day at Donner Ski Ranch is time spent delving into the charm of skiing’s history. And not just skiing - snowboarding was welcomed at this little spot on old Route 40 long before riders gained access to the big names. With the requisite rustic lodge, classic greasy-spoon café and slower chairs, Donner is essentially a time warp taking you back to the charismatic roots of winter sport. ... Read More Back to top

Heavenly Mountain Resort
Heavenly, that uber-expanse of bi-state acreage, keeps tipping the scale towards an entire skiing and riding experience. With the now three-year old gondola and the Heavenly Village firmly in place, Heavenly has evolved into a true destination ... Read More Back to top

Homewood Mountain Resort
Homewood Mountain Resort’s old motto was “our skiing is out of sight.” Though the slogan, like the resort, has been updated, its essence is still accurate. Tucked into Tahoe’s west shore, most of the area extends beyond the three runs visible from the lakeside parking lot. Speaking of views, the entire upper mountain offers vistas of that large, sparkling lake. ... Read More Back to top

Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Kirkwood features heaps of terrain and some of the deepest, steepest lift accessible powder fields in the region. It’s a big resort that skis like a mom and pop place, a quality that is at once charming and also a little old school. Parking and lift improvements are on the way, in the meantime expect some growing pains in order to access some of the best terrain around. ... Read More Back to top

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe
On a clear day you can see forever. Views of Washoe Valley, the Virginia Hills and Reno are spectacular from the top of Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. However, when high winds kick up and low clouds cover the mountain, conditions are just the opposite. Access to all intermediate, advanced and expert skiing is from the top, so if you can’t see the top of the mountain from the lodge, equip yourself with goggles and very warm clothes and be prepared for a chilly chair ride. But when the sun shines, there is no a better place close to Reno to enjoy high Sierra skiing. ... Read More Back to top

Northstar-at-Tahoe
Northstar-at-Tahoe is located six miles north of Lake Tahoe. From the summit of Mt. Pluto, the resort's highest peak, the lake views are astounding. This ski village is exactly that, a ski village. The buildings are reminiscent of Swiss chalets but this isn’t a rustic little village. Everything looks new and is wonderfully clean. ... Read More Back to top

Sierra-at-Tahoe
Sierra-at-Tahoe, nestled just west of Echo Summit, has always been a local’s hot spot, but its popularity has moved well beyond the confines of Tahoe residents. Pass holders and visitors alike have come to appreciate this mid-sized resort with a down-home feel and solid amenities. ... Read More Back to top

Squaw Valley USA
Squaw Valley USA, home to the 1960 Winter Olympics, is a world-renowned ski resort with award-winning building designs, outrageous pipes and parks, ice skating, tons of après ski, the most technologically advanced lifts and snow making equipment in the world and more things to do with your friends and family than I have room to write. ... Read More Back to top

Sugar Bowl
What I like about Sugar Bowl is the friendliness of the people who ski, ride and work there, endless mountain views from the resort peaks and the mountain’s notorious affinity for sucking up storm dumps. I also love the variety of terrain and secret stashes. The downside: I wish there were more secret stashes. ... Read More Back to top

Tahoe Donner Ski Area
Tahoe Donner’s small, family-style resort atmosphere lies far enough off the beaten path to keep the mega crowds at bay. Plus, for folks in the family with a little more time under their boots there’s often completely untracked powder fields off the backside and even just beyond the groomer’s tracks. ... Read More Back to top