• Scout Loves & Scout Tips
• Scout Review
• Heavenly Skiing
• Heavenly For Families

• Heavenly Accommodation
• Resort Activities
• Getting There and Around
• When To Go
• Facts & Figures

Scout Review

Perched on the southern edge of Lake Tahoe is Heavenly Mountain Resort. This prime position means that stunning lake views are the norm from almost all parts of the mountain. One of the other benefits of its location comes from the fact it lies in two states, Nevada and California. Because it’s in Nevada the resort is a party haven thanks to the 24-hour casinos near the base of the mountain. It’s like a mini-Vegas with a ski resort attached – world-class skiing combined with entertainment, all-night dance clubs and five-star dining makes for a super fun ski vacation for those that want to ski and party hard.

The party extends to the resort too, and every afternoon the famous Unbuckle Apres Party sets the scene for the rest of the night with dancing girls and half-priced drinks. They even have a mobile DJ snowcat pumping music to get you in the mood.

While there are some condos at the slopes on the Nevada side, the main lodging for Heavenly ski resort is in throughout the town of South Lake Tahoe on the California side and Stateline on the Nevada side. The two towns run together, though the division between the two is fairly obvious due to the presence of the Casinos once you cross into Nevada. Access to the resort is from two base areas in California and one access point in Nevada. There is a small purpose-built ski village at the main gondola base however the rest of the town consists of motels, lodges, casinos and some shops and restaurants. It is spread out on the California side with 1960s style lodges and motels and some newer condo properties while on the Nevada side there are about half a dozen high-rise 80s style casinos. Sadly the beautiful lake doesn't feature much as part of the town area which is set well back from the lake.

Heavenly Skiing

You’ll be forgiven for thinking it’s all about a party, but Heavenly is actually an incredible skiers mountain too. Heavenly Resort boasts the largest skiing area in all of California... so much so it spills over into the neighbouring state of Nevada. With over 4800 acres of skiable terrain, Heavenly has a wonderful mix of terrain for all ability levels, alongside some of the best tree skiing in North America (and incredible views of Lake Tahoe to match!).

Best suited to intermediate skiers and snowboarders, Heavenly offers up some super fun leg-burning groomers, perfectly spaced trees, and two canyon areas with some more challenging chutes and drops. It's definitely not a boring place to ski! For those who like to hit park features, Heavenly has multiple parks to cater to different ability levels, including a halfpipe. Advanced skiers are best to head into the trees, with decent gladed terrain (and massive pine trees to match), or to the alpine bowls. The resort boasts a mammoth 3,500 feet of vertical and, sitting at 10,067 feet, Heavenly is the highest resort in Lake Tahoe. On the Nevada side of the resort both Mott and Killebrew Canyon areas offer some lines tailored to the expert skier, however, there is nothing overly extreme at Heavenly. The best skiing is definitely off-piste, so we recommend becoming familiar with the complex trail map and exploring.

Heavenly is a relatively modern resort so its lift infrastructure is quite efficient. The gondola from the centre of town to the ski area offers easy access to and from the slopes for those staying downtown rather than on the hill. Lake Tahoe is renowned for having some epic powder dumps over the years, on average 9 or so metres, but the resort also provides man-made snow, covering a staggering 73% of the trails. Expect many bluebird days at Heavenly (almost 300 days a year are bluebird!), and snow to be a little wetter and heavier than other parts of the US.

Heavenly is part of the Epic pass, allowing you to explore more of the resorts in both North America and Canada. Epic passes can be added to a Heavenly Ski Package when booked via Scout.

Download the Trail Map

Heavenly For Families

Heavenly Ski Resort has a pretty comprehensive range of facilities and amenities, both on-mountain and in South Lake Tahoe. From rentals to restaurants, and retail shops that stock all the outerwear and ski accessories you may need (or have forgotten to pack). As per many world-class resorts, Heavenly offers a good range of childcare and babysitting options, both full and half-day. The Heavenly Ski School operates out of three locations across the resort, and mix childcare and ski lessons in programs for the younger ones, as well as standard programs for adults and teens.

The resort has a fun tubing hill located at the top of the Gondola which is a great way to spend an afternoon. A smaller mini-tubing hill is also located near Adventure Peak for the tiny ones. A popular activity for families is also the open-air skating, located at the Heavenly Village. It has great atmosphere on a cold Wintery night and is open until 11PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Down in South Lake Tahoe there are plenty of activities for the kids, including cinemas, bowling alleys, and sleigh rides.

South Lake Tahoe is spread out offering varying base areas for families to stay. Heavenly Village provides the most convenient access to the gondola, resort facilities, and restaurants, and has a good range of hotels, motels, and condo options. Staying a little further away from the gondola reduces the price a bit for families and there are many shuttle options to ferry you around the village and resort area. The California Base area has some lodging within walking distance of the Aerial Tramway - this is also the closest to the best beginner slopes and day care. This area is most popular for families with small kids, as it's away from the fast-paced casino side of Lake Tahoe. The casino area, Stateline, is only a few minutes' walk from the gondola and provides convenience of being close to the bustling nightlife.

Heavenly Accommodation

There is some lodging on the mountain, but since the gondola connects the lakeside Heavenly base area directly with the mountain, it’s just as easy for skiers to stay down in Stateline (Nevada) or South Tahoe (California) - There’s more choice for accommodation styles, restaurants, bars and shops. Zalanta Resort and Lakeland Village are two of our favourite lodging options for skiers. Staying close to the Heavenly Village base is ideal for families so you have easy access to the slopes. The good news is that staying in Heavenly isn’t going to break the bank like other resorts.

Resort Activities

Apart from the parties and casinos there are a few other activities in the Heavenly Village area including shopping, ice-skating, bowling and a movie theatre. Snow-based activities include snowshoeing, snow-tubing and zip-lining up at the Mountain Adventure Peak. It’s open daily until 3pm. Ice-skating at Heavenly Village is open late on the weekends. Lake-based activities in winter are more limited than summer but you can cruise the lake on a paddle steamer.

Getting There and Around

South Lake Tahoe is about 3 hours’ drive from the San Francisco area, though sometimes on winter weekends the traffic can double the time.

An alternative to driving is to fly to Reno, which has plenty of direct daily flights and is 70 minutes’ drive to South Tahoe. You can also fly to Sacramento although it’s about a 2-hour drive.

You won’t need a car if staying on the mountain or down by the lake – some places are close enough to walk to the gondola base area or there are buses (although they can be a hassle). If you want to ski other areas, there are shuttles to Northstar and Kirkwood in the morning and back in the afternoon – they leave from the transit center near the gondola. If you are planning on exploring different areas of the lake, you’re probably better off renting a car.

When To Go

Heavenly’s season operates from mid-November till mid-April. The best time of year to come is between January–March, with February being the most reliable. Spring skiing will have better weather, but less powder. Heavenly experiences over 300 bluebird days each year, so sunny days are almost guaranteed!

Holiday periods that are busy are:

• Christmas and New Year.
• Martin Luther King long weekend
• President’s Day long weekend