EN
EN
Stunning views
Snow-sure resort
Off-slope activitiesStunning viewsSnow-sure resortOff-slope activitiesStunning viewsSnow-sure resortOff-slope activitiesStunning viewsSnow-sure resortOff-slope activitiesHeavenly rises high above the southern shore of Lake Tahoe, in the United States, straddling the line between California and Nevada in the Sierra Nevada. It's been drawing skiers up this ridge since 1955, when it opened with little more than rope tows and a couple of chairlifts. The story goes, its founders named it on the spot: one look at Lake Tahoe from the summit, spread out below like a sheet of blue glass and ringed by snowy peaks, and there was only one word to describe it. That view still stops people mid-run today. Below the mountain sits South Lake Tahoe, a proper town that keeps going long after the lifts close, with its own restaurants and nightlife, and, just over the state line, a cluster of Nevada casinos to explore.
The skiing here is on a proper scale. There's around 1,900 hectares of terrain to explore, spread across 97 runs. The summit sits at 3,060m, with a vertical drop of just under 1,070m down to the base. Four separate base areas span both sides of the state line, so there's always a different corner of the mountain to discover. Just starting out? There are dedicated learning zones to get you going. Looking to cover some ground? You'll find long, satisfying cruisers on both the California and Nevada sides. And if you're chasing something steeper, head for the chutes and wide-open bowls, including a run down Gunbarrel that's built a reputation few bump runs in North America can match. The snow adds up too, around 9 metres of it most winters, and with the season stretching from late November into April, you've got plenty of time to go looking for it.
South Lake Tahoe sits at the foot of Heavenly’s gondola, and being right above a proper town changes the whole shape of a ski holiday here. You'll be within easy walking distance of restaurants, bars, and shops, and Stateline, just across the border, adds a cluster of casinos if an evening at the tables appeals to you. On the mountain itself, there's plenty to do without skis on. Adventure Peak, at the top of the gondola, has snow tubing and sledding, and there are cross-country trails and snowshoe routes to explore, while down in Heavenly Village there's an ice rink for a change of pace. However you split your days here, between the mountain and the town, there's always something worth doing.
Check out Heavenly ski deals to start planning your trip.
Heavenly rises high above the southern shore of Lake Tahoe, in the United States, straddling the line between California and Nevada in the Sierra Nevada. It's been drawing skiers up this ridge since 1955, when it opened with little more than rope tows and a couple of chairlifts. The story goes, its founders named it on the spot: one look at Lake Tahoe from the summit, spread out below like a sheet of blue glass and ringed by snowy peaks, and there was only one word to describe it. That view still stops people mid-run today. Below the mountain sits South Lake Tahoe, a proper town that keeps going long after the lifts close, with its own restaurants and nightlife, and, just over the state line, a cluster of Nevada casinos to explore.
The skiing here is on a proper scale. There's around 1,900 hectares of terrain to explore, spread across 97 runs. The summit sits at 3,060m, with a vertical drop of just under 1,070m down to the base. Four separate base areas span both sides of the state line, so there's always a different corner of the mountain to discover. Just starting out? There are dedicated learning zones to get you going. Looking to cover some ground? You'll find long, satisfying cruisers on both the California and Nevada sides. And if you're chasing something steeper, head for the chutes and wide-open bowls, including a run down Gunbarrel that's built a reputation few bump runs in North America can match. The snow adds up too, around 9 metres of it most winters, and with the season stretching from late November into April, you've got plenty of time to go looking for it.
South Lake Tahoe sits at the foot of Heavenly’s gondola, and being right above a proper town changes the whole shape of a ski holiday here. You'll be within easy walking distance of restaurants, bars, and shops, and Stateline, just across the border, adds a cluster of casinos if an evening at the tables appeals to you. On the mountain itself, there's plenty to do without skis on. Adventure Peak, at the top of the gondola, has snow tubing and sledding, and there are cross-country trails and snowshoe routes to explore, while down in Heavenly Village there's an ice rink for a change of pace. However you split your days here, between the mountain and the town, there's always something worth doing.
Check out Heavenly ski deals to start planning your trip.
Skiing at Heavenly splits into two distinct experiences, depending on which side of the mountain you're on. The California side is mostly tree-lined and rolling, with wide cruisers and glades that suit intermediates especially well (and Lake Tahoe often sits in view below you as you ski). Cross over to Nevada and the character changes, where terrain opens out and gets steeper and drier. The mountain's toughest skiing sits here in the gated Mott and Killebrew Canyons, with narrow and demanding chutes for a proper test. Beginners have their own dedicated areas to start on, most easily reached from the gondola. Wherever you ski, there's a lot of ground to explore, plenty of long cruising runs, and a famously testing bump run down Gunbarrel for anyone who fancies a workout.
The lift system takes a little getting used to, simply because the mountain is so spread out across four base areas. Most lifts are modern, fast quads and six-seaters, so once you've settled on a base for the day, you can lap runs quickly. There's one thing worth knowing before you set off: the only route between the California and Nevada sides is the Sky Express, right at the summit, so it makes sense to pick a side and stick with it for a few hours rather than crossing back and forth.
Important for international visitors: North America uses green circles, blue squares, black diamonds, and double black diamonds rather than the European system. Green circles are the easiest, similar to a European green or easy blue. Blue squares cover intermediate terrain, but the range is wide, some are gentle cruisers, others considerably more testing. Black diamonds are advanced and steep, and double blacks are expert-only. There's no direct match for a European red, so if you're an intermediate, start conservatively and work your way up before committing to anything graded black.
You'll find beginner terrain at two spots on the mountain: around California Lodge, and at Boulder Lodge on the Nevada side. Both sit apart from the main mountain traffic with their own gentle lifts, so you can take your first turns without fast skiers weaving past you. At California Lodge, head for Enchanted Forest, a short, easy green that's ideal for your very first day, while at Boulder, Boulder Bowl gives you a wide-open, forgiving slope with plenty of room to find your rhythm. If you'd like some structure to your first few days, the ski school runs group and private lessons from both bases, and it's a good way to get comfortable quickly.
Once you're ready to explore further, head up to Patsy's and Mombo Meadows on the California side, reached from the top of the Gunbarrel Express chair or the aerial tram. These are proper green runs rather than nursery slopes, wider and a little longer, so they let you practise linking turns at a slightly higher elevation. If you're staying down in the village, the gondola is a comfortable way up to this same terrain, since it carries you straight to Tamarack Lodge without needing to ski anything steep to get there.
WeSki insider tip: Ask locals where the best beginner cruising is, and many will point you to the Galaxy chair on the California side. It's a fixed-grip lift rather than a fast one, so it's often overlooked, but the run underneath is long, wide, and gentle. Even though it’s a short detour from the beginner zones, it’s well worth seeking out once you're moving confidently on green runs and one of the best places on the whole mountain to properly settle into your turns.
You'll find plenty to enjoy at Heavenly as an intermediate, and one of the real pleasures here is that you can ski two quite different landscapes in the same day. Spend the morning on the California side, where long, groomed blue-square cruisers like Ridge Run and Olympic Downhill let you carve wide turns with the lake spread out below you. Then, cross over to Nevada for the afternoon, where the runs off the Sky Express and Galaxy chairs tend to be a little steeper and less groomed, for a proper step up in feel without committing to a black diamond. Both sides are well-maintained and reward a full day, with satisfying runs and enough variety in pitch and width that you won't get bored lapping them.
If you want to build your confidence further, the glades in the Olympic area on the Nevada side are a good place to try your first tree runs. These are well-spaced and forgiving, without tipping into anything too demanding. Just remember to cut out at the right point on the way down, since the lower sections shift towards tougher, more advanced pitches.
WeSki insider tip: For a proper change of scene without leaving intermediate terrain, take the Skyline Trail from the top of Sky Express and drop into the glades known as Ski Ways or the Pinnacles. It's tree skiing rather than open piste, but still comfortably intermediate, and it takes you away from the main groomed runs into some of the quietest, most rewarding corners of the California side.
Most of the toughest terrain at Heavenly sits on the Nevada side, where it’s truly steep. Mott Canyon is the headline draw, a hike-accessed area of chutes and rock bands with sustained, demanding pitches. Killebrew Canyon, entered through its own set of gates, offers similarly committing terrain with a wilder, more remote feel. Both are open only once ski patrol has finished snow safety work each morning, so it's worth checking with them at the gate or the resort's social channels before you head over. Timing your first run here well is an important part of getting the best out of these canyons.
You'll find challenges on the California side too. Steep black diamonds drop through the trees off the Gunbarrel and East Peak chairs, and Fire Break and Gunbarrel itself are relentless, fall-line runs that will test your legs and your nerve in equal measure. Between the two sides, the trees off the marked runs tend to hold fresh snow well after a storm, since Heavenly's position lets it catch weather from more than one direction.
WeSki insider tip: For sidecountry skiing few visitors know about, ask at the top of the Olympic Express about Firebreak gate. It drops over 900 vertical metres of untracked, forested terrain down towards the road, and because you can lap it easily back to the gondola, it's a proper local secret rather than a one-off adventure. Go with a partner and let someone know your plan, since it's unpatrolled once you're through the gate.
Heavenly wasn't always known as a snowboarder's mountain. Its lift network was designed with skiers in mind, and longtime visitors will tell you the flat cat-tracks used to catch a lot of boarders out. That's changed over the years, and the mountain now works well whether you're carving groomers or hunting out natural terrain. You'll find wide-open bowls and gullies through the trees on both sides of the mountain for excellent freeriding, and Nevada's Mott Canyon in particular rewards riders willing to hike for steep, tree-lined lines. One thing to watch for is the flat traverses linking different parts of the mountain, especially the Skyline Trail between Nevada and California. Keep your speed up and make small turns rather than big carves through these sections, or you'll end up unstrapping to walk.
If freestyle is more your thing, Heavenly runs several terrain parks across different levels. Groove, on the California side, is the place to start, with small, beginner-friendly features, while bigger jumps and rails sit in the advanced parks further up the mountain. Between natural terrain and the parks, there's a good range here whichever kind of riding you're into.
You'll find plenty of off-piste at Heavenly, most notably through the gated Mott and Killebrew Canyons on the Nevada side, where steep, ungroomed chutes and natural features wait beyond the ropes. Tree skiing on both sides of the mountain holds powder well after a storm, and with terrain spread across different aspects, you can often still find untracked snow a day or two after fresh snowfall, just on a different face of the mountain to everyone else.
For something further afield, Heavenly opened up backcountry access gates in the mid-2000s, and today you can head out through several marked exit points into sidecountry beyond the resort boundary. It's unpatrolled and reliant on your own judgement, so go with a partner, carry a beacon, shovel, and probe, and check conditions with ski patrol or the Sierra Avalanche Center before you set off.
Heavenly's ski and ride school runs group and private lessons for all abilities, from complete beginners through to advanced coaching, based at both California Lodge and Boulder Lodge. Beyond standard lessons, private coaching can be tailored to a specific goal, so if you'd like a day focused on moguls, powder technique, or the terrain park, it's worth asking what's available when you book. A private lesson is also a good way to get a local's take on the mountain's layout, which is especially useful given how spread out Heavenly is.
Freestyle is part of the culture here, and there's a proper progression of parks to work through as your riding develops. Lakeview, on the California side, is the best entry point. It’s small and friendly, and built for those first hits on boxes and jumps. Groove is a step up in difficulty, with more than 20 features and a skate-style flow that rewards more commitment, but is still approachable. If you're ready for the big stuff, High Roller, reached via Sky Express and Ridge Run, is where the largest kickers and rail lines live, and it's earned a reputation as one of the more serious parks in Tahoe. Snow permitting, the resort also builds a halfpipe most seasons.
Heavenly is a well-established ski destination for families, thanks to its terrain set-up, character, and convenience. Much of the mountain suits mixed abilities, so parents and kids at different levels can ride the same lifts and ski the runs that suit them rather than splitting up all day. Because the resort is built right into South Lake Tahoe, you'll have a proper town on your doorstep, so you're never far from a change of scene. Families tend to enjoy exploring the town together as much as the mountain, with shops, restaurants, and entertainment all within walking distance of the lifts, and a lively, family-friendly buzz around the village in the evenings.
On the mountain, there's plenty of room for the whole family to settle in and progress over the course of your holiday. Beginners can start out in the resort's dedicated learning zones at the base, away from faster traffic. Younger children have their own ski school programmes here too, with lessons designed to make the basics feel like play, and Heavenly runs on-site childcare for non-skiers so parents can get out on the mountain while little ones are looked after. Kids with more skiing or snowboarding experience have a proper mountain to explore, and will appreciate the long cruising runs on both sides or the chance to progress into the glades. If freestyle appeals, there are terrain parks for every level too.
Off the slopes, most of the action centres on Heavenly Village, the pedestrian plaza at the base of the gondola, right in the heart of South Lake Tahoe and lined with shops and things to do. It's where you'll find the outdoor ice rink, a cinema, and a mini-golf course, all a short stroll apart, so there's easily enough to fill an afternoon off the mountain. When it comes to eating, you're spoilt for choice, family-friendly spots serving pizza and burgers sit alongside smarter restaurants for a proper dinner out. It's also worth riding the gondola even if you're not skiing, since it climbs high above the lake to some of the best views you'll get of Tahoe without clicking into a pair of skis. And on a clear day, the drive or stroll down to the lakeshore is a lovely way to see the water up close.
Being based in a real town rather than an isolated resort means there's a lot to do here when you're not skiing, and plenty to keep non-skiers in the group happily occupied. Some of it makes the most of the setting in the Sierra Nevada, snowmobile tours and snowshoe treks that get you deeper into the mountains and out to the big lake views, while other options are about slowing down, a soak at a spa, a browse round the shops, or a good meal in town. Here's a spread of what's worth doing on a day off the mountain.
Because you're eating in a real town, the choice in South Lake Tahoe stretches well beyond the usual mountain-resort fare. The food here has a relaxed Californian streak, with plenty of fresh fish and seafood, a strong Mexican influence, and Pacific Rim and Hawaiian flavours that turn up alongside the wood-fired pizzas, craft beer, and hearty American cooking. You'll find everything from cabin-cosy fine dining to casual taco joints, much of it family-run. Here are some highlights:
WeSki insider tip: Order the fish tacos at least once while you're here. They're a local signature, turning up on menus all over town, grilled, fried, or blackened.
Après at Heavenly has two distinct halves to it, and that's part of the appeal. It starts on the mountain at the top of the gondola, where Unbuckle at Tamarack Lodge gets going mid-afternoon with DJs and half-price drinks, then carries on down into South Lake Tahoe as the evening sets in. Because the town is a proper year-round destination, the choice is wide, whether you want slopeside beers and pizza near the gondola, or craft breweries, cocktail bars, live music, and casinos over the state line in Stateline. Those casinos are an easy extra to fold into an evening, whether you fancy a flutter, a show, or just a late bite, and they sit only a short walk from the gondola base.
Staying at Heavenly means staying in a real lakeside town, so the choice runs wide. Closest to the slopes you’ll find the condo-style residences by the gondola in Heavenly Village, which tend to be smart, modern places with full kitchens, fireplaces, and ski valet (as close to ski-in, ski-out as South Lake Tahoe gets). Alongside them sit the big Stateline casino-hotels, with rooms, restaurants, spas, and entertainment all under one roof. Spread through the town and along the lake you'll also find comfortable mid-size hotels, self-catering apartments, and cosy cabins, with plenty of options if you'd rather a quiet, more homely base with space to cook and spread out.
Where you stay shapes the kind of trip you have. Base yourself around the gondola and Stateline and you're within walking distance of the lifts, the restaurants, and the nightlife. The California Lodge base is a second way onto the mountain, which is handy for ski school and beginner terrain, with some lodging close by. And if you'd prefer somewhere calmer, the quiet neighbourhoods further along the lakeshore trade a little convenience for a more relaxed setting, with the town's free ski shuttle keeping the slopes within easy reach.
Heavenly is a Vail Resorts mountain, so lift access here runs through the Epic Pass system. For a single trip, the most straightforward option is an Epic lift ticket for the number of days you're skiing, which covers all the lifts and terrain across both the California and Nevada sides of the mountain. The Epic name also covers a range of season passes. Unless you're planning a whole season of skiing, though, a multi-day lift ticket is all you need for a trip to Heavenly.
Check for multi-day pass options when booking your Heavenly ski holiday through WeSki to find the best fit for your trip.
You won't be short of places to hire gear here. The resort's own shops, Heavenly Sports, have locations at all the main base areas, with skis, boards, boots, and helmets for every level, plus premium and demo gear. Renting at the mountain has a couple of nice perks, you can swap equipment between locations if something isn't riding well, and leave your gear in overnight storage. If you'd rather skip the shop altogether, there's also a delivery service that brings the gear to your accommodation and fits you there. Plenty of independent shops around South Lake Tahoe hire equipment too. It’s worth booking ahead in the busier weeks, especially around the US holidays.
One of the easiest things about Heavenly is that you can leave the car behind. The gondola rises straight out of Heavenly Village in the middle of town, so from a base in the Village or the nearby Stateline casinos you're within a short walk of your ride up the mountain. Both of those areas are comfortably walkable for restaurants, shops, and the lifts.
To reach the resort's other base areas, or to get around the wider town, Heavenly runs free seasonal shuttles that link the Village with the California Lodge and, over on the Nevada side, Stagecoach and Boulder. There's also the local bus network and on-demand shuttle apps if you're staying further along the lakeshore. It's worth knowing that Sky Express, the only lift connecting the California and Nevada sides up top, can close in high winds, so on a stormy day you may need to ride the gondola down and shuttle round the bottom to switch sides.
The closest airport to Heavenly is Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), around 95km to the northeast. Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is roughly 175km to the west, and for international travellers arriving via a major hub, the larger Bay Area airports are also within reach, San Francisco International (SFO) at around 300km and Mineta San José International (SJC) at around 315km. Whichever you fly into, the final stretch follows the highway up into the Sierra Nevada.
WeSki offers car hire from the airport as well as transfer options to Heavenly. Add them to your Heavenly ski holiday package for a smooth door-to-door journey.
ery much so. Heavenly has a strong selection of blue-square runs, particularly on the California side, where long groomed cruisers wind down the mountain with lake views. The Nevada side adds variety with slightly steeper terrain that helps intermediates progress. Because the intermediate terrain is spread across both sides of the mountain, you can ski for a full week without feeling like you have run out of new runs to try.
Heavenly's biggest distinction is that it's built right into South Lake Tahoe, so the town life sits closer to the slopes than at the more self-contained resorts like Kirkwood or Northstar. The terrain is well rounded, with long intermediate cruisers, a solid expert offering in the Nevada canyons, and some of the finest lake views in the area. It suits mixed groups particularly well, especially where some people want a lively town on their doorstep alongside the skiing.
Heavenly's marketing figure is around 9 metres of snowfall a season, though as with most resorts the real-world total varies year to year, and Heavenly tends to get a little less than the resorts further west on the Sierra crest. Its high summit at 3,068m helps hold conditions, and its position on the crest means it catches storms from more than one direction. The Nevada side tends to see slightly drier, lighter snow, while the California face can get heavier, wetter falls. The resort also has one of the region's larger snowmaking systems, which helps keep cover consistent. The season typically runs from late November into early April.
North America uses a different system from European resorts. Green circles are beginner runs, blue squares are intermediate, black diamonds are advanced, and double black diamonds are expert-only. The key difference for anyone used to the European system is the absence of a red-run equivalent, so American blue squares cover a wider range of difficulty, and a run marked blue here can feel closer to a European red. Start on the easier blues and adjust from there.
Yes, it's one of the better-set-up ski destinations for non-skiers. South Lake Tahoe is a full town with restaurants, shops, spas, casinos, scenic walks along the lake, and a gondola sightseeing ride open to everyone. There's easily enough to fill several days without touching a pair of skis, and with the lake and the Stateline casinos both on hand, non-skiers won't feel sidelined.
Yes. Both sides are part of the same resort and covered by one lift ticket, and you can cross the state line several times in a day. The California side has the lake views and the long groomed cruisers, while the Nevada side has the steeper, more expert-oriented terrain in Mott and Killebrew Canyons. Just keep an eye on the upper-mountain lifts in high winds, since the link between the two sides can close in a storm.
The gondola base in South Lake Tahoe sits at around 1,900m, and Heavenly's summit reaches 3,068m. That's lower than many Colorado resorts, so altitude tends to affect people less here. Even so, if you're arriving from close to sea level, it's worth staying hydrated and easing into your first day. Most people adjust comfortably within a day or so.
4.9/5I usually book flights, transfers, hotel, ski rental and lift passes myself but this year used WeSki for a trip to Morzine. It was so much easier. Everything worked perfectly - transfers arrived on time and there was plenty of feedback throughout the whole process giving you confidence the holiday would go smoothly.
A really useful service that is so much easier to use than other 'all-inclusive' sites. It nicely bridges the gap between a travel agent and booking the trip yourself online. I will use WeSki every time I go skiing from now on.
We booked a late minute skiing trip to Morzine through we ski. We looked at booking the trip ourselves but could get anywhere near the price quoted by we ski. The company was excellent and we had no problems at all from start to finish. I would definitely use them to book another weekend skiing trip.
Seamless experience from start to finish. I was spending ages trying to sort out a weekend break and managed to do it with we ski in minutes and for the same price as booking it all up yourself. Flight, transfer and accommodation was all as expected and faultless.
WeSki is a trading name operated by WeTrip Ltd. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk.
Package holidays that do not include travel by air are financially protected via ABTOT.
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.