We’ve been traveling to ski resorts in the western U.S. trying to decipher which will provide the best vacation experience for skiers and snowboarders like you. We spent a few days at Sierra-at-Tahoe interviewing locals, shooting local skiers and boarders tearing up the hill, and then compiling what we learned into this micro guide.
The video above contains lots of useful information, but, if you want to carry have this information on the hill where it will really come in handy, bookmark this guide on your phone.
Sierra-at-Tahoe Micro Guide Part 1: The Hill
Whenever I show up at a hill, I never know where to go. The map doesn’t tell you enough. So, we’re created annotated maps of each hill explaining the terrain, so that you know where to go. Here’s our annotated map of Sierra-at-Tahoe.
Download a full-sized version of this map to your desktop or phone (8.4 mb)
For the Hardcore:
If you’re looking for the steeps and trees you’re going to spend most of your day on the Grandview Chair. Preacher’s Passion, Castle, and Preacher’s Street — as well as the surrounding trees — are all excellent runs. For serious big-mountain sidecountry action, grab a friend and head for the Huckleberry Gates. You won’t be disappointed.
For the park rats:
With five parks, one snowboard cross course, and a superpipe, Sierra-at-Tahoe has way more features than can be listed here. The biggest features are built in different parks at different times, so if you’re looking to go big you’ll have to ask when you get there, but at the time of writing the The Alley (accessed by the Short Stuff Chair) had two monster kickers — one of which was around 50 feet. Smokey Boardercross — one of the few full-time snowboard cross courses in the country — is also worth checking out. It can be reached from both the Grandview Express Chair and Eldorado Chair.
For the groomer cruisers:
If you’re looking for good groomers you’ll find plenty at Sierra-at-Tahoe. Several can be accessed from the Grandview Chair, but the best place to be is in the West Bowl off the West Bowl Express Chair where the sun hits early and softens things up nicely.
For the snowplowers:
Sierra-at-Tahoe is very family friendly and has ample terrain for beginners, including Easy Street — 11 acres of terrain customized specifically for beginners — which is accessed by the Broadway Chair.
Beginners who’d like to try something a little longer should definitely check out Sugar n’ Spice off the Grandview Express Chair, which is 2+ miles of easy cruising.
Sierra-at-Tahoe Micro Guide Part II: Where to Eat
The following restaurants came highly recommended by the locals we spoke to:
All fresh and natural vegetarian. Super healthy.
3123 Harrison Ave South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
(530) 541-6969
Reasonably priced delicious Mediterranean fare popular with locals.
2229 Lake Tahoe Blvd Suite A, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
(530) 542-2500
A classic Italian bistro and 30-year staple of the South Lake Tahoe dining scene.
1181 Emerald Bay Rd., South Lake Tahoe, Ca 96150
(530) 541-3433
A local surf-style restaurant with a focus on fresh, organic food, micro brews, and fine wines.
3330 Lake Tahoe Blvd South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
(530) 542-3630
Good food and a great beer selection in this local Meyers watering hole, between Sierra-at-Tahoe and the city of South Lake Tahoe.
3200 U.S. Route 50 in California, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
(530) 577-0775
Sierra-at-Tahoe Micro Guide Part III: What to do Off the Hill
Sierra-at-Tahoe is a great area for alternative outdoors activities with both snowshoeing and snow tubing at the hill. There’s also excellent cross country skiing in the area.
A little further afield in South Lake Tahoe there are all manner of diversions, such as bowling, shopping, gambling, and shows at the casinos.
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Great article , love pic heading the column. How much snow do they get when’s the best time to go
They get get a lot of snow, 480 inches per year! I’m not sure when the best time to go is, though. Probably in Late January and February when there’s lots of snow.