In a startling bit of news this week, three Tahoe ski resorts are pulling the plug in March on the 2025-26 ski season.
And with nearly two weeks left in March and the unseasonably high temperatures and lack of snow major factors, even more resorts might be bringing down the curtain on the season.
After thinking it would close this weekend, Homewood Mountain pushed up its date, shutting down for the season after skiers and riders took their final runs Tuesday, March 17.
Homewood has company in the March closure club. Both Sierra-at-Tahoe and Tahoe Donner have also decided to close early, making March 22 (Sunday) their final day of the season.
A fourth Tahoe ski resort – Granlibakken – is likely to close Sunday as well. The venerable resort focuses more on sledding than skiing and has already closed the upper 50% of its ski hill due to lack of snow. Two other California resorts – Dodge Ridge, Mt. Shasta – are already closed.
SEE PROJECTED TAHOE SKI RESORT CLOSING DATES BELOW
Other than March 2020, when all major Tahoe resorts halted operations abruptly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tahoe Ski World publisher Jeffrey Weidel can’t recall a season where multiple Tahoe ski resorts were ending their season in March.
It’s possible that no Tahoe ski resort will each the 300-inch plateau this season in a region where 400-inch totals or more are the norm.
“We’re currently seeing near-record temperatures and the snow is melting fast,” Sierra-at-Tahoe spokesperson Bryan Hickman posted earlier this week on Instagram. “The ski area is trying to ‘keep trails alive’ by moving snow around, but sometimes Mother Nature just wins.”
Larger Tahoe ski resorts are literally feeling the heat as well. Vail Resorts operates three Tahoe ski resorts – Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood – and is naturally hoping to keep the season alive. Yet there are no guarantees, even though Heavenly and Kirkwood are still scheduled for April 19 closings and Northstar’s season departure is expected one week earlier.
Spring skiing conditions are in full effect throughout the Tahoe region. Vail Resorts spokesperson Dennis Baggett said the three Tahoe resorts are targeting a typical mid-to-late-April closing and that remains the plan.
“While it’s no secret that this has been a lower snowfall year, we’re fortunate to have several areas on our mountains where the snowpack traditionally holds longer,” Baggett said. “Our operations teams are constantly assessing terrain and conditions to determine what remains safe and enjoyable for our guests. We’re committed to staying flexible and adapting to whatever Mother Nature brings or doesn’t bring in the weeks ahead.
As of March 19, Palisades Tahoe had no scheduled closing date but has already shut down the popular Granite Chief lift and Exhibition. Other key lifts may also soon close for the season.
Historically the final Tahoe ski resort to shut down its lifts, the former Squaw Valley resort closed on Memorial Day (May 26) a year ago and also made Memorial Day its last day of skiing and riding in 2024.
And thanks to a record 723 inches of snowfall in the amazing 2023 ski season, Palisades Tahoe stayed open until Fourth of July. However, keeping the lifts running this season beyond April could prove challenging for all Tahoe ski resorts – including Palisades Tahoe.
A modest, family-friendly resort, Tahoe Donner’s operations teams worked diligently to keep its lifts running, evaluating its terrain on a daily basis. The decision to close early was not an easy one.
“Our team has worked hard throughout the season to provide the best possible conditions, but as always, Mother Nature has the final say,” Tahoe Donner spokesperson Lindsay Hogan said.
At Homewood, the early closing comes one year after the resort was closed for the entire 2024-25 season following a controversial battle over its future. Despite opening, this year is bittersweet. Due to lack of snow throughout Lake Tahoe, Homewood delayed its opening until Dec. 27. The closing this week means the resort was open less than three months this season.
Homewood cited the “ups and downs” of this winter’s weather, which has delivered both major snowstorms and near summer-like temperatures that crept into the low 70s this week. With the Sierra snowpack dropping to less than half of normal levels for mid-March, Homewood made the difficult decision to close early.
Optimism for the “Miracle March” that has arrived in the past with huge late-season snow totals has waned. OpenSnow’s Tahoe weather forecaster Bryan Allegretto understands no snow and high temperatures are a horrible combination.
“With temperatures hitting the 70s at lake level this week, we’re going to lose a lot of snow in the next 10 days before the pattern (hopefully) changes,” Allegretto said. “If we only get a few inches when it does snow, it’s just going to refresh what’s there and melt pretty quickly. We’re not going to rebuild the base.”
At Mt. Rose in Nevada (10 miles from North Lake Tahoe), the optimistic closing date remains April 26. Its base elevation – the highest in the region at 8,260 feet – is one key factor that often has Mt. Rose opening first in the Tahoe region and staying open late.
“Tahoe (and the West) are getting a bad rap with the early closures of some resorts. The biggest issue we’ll fight is the false perception that the Tahoe season is over, but there’s still a handful of mountains that will endure this warm March stretch and do fine,” Mt. Rose spokesperson Mike Pierce said. “Odds are we’ll get back to seasonal temps and you’ll see the same resorts ride out the season in style.”
Sugar Bowl is also hoping to offer skiing and riding to nearly mid-April. “Being high on Donner Summit, we’ve been able to groom and preserve our snow for sunny spring skiing conditions. So, as of right now, we’re staying open until April 12,” resort spokesperson Jon Slaughter said.
At Diamond Peak in Incline Village, the decision regarding a definitive closing date has yet to be determined. All its lifts are operating and the only closures have been the resort’s gladed tree-skiing zones.
“Our originally planned closing date for the season was April 19. So, at this point it’s looking very likely that we will close before that date,” Diamond Peak spokesperson Paul Raymore said. “Given the lack of snow this season and the unseasonably warm weather the Tahoe area is experiencing this spring, Diamond Peak is doing everything we can to extend the season as long as possible,” We’re taking it week by week and reevaluating as we go.”
CLOSING TIME: Tentative closing dates Tahoe ski resorts
- Homewood: March 17
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: March 22
- Tahoe Donner: March 22
- Granlibakken: March 22
- Boreal: April 5
- Soda Springs: April 5
- Northstar: April 12
- Sugar Bowl: April 12
- Heavenly: April 19
- Kirkwood: April 19
- Mt. Rose: April 26
- Palisades Tahoe: TBD
- Diamond Peak: TBD
