Heavenly

Closed
Ron Thompson
SnowPak Local Insider
Ron Thompson
Pros
  • Fun party atmosphere at base
  • Spectacular views of Lake Tahoe and the desert
  • Tons of lodging options keep prices competitive
Cons
  • Crowds can be a problem here

Overall

4.1

One of the best ski resorts in Lake Tahoe, Heavenly is not only known for it's skiing but also it's partying. Split across the California and Nevada state line, the resort is 5th largest in North America and has the longest vertical drop in California. The tree-skiing is phenomenal as is the nightlife, entertainment as well as the gambling at the casinos sitting at the base.

Best month to go

January to March

Janurary to March are the best months to visit as Heavenly gets extremely busy with tons of holiday goers coming in December and around the Easter Weekend.

FLY TO

Reno-Tahoe International Airport

DRIVE/TAXI TO

Heavenly Mountain Resort (1 hour 10 minutes)

Stateline (1-2 mi)

  • Has Casino's near Gondola or private homes a short drive away
  • Has the cheapest accommodation
  • Close to various restaurants, shops and activities

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South Lake Tahoe (1-3 mi)

  • Wide range of affordable and luxury lodging
  • Close to Heavenly Village
  • Close to various restaurants, stores and activities

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California Base area (Walk)

  • A range of condos and private homes
  • Expensive lodging but better for large groups
  • Far from dining, shopping and activities

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Stagecoach Base Area (Walk)

  • Has a lot of condos and timeshares that are almost ski-in/ski-out
  • Far from restaurants, shopping and activities
  • Range of accommodation including Airbnb's

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For beginners

There is limited beginner terrain at Heavenly with only a few mellow trails and practicing areas around. Our pick for new skiers and snowboarders is around Boulder Lodge where you can easily hop on the Boulder lift and wind down Boulder Bowl. It's a nice wide green trail that's great for practicing turns!

For intermediates

Heavenly is a heaven for intermediates with blue trails at almost every lift! For a fun winding run with an amazing view of Lake Tahoe, check out our favorite, Liz's, which starts at 9,846 ft! Big Dipper and Skyline are sure to impress as well.

For experts

Heavenly is a place to be for advanced skiers and snowboarders! Ellie's is the best black-diamond groomer! North Bowl is even better when it is groomed too but no advanced skier and snowboarder would want to miss out on double black-diamond runs, Killebrew Canyon and Mott Canyon!

Find freshies

Freshies are everywhere after a storm (especially between the trees!) and with so much terrain to explore at Heavenly, you're bound to ski some untouched powder!

Ditch the crowds

Sky Express and Dipper Express are the busiest chairlifts since they serve some of the best terrain on the mountain. Opt for other chairlifts if you aren't a fan of queues.

Non skiers

Non-skiers can try out snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing here at Heavenly.

Families

Tamarack Express is the most popular chairlift for families to be around with the Tubing Hill close-by at the base of the chairlift.

Save up to 39% when you book a Heavenly package!

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Heavenly Reviews

Fabulous 4.4 / 5
based on 125 reviews

How well the resort caters for beginner skiers / boarders

Beginners

How well the resort caters for intermediate skiers / boarders?

Intermediates

How well the resort caters for advanced skiers / boarders

Advanced

How accessible and convenient it is to get to this resort from a major destination

Accessibility

Quality of the off-piste terrain

Side/Backcountry

Overall value for money of the resort

Value for money

Quality of lifts, lift speed and lift layout in the resort

Lifts

Quantity and quality of the snow

Snow

How uncrowded is the resort

Uncrowded

Après ski and dining options

Town

Services and facilities e.g. child care, tubing, health care, equipment hire

Facilities

How family friendly is this resort?

Family Friendliness
Average!3.4 / 5Oct 15, 2021
Heavenly ReviewsDavid P.
advanced skier
Best Views of any resort west of the of the Rockies,none of the resorts west of Denver can compare with the skiing and beauty of Heavenly Valley! Lake Tahoe and the desert below!!!... More
Very Good!4 / 5Oct 15, 2021
TWTroy W.
advanced snowboarder
Great great location. Kids had a blast learning how to ski. The gondola was great access from the village. There was a long walk to the bunny hill from the gondola but wasn’t too bad.... More
Superb!4.7 / 5Oct 15, 2021
Heavenly ReviewsChristina P.
advanced skier
Pros: Huge, great snow, beautiful lake views, tons of groomers of varying difficulty. Cons: Lots of cat tracks, gets very crowded. Most of heavenly is groomed though you can find some pockets here and there in resort bound. I do like how much variety there is in groomers and the facilities are great. So many entry points to the mountain -... More
Superb!4.8 / 5Oct 15, 2021
DPDante P.
intermediate snowboarder
Resort was nice. There was plenty of snow. The town of Heavenly is a nce place to visit. Atmosphere is nice for families. Overall, we enjoyed our snowboarding trip to Heavenly.... More
Good!3.8 / 5Oct 15, 2021
ALAnthony L.
expert skier
Skiing and conditions were perfect, with a light dusting overnight leading to partly foggy early then sunshine for postcard views of Lake Tahoe and the Carson valley below. The only gripe was the high prices for the food. So pack some food until you come off the mountain. But overall great two days to get away.... More
Very Good!3.9 / 5Oct 15, 2021
RPRichmond P.
intermediate skier
Well run place. Easy access to the mountain. Watch out for windy days and the gondola. Tahoe is great because there is something there for everyone - on and off the mountain.... More
Average!3.4 / 5Oct 15, 2021
SSteven
intermediate snowboarder
the heavenly resort is pretty nice overall. The customer service was awesome since I had to reschedule everything since there was a rock slide on HWY 50 and we couldn't make to our appointments. When you get to the resort, the staff was out at the front helping customers in front of the ticket booth so that helped a lot for someone like me who is... More
Very Good!4.2 / 5Oct 15, 2021
SJStanley Jewett
advanced snowboarder
Very nice resort! Runs were well groomed and lots of signs so you don’t get lost, the only downfall is it’s not a great place for beginners. I would definitely visit again.... More
Very Good!4.2 / 5Oct 15, 2021
DODouglas O.
intermediate skier
Spectacular views up there! It’s beautiful. The snow was pretty good considering how warm it was and the lack of fresh snowfall. Grooming was good. The runs are a little disconnected at certain places but for an intermediate skier it was perfect with lots of Blue runs. Ran into a lift guide who went out of his way to be rude, sarcastic, and... More
Very Good!4.2 / 5Oct 15, 2021
Heavenly ReviewsMatthew C.
expert snowboarder
Great spring skiing. Great views. First class facilities. Worth the trip. We had an excellent time. Great food and drinks. Great service. Nice weather. No regrets. Great snow. Had an awesome trip... More