The hotel also operates as a wellness-and-workspace-focused members club (there are other locations in ski towns like Aspen, Jackson Hole, and Vail) with a well-outfitted gym and thoughtful recovery options, including hot tub, infrared sauna and leg recovery compression boots, and a large conference room for meetings. There is also an excellent on-site restaurant, Stella, which serves breakfast every day and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday. (The hotel also has a partnership with Ski Butlers, who will pick up and deliver rental gear.)
For those looking for the most direct ski access and highest-rated accommodations on the north side of the lake, the Ritz Carlton at Northstar is located mid-mountain, boasting a 17,000-square-foot spa and the popular restaurant Manzanita.
Where to Ski
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North Lake Tahoe
Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, and the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics) is the largest ski area, at 6,000 acres, and has two distinct base areas, Alpine and Palisades, connected by a 2.4-mile gondola. Either base area offers access to four scenic valleys of trails, bowls, and forests with a range of terrain available to please any expert or beginner. Northstar California is slightly smaller, at 3,170 acres, but offers excellent skiing with long, well-groomed trails. (Note: if you’re visiting on a weekend or holiday and you’re not staying nearby, expect remote parking and shuttle bus rides.) Sugar Bowl is located on the Sierra Crest, only 10 minutes from I-80, with three peaks connected by fun trails (especially for intermediate to advanced skiers). Mt Rose is only a 25- to 30-minute drive from Reno: it is beloved for its expert-only “Chutes” and the high elevation that makes it generally terrific skiing, but beware the top runs on particularly windy days. Diamond Peak is located in Incline Village, and is a smaller, family-friendly spot—but with some of Tahoe’s greatest views.
South Lake Tahoe
The 4,800-acre Heavenly Mountain resort allows visitors to ski Nevada and California in the same day, with 34 miles of wide intermediate trails, seriously special views, and Tahoe’s highest summit elevation. (It also has the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system, which comes in handy when the weather hasn’t been complying.) Kirkwood Mountain’s high elevations and location atop the Sierra Crest often give it Tahoe’s deepest natural snowpack: the fact that it is a scenic hour-long drive from South Lake Tahoe can help limit crowds, too. The 2,000 acre Sierra-at-Tahoe, with its strong variety of park terrain and a half-pipe popular with Olympic champs, is a favorite of South Tahoe locals.
What Else to Do?
