Lake Tahoe snow forecast

Skiing in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe sits high in the Sierra Nevada on the California and Nevada border, ringed by ski resorts on both the north and south shores. Storms from the Pacific can bring very large snowfalls, with the resorts here averaging roughly 350 to 400 inches a season. The lake views are a big part of the appeal. The season typically runs from mid-November to mid-April, with snowmaking used to secure early and late cover.

The North Lake Tahoe section has two contrasting resorts. Palisades Tahoe, in Olympic Valley north west of Tahoe City, hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics and spreads across six peaks with around 3,600 acres. Since 2022 a base-to-base gondola has linked it with neighbouring Alpine Meadows. Northstar, near Truckee, is lower and gentler, with around 60% of its trails graded intermediate, five terrain parks and snowmaking on about half its terrain, which makes it a popular choice for families.

The South Lake Tahoe section covers Heavenly, which straddles the state line above the town of South Lake Tahoe. A gondola climbs from Heavenly Village to the slopes, which reach about 3,060 m. It has around 4,800 acres, a mostly intermediate mix with plenty of advanced runs.

Conditions can differ between the north and south shores on the same day, so it is worth comparing the two before setting off.