Lake Tahoe

Epic or Ikon: Which Should You Choose?

Today is the last day to buy an Epic Pass before prices go up for the third, and likely final, time tomorrow. In this piece, we’ll aim to shed light on the differences between Ikon and Epic—and whether either is worth getting during these uncertain times.

Squaw/Alpine Opens A Day Early, Several Other North American Resorts Open This Week

Multiple North American resorts open for the 2020-21 season this week. We’ve detailed the opening-week access details for each of these mountains here.

Observations From Heavenly’s Opening Weekend

Our ranker-in-chief Sam stopped by Heavenly on November 21, 2020, during its opening weekend. Here, he shares some thoughts on the experience.

Video: Heavenly Opening Weekend Run

A run down Heavenly's High Five and Double Down trails during opening weekend 2020. These trails are typically groomed during the core season, but they were left ungroomed today. Conditions were thin cover but excellent for early season.

Video: Northstar Early Season Vista Run

A run down Northstar’s Sidewinder trail, off the Vista Express, during opening week. During the regular season, this trail features a Burton Progression Park and perennially remains groomed. The early season presents a unique opportunity for some bump skiing here.

Many Holdout North American Destination Resorts to Open This Week, Parking Reservations at Copper and Snowbird Already Filling Up

By the end of this week, most of the resorts we’ve reviewed will be open for the 2020-21 season. With COVID-19 still a factor, we’ve detailed the access information for each of these mountains here.

Homewood

While this Tahoe hill can’t hold its own overall against the destination resorts, it boasts an astonishing, one-of-a-kind mountain aesthetic.

Diamond Peak

This Tahoe mountain will impress many visitors with breathtaking lake views, but its terrain and amenities are no match for the area’s better-known destination resorts.

Mount Rose

Despite its high elevation, a number of shortcomings detract from this Nevada mountain’s appeal as a destination resort.

Sugar Bowl

This California resort can’t match the acreage and vertical drop of competing Tahoe mountains, but it stands out with trails for all ability levels and an extremely demanding expert footprint.

Northstar

This family-friendly resort offers excellent grooming and a top-tier terrain park, but expert and above-treeline terrain is lacking.

Sierra-at-Tahoe

While it can’t boast the same crazy lake views, striking terrain, or expansive base village as some other Tahoe areas, this moderately-sized resort offers reasonable prices and a local feel.

Kirkwood

This relatively undeveloped mountain isn’t for everyone, but its striking aesthetic, local feel, and extreme terrain are tough to match.

Heavenly

This Lake Tahoe area offers some of the most beautiful slopes we’ve seen anywhere. A few logistical problems diminish the resort’s size advantage.

Palisades Tahoe

Two of Tahoe’s best ski areas have now been linked as one continuous lift-served destination, but the resort still functions as two separate mountains in many ways.