Tahoe Ski World

skiing in Lake Tahoe

Tahoe Snow report: Sierra-at-Tahoe receives 2 feet of snow

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If you happen to be skiing or snowboarding today at a Lake Tahoe ski resort, good for you! It’s probably your first powder day of the season.

Although no one at Sierra-at-Tahoe today was likely jumping off cliffs like Olympian Maddie Bowman, skiers and riders might have been jumping for joy with 2 feet of fresh snow.
Although no one at Sierra-at-Tahoe was likely jumping off cliffs like Olympian Maddie Bowman, skiers and riders might have been jumping for joy today with a  reported 2 feet of fresh snow.

Thanks to a storm that dumped up to 2 feet of fresh snow, the Tahoe ski resorts were covered in a fresh coat of white for the final day of the Thanksgiving weekend. It likely caused quite a bit of second-guessing on when to leave today. The lingering question: take advantage of the great snow conditions or get out of town quick and beat some of the holiday traffic.

It was quite a good week for the Tahoe resorts, who used some earlier snow and their snow-making capability to open in time to cash in on the Thanksgiving business. Only Mt. Rose and Boreal Mountain were up and running a week ago following their opening day Nov. 18. Five more resorts opened Wednesday, two more fired up their lifts Friday, and Sierra-at-Tahoe became the 10th Lake Tahoe ski resort to open for the 2016-17 season when it began operating a few lifts on Saturday.

The sizable storm that started Saturday and concluded this morning was worth it for the Thanksgiving crowd.

Here are snow totals that were reported today (Nov. 27):

  • Sierra-at-Tahoe: 24 inches
  • Heavenly: 18 inches
  • Sugar Bowl: 18 inches
  • Kirkwood: 16 inches
  • Boreal Mountain: 16 inches
  • Alpine Meadows: 15 inches
  • Squaw Valley: 15 inches
  • Northstar California: 13 inches
  • Mt. Rose: 9 inches

Northstar California has the most terrain open thus far. Located in Truckee off Highway 267, Northstar has 7 lifts, 18 runs and top to bottom skiing and riding with 13 groomed runs. At Heavenly, the South Lake Tahoe resort is operating 5 lifts and has 5 runs open. Kirkwood has two lifts and available eight runs.

Kirkwood Mountain was ready this morning for skiers and riders, thanks to 18 inches of fresh snow from Saturday's storm.
Kirkwood Mountain was ready this morning for skiers and riders, thanks to 16 inches of fresh snow from Saturday’s storm.

Although the last to open for the holiday, Sierra-at-Tahoe was the big winner in the latest storm. The ski resort off Highway 50 heading into Lake Tahoe is reporting 24 inches of new snow. Sierra was scrambling to take advantage of the powder and trying to open as many new runs as possible today.

On Saturday, Sierra was reporting early-season conditions and limited terrain, accessed by two chairlifts and two surface lifts. Open was Easy Rider Express and Rock Garden with access to Broadway and Echo beginner trails. There was also a terrain park with small to medium features, allowing guests to get their park legs back underneath them.

“We’re excited to flip the switch and open the mountain,” said General Manager, John Rice. “Forecasts show possible snow showers throughout the weekend and into next week, potentially allowing us to open more trails, conditions pending.”

Tentative Lake Tahoe Opening Dates

  • Rose: open Nov. 18
  • Boreal Mountain: open Nov. 18
  • Northstar: open Nov. 23
  • Heavenly: open Nov. 23
  • Squaw Valley: open Nov. 23
  • Alpine Meadows: open Nov. 23
  • Soda Springs: open Nov. 23
  • Sugar Bowl: open Nov. 25
  • Kirkwood: open Nov. 25
  • Sierra-at-Tahoe: open Nov. 26
  • Homewood: Dec. 9
  • Tahoe Donner: Dec. 9
  • Donner Ski Ranch: Dec. 9
  • Diamond Peak: Dec. 15