Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced skier, here’s what you need to know about the five ski resorts in Nevada.
It was wintertime in the 1770s when European explorers first set foot in the Silver State, and the vast Sierra Nevada mountains were covered in snow. Naming the area Nevada for the Spanish word for “snowy” or “snow-capped,” it’s possible these pioneering scouts first thought was, “What a great place for a ski resort.”
You wouldn’t guess that our state is primarily an arid desert when you’re shredding the gnar (The acronym stands for “Gaffney’s Numerical Assessment of Radness”) at a Nevada ski resort. From bunny slopes to black diamond and backcountry runs, there’s a ski or snowboarding adventure for everyone in northwest, northeast, and southwest Nevada.
Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced skier, here’s what you need to know about the five ski resorts in Nevada.
Heavenly Ski Resort
South Lake Tahoe
Open Nov. 22-April 2025
An epic two-state ski vacation packed into one resort, Heavenly Ski Resort sits in the Sierra Nevada mountains in South Lake Tahoe, straddling Nevada and California. The Vail Resorts-owned ski slopes rise from 6,657 feet to 10,0676 feet, with an average snowfall of 258 inches and expansive views of Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley.
According to one Yelper: “Heavenly Mountain Resort is a great place to ski or board if you love skiing with a view. The views of Lake Tahoe are just breathtaking.”
Located about an hour’s drive (56 miles) from Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Heavenly attracts tourists and locals alike. It has 4,800 acres of skiable area with 97 trails and terrain for all levels of skiers; 28 lifts, including a gondola, tram, chairs, rope tows, and a tubing hill surface lift; a ski and ride school; dining options; and rentals.
Off the mountain, Heavenly Village has family-friendly snow-based activities, dining, and events, including a holiday winter wonderland in December. There’s plenty of lodging nearby, and the crystal-blue Lake Tahoe is a quick drive away.
Heavenly is accessible from two home bases in Stateline, Nev.: Stagecoach Lodge Parking, 375 Quaking Aspen Lane, and Boulder Lodge Parking, 140 S. Benjamin Drive. Since there are also two home bases in California, one Yelper reminds, “Make sure you end up on the right side before the lifts close!”
Mount Rose Ski Resort
Reno
Open through April 2025
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe rises from 8,260 feet at the base to 9,700 feet at its peak with a 1,800 vertical drop. It’s less touristy than Heavenly, with many of its skiers coming from Tahoe and nearby Reno to take advantage of its prime snow conditions.
“By far my favorite,” writes a reviewer on Yelp, adding that it’s “incredibly affordable for locals, not crowded compared to the other resorts, and has some of the most beautiful steep runs for the daredevils … Also, most tourists do not come here, they flock to Vail resorts. You will get your runs in here and participate in a ton of fun events.”
Located at 22222 Mt. Rose Highway, 25 minutes from the Reno/Tahoe International Airport and 10 minutes from Incline Village, Mt. Rose is strictly for skiing and snowboarding. Rentals are available. There is;t any sledding, tubing, or snow-play areas, but there is an open field for snow play called “Tahoe Meadows” (three miles south).
Mount Rose has beginner’s areas and lessons as well as world-renowned chutes for advanced skiers. It has 60 named runs and nine major lifts spread out over 1,200 acres of skiable terrain. Entry is through four gates on the Mt. Rose side and five on the Winters Creek Lodge side.
Due to its proximity to Reno, Mt. Rose is considered one of the most affordable places to ski in the area. Yelpers suggest checking out the different discounts available at the ski resort during the week, like ladies’ days and locals’ days. There is tons of lodging, dining, and entertainment to be had in Nevada’s Biggest Little City in the World.
Diamond Peak
North Lake Tahoe
Open Dec. 12 (conditions permitting)-April 2025
With a vertical drop of 1,840 feet, community-owned Diamond Peak Ski Resort is a hidden gem family resort and skier’s mountain with 30 runs spread out over 655 acres in North Lake Tahoe. Located at 1210 Ski Way in Incline Village, the resort is generally less crowded than others, giving you plenty of room among the 28 developed trails, 13 named gladed tree skiing or riding areas, six lifts, and three creative terrain parks.
Many Yelpers appreciate that the resort is less corporate than others in the area. “I like the smaller resorts,” writes a reviewer on Yelp. “Less of a line and the staff is more friendly. And the best part is that the tickets are prices way more reasonably than other big ski resorts.”
Diamond Peak is located only 30 miles from the Reno-Tahoe Airport, offering gorgeous views of Lake Tahoe while you ski. The drive to the resort is also gorgeous as it takes you from Highway 50 East to Highway 28, part of the Nation Scenic Byways Program.
Snow here is 25 percent from Mother Nature and 75 percent from a snowmaker. The resort has skiing for all levels and claims to have the best glade runs in the entire Lake Tahoe area. The Child Care Ski Center offers skiing and snowboarding lessons to kids ages three to six on a brand-new surface lift. The lodge is a good place to “watch your kids fall on their tushies,” writes one Yelper. Rentals are available. Tubing, sledding, and snow play aren’t permitted.
For lodging and dining, Incline Village is just a few minutes away.
Lee Canyon Ski Resort
Las Vegas
Open through May 2025
Already open for ski season, Lee Canyon Ski Resort sits in the 11,916-foot-high Mount Charleston in the Spring Mountain Range, about 45 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip.
The resort has undergone an incredible transformation in recent years, thanks to $17 million worth of enhancements, including new lifts, a new parking lot, a new state-of-the-art 10,000-square-foot two-story lodge with dining, and expanded restroom facilities.
A reviewer from California on Yelp wrote that Lee Canyon “is not only far less expensive, but a better overall experience” than the ski resorts in his state, adding that “the snow was good, trails well maintained and I have to say that the customer service [was] awesome.”
Receiving 11 feet of snow each year, supplemented by snowmaking, the resort is relatively small with 24 named trails, four lifts spread out across 445 acres, and a vertical drop of 860 feet. Mountain biking trails are closed for the season, but a dedicated tubing hill is a big draw for families. There’s also a ski school and equipment rentals. Lodging and dining are available in Kyle Canyon and in Las Vegas.
Yelpers like that the resort is typically not crowded unless you visit on a weekend or holiday right after it snows. Parking is limited, so get there early.
Elko Snobowl
Elko
Open weekends January 2025-Mid-March 2025
Owned by the community, Elko Snowbowl, located at 1992 Snobowl Road, is only eight miles from Elko in northeast Nevada. Many people from the area grew up skiing here and are now passing those skills to their kids.
“Elko SnoBowl is the all-time GOAT,” writes a Redditor on a post ranking Nevada ski resorts.
Along with locals, the Snowbowl attracts visitors from outside Nevada. An hourly shuttle runs from the end of Fifth Street to the ski area hourly.
From the 6,300-foot base to the 7,000-foot summit, different sides of the Snowbowl offer runs of varied difficulty, from beginner to intermediate. One double chairlift with 99 seats runs right up the middle of the mountain. In addition to downhill and cross-country skiing and snowboarding, the Snowbowl also has a hill for snow tubing and sledding. In the summer, it becomes a mountain bike park.
One reviewer on the Elko Snowbowl Facebook Page wrote: “This is a place we are thankful for in our community for families to go have some good ol outdoor fun.”
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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