It’s the time of year at Tahoe ski resorts where skiers and riders are seeking warmer days, afternoons soaking in the sun, and hoping for the occasional powder day that sometimes surfaces late in the season.
In Lake Tahoe, the last week in March is likely to deliver all the above. It’s also a time when ski resorts are seeing the finish line approaching and start to wind down for the season.
It’s no wonder, for some, spring skiing is their favorite time of year. The often casual days typically feature less activity on the hill and many people – skiers, riders, resort employees – takes a longer gaze at the gorgeous snowy mountain scenery and revels in the more light-hearted atmosphere.
Thanks to several sizable storms in March, Tahoe ski resorts still have an ample amount of snow in a season where the overall amount is less than average. It probably won’t quality as a “Miracle March,” but the additional snow means enough coverage for resorts to operate into late April.
According to Andrew Schwartz, director of the Central Sierra Snow Lab on Donner Pass, the Tahoe snowpack typically peaks April 1. Although the Sierra snowpack increased significantly this March, because no other large storms are on the horizon, it’s unlikely Tahoe will see another Miracle March in 2025.
“This year is a little below average in terms of precipitation,” Schwartz said. “People love Miracle March, this idea that March is somehow going to make up for this big lack of snowpack throughout the season by having these big storms come in, one right after the other. This one realistically has been a pretty average March.
There have been some very lean years in the past – ones where snowfall only made only guest appearances. In the 2014-15 season, then Squaw Valley (now Palisades Tahoe) reported 209 inches of snow, it’s lowest total in the past 25 years.
But the high years can be extremely high – Palisades Tahoe recorded 723 inches of snow in the 2022-23 season and remained open through the Fourth of July weekend. That same year, several Tahoe ski resorts broke seasonal records for snow totals and Mammoth Mountain recorded a whopping 885 inches at its summit and remained open through Aug. 6.
CLOSING TIME: Palisades Tahoe will again be the final Tahoe ski resort to shut down for the 2024-25 season. The resort says it will stay open through Memorial Day (May 26). Palisades Tahoe also closed a year ago on Memorial Day.
SEE RESORT CLOSING DATES BELOW
Another California resort that always closes late in the season is Mammoth, located on California’s Eastern Sierra range, approximately 100 miles south of the Nevada state line and 50 minutes from the eastern gate of Yosemite.
Despite below-average snow this season – to date, 389 at its summit – Mammoth resort officials are listing Memorial Day as its likely final day of the season.
In Tahoe, late-season skiing and riding can also be done at Sugar Bowl and Mt. Rose. Sugar Bowl plans to remain open on a daily basis through April 13, then the resort will reopen for two Friday through Sunday weekends – April 18-20 and April 25-27. Mt. Rose also has a scheduled closing date of April 27.
Sunday, April 20 is the most popular closing date among Tahoe ski resorts. Closing that day will be five Tahoe resorts – Heavenly, Boreal Mountain, Diamond Peak, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Soda Springs and Granlibakken, which has a sledding hill and a modest ski area.
HOW DID RESORTS FARE THIS SEASON? Many Tahoe ski resorts responded to a question from Tahoe Ski World regarding how the 2024-25 season evolved. The answers are below.
SUGAR BOWL: “With all the amazing snow, especially the recent 6-foot storm in March, we have been able to extend the season and offer extra skiing and riding,” said Sugar Bowl spokesperson Jon Slaughter. “This is a huge bonus for our spring passholders, who can get unlimited access to the resort for the rest of this season for only $399.”
VAIL RESORTS (Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood): “This season has been one to remember, with dynamic weather keeping things exciting from start to finish,” said Vail Resorts spokesperson Ashlee Lambert. “As we prepare to wrap up with classic spring favorites – pond skims, IFSA FWQ Challenger Series, 2025 Junior Freeride Championships – we’re also looking ahead to 2025/26 Epic Passes now on sale.”
DIAMOND PEAK: “It has been another great season at Diamond Peak,” said resort spokesperson Paul Raymore. “We started the year with excellent snowmaking temperatures and enough early-season snow to get the entire mountain open. We’ve had consistent snowfall throughout the year to keep conditions prime this winter. Now we’re looking forward to some warmer weather, spring corn snow, and fun spring events.”
PALISADES TAHOE: “The Spring Skiing Capital is thrilled to be skiing through Memorial Day (May 26), weather and conditions permitting,” said Palisades’ Maddy Condon. “With late-season powder, a full line-up of signature events, and music headliners – 20 Kid, G. Love, KT Tunstall – the party is just getting started.”
MT. ROSE: “Mt. Rose is having another banner season which started with an early November opening (the first among Tahoe ski resorts) and will conclude at the end of April with another successful six-month season.,” said spokesperson Mike Pierce. “Storms came at the right time and guests were blessed with ample powder days as well as loads of Tahoe sunny groomers.”
BOREAL/SODA SPRINGS: “We had a strong start to the year, getting to 100% open earlier than most years,” said Boreal’s Tucker Norred. “Miracle March has now returned, and we are looking forward to some perfect spring skiing.”
GRANLIBAKKEN: “The season has reminded us operators that there are no guarantees when it comes to snow,” said Granlibakken’s DJ Ewan. “We are grateful to have snowmaking at our resort which really helped to get us open by Thanksgiving. Despite the season being a “light” snow year by Tahoe standards this did translate to easy access to the mountains for our visitors and lots of picture perfect, blue-bird days on the hill.”
TAHOE DONNER: “The 2024/25 ski season was an exciting and busy time at Tahoe Donner, marked by commencing construction of our new downhill ski lodge, opening next season,” said resort spokesperson Will Apotheker. “While the snow was unpredictable at times, we saw plenty of perfect bluebird days for learning to ski – which is exactly what we specialize in.”
MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN: “We’re coming off our biggest storms of the year, which produced some deep days on the mountain and set us up really nicely for a long spring,” said Mammoth spokesperson Emily van Greuning. “We’re still looking at some active patterns in our future, so the powder skiing and riding is not done yet.”
RESORT CLOSING DATES (March 23)
- Tahoe Donner: April 6
- Northstar: April 13
- Kirkwood: April 13
- Diamond Peak: April 20
- Boreal Mountain: April 20
- Heavenly: April 20
- Granlibakken: April 20
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: April 20
- Soda Springs: April 20
- Sugar Bowl: April 27
- Mt. Rose: April 27
- Palisades Tahoe: May 26
- Mammoth Mountain: May 26
- Homewood: Closed all season
