Your Insider’s Guide to Visiting Heavenly Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe

For many winter sports enthusiasts, a trip to Lake Tahoe is a must. This area offers a wide variety of incredible ski resorts and activities, and one of the most popular is Heavenly Ski Resort. Not only is it one of the biggest ski areas in the US, but it also boasts some of the best panoramic views of Lake Tahoe.

Heavenly Ski Resort has 30 chairlifts, 114 trails and 4,800 skiable acres (the most in Lake Tahoe) and sits at 10,067 feet in elevation. As locals, we consider Heavenly our hometown mountain and snowboard there frequently. We created this insider’s guide to help you plan the perfect trip and get the most out of your visit.

Know before you go

Did you know you can save up to 20% on lift tickets by purchasing them in advance? Lift tickets at this world class ski resort can be pricey and we suggest clicking here to purchase at least 7 days in advance of your trip.

Before purchasing, be sure to compare the cost of lift tickets to one of their many Epic season pass options. In some cases, it may be cheaper to purchase a season pass for your trip than it is to purchase individual lift tickets if you’re looking to ski or ride for more than 3 or 4 days.

Note that conditions at Heavenly Ski Resort can change quickly, especially during winter snowstorms. Be sure to stay up to date on Heavenly Ski Resort’s real time updates on road conditions, terrain access, parking availability and more by following their @HVconditions Twitter handle and by signing up for their text alerts here or by texting "UPDATES" to 530-302-2751. You’ll want to check these resources frequently prior to and during your visit to ensure a smooth experience!

How to access the mountain

With 4 different base areas spread across two different states, Heavenly Ski Resort can be tricky to navigate. You can access all 4,800 skiable acres from any of the 4 base areas. So how do you choose where to start? Here’s our tips.

Stagecoach Lodge

375 Quaking Aspen Ln, Stateline, NV 89449

Parking: free (space is limited, arrive early by 8:30am to secure a spot)

As Tahoe locals we consider Stagecoach Lodge our preferred home base at Heavenly Ski Resort. It’s the closest and most convenient base location from The Tahoe House, providing the quickest and easiest access to the mountain at just a quick 7 minute drive up the road. Stagecoach Lodge itself is a small but cozy ski lodge with food & beverage options, a bar, restrooms, ticket sales, rental equipment and a repair shop. Just steps away from the parking lot is Stagecoach Express Quad chairlift which allows you to easily connect to the Comet Express and Dipper Express chairlifts as well as East Peak Lodge, a perfect on-mountain spot to grab lunch and a drink.

Boulder Lodge

140 S Benjamin Dr, Stateline, NV 89449

Parking: free (space is limited, arrive early by 8:30am to secure a spot)

Located on the Nevada side near Stagecoach Lodge is Boulder Lodge, a great spot to start out if you’re a beginner or have kids. We often end up here if the Stagecoach Lodge parking lot is full. Steps away from the parking lot is Boulder Lift, which is a painfully slow but perfect for beginners lift that has access to easy green beginner terrain, as well as easy access to more advanced terrain if desired via connection to the North Bowl Express chairlift. Also located at this base area is Boulder Carpet and bunny hill making it a great area for beginners to learn. The lodge offers food & beverage options, a bar, restrooms, ticket sales, rental equipment and a repair shop.

California Lodge

3860 Saddle Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Parking: free for the 2022-23 winter season, paid with reservations required starting in the 2023-24 winter season. Find more information on the parking changes at California Lodge here.

California Lodge is the furthest base area from The Tahoe House but also provides really easy access to terrain. Just a few steps from one side of the parking lot is Gunbarrel Express chairlift and on the other end of the parking lot is the aerial Tram, a super cool European style gondola with stunning views of the lake. California Lodge offers food & beverage options, a bar, restrooms, ticket sales, rental equipment and a repair shop.

Heavenly Village & Gondola

4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Parking: paid via the parking garage located at 1 Bellamy Ct. South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.

If you want to throw yourself right into the heart of all the tourist action at Heavenly Ski Resort, head to Heavenly Village and access the ski resort via the Heavenly gondola. Complete with restaurants, shops, an ice skating rink and a movie theater, the gondola sits right in the middle of all of the action. The downsides of this base area are you’ll have to pay to park, carry your ski gear through the village to reach the gondola, and there isn’t a lodge area. But if you’re looking to be in the center of all the action this is your spot! This is a great base area if you have members of your group who won’t be skiing or riding, as you can access scenic gondola rides, tubing, Tamarack Lodge and more activities via this location.

Lessons

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced skier or rider looking to refine your skills, Heavenly Ski Resort's Ski & Ride school has you covered. From private lessons to group clinics and packages, you'll have plenty of options for improving your technique in the great outdoors. Lessons for people of all ages and skill levels can be booked online and are available at all four base areas of Heavenly Ski Resort.

If you’re staying at The Tahoe House, we personally recommend scheduling lessons at Boulder Lodge as it’s the most convenient location to access beginner terrain.

Rental equipment

Find a wide selection of high-performance winter sports equipment from top brands like Burton, K2, and Salomon at one of the many rental equipment locations in town. You can reserve ski and snowboard rental equipment in advance directly from Heavenly Ski Resorts by clicking here. You can also rent off the mountain from Black Tie Ski Rental Delivery or Shoreline Tahoe, both located on Kingsbury Grade just a few minutes down the road from The Tahoe House.

Activities other than skiing

Did you know there are many ways to still enjoy Heavenly Ski Resort even if you aren’t skiing or riding? Book a scenic gondola ride to experience panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains. Schedule winter tubing at the top of the gondola and enjoy grab-n-go snacks, food & beverages at the adjacent Tamarack Lodge.

Spend an afternoon taking a stroll through Heavenly Village, located at the base of the Heavenly Ski Resort gondola. From shopping and dining to live music, art galleries and an ice skating rink and movie theater, there’s plenty here to keep you entertained.

Activities other than skiing

Did you know there are many ways to still enjoy Heavenly Ski Resort even if you aren’t skiing or riding? Book a scenic gondola ride to experience panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains. Schedule winter tubing at the top of the gondola and enjoy grab-n-go snacks, food & beverages at the adjacent Tamarack Lodge.

Spend an afternoon taking a stroll through Heavenly Village, located at the base of the Heavenly Ski Resort gondola. From shopping and dining to live music, art galleries and an ice skating rink and movie theater, there’s plenty here to keep you entertained.

Where to Stay

The Tahoe House is the perfect vacation rental for accessing Heavenly Ski Resort. Spend the day on the slopes and then come back for a soak in your private hot tub. Stay cozy getting out of the hot tub with warm fluffy spa robes. Spend the evening cooking up chili in the well equipped kitchen or relaxing and playing board games in the living room while warming up around the gas fireplace. Book your winter ski trip direct and save!

In Conclusion

Visiting Heavenly Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe is sure to be an unforgettable experience for any outdoor enthusiast. Whether it's skiing down one of its many runs or taking in the stunning views, there's something at Heavenly for everyone.

Still have questions about your visit to Heavenly Ski Resort? Ask us in the comments below!