Plan Your Next Ski Getaway in North Lake Tahoe, California

by Heidi Gollub on July 11, 2024 in Travels,
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Imagine skiing on a bluebird day, looking out over turquoise waves reminiscent of the Mediterranean Sea. That’s the beauty of North Lake Tahoe in the spring. 

My kids and I love skiing in Colorado, but we decided to head farther west this year. We were surprised to discover that traveling to California during Texas’ spring break didn’t take much longer and made for a much more relaxing ski holiday. 

How To Get There: Reno to Tahoe

Snow, evergreen trees, a blue-green lake and snow-capped mountains.
Sugar Pine Point State Park in North Lake Tahoe. Photo Heidi Gollub.

Lake Tahoe straddles the border between Nevada and California. With direct flights from Austin and Dallas to Reno-Tahoe International Airport, it’s easy for Texans to visit North America’s largest alpine lake. 

Driving to North Lake Tahoe from the airport takes about an hour. Once there, you can enjoy 12 ski resorts and two dozen beaches, even when they’re covered in snow. 

Where To Stay: Granlibakken Tahoe

Outside view of wooden cabins with the balconies piled high with snow.
Rustic cabins at Granlibakken have fireplaces, kitchens, and snuggly beds. Photo Heidi Gollub.

Granlibakken Tahoe is the best place to stay in North Lake Tahoe for a nostalgic alpine adventure. Popular since the 1930s, this cozy cabin paradise has everything you need for an affordable family ski vacation. You can rent gear here, and practice your skills on the resort’s historic ski hill. Guests get half-price lift tickets and sledding hill admission. 

Two kids on plastic discs, sledding down a snow hill.
Flying down the sled hill at Granlibakken Tahoe. Photo Heidi Gollub.

If you’re visiting with younger kids, Granlibakken is ideal because you can ski and sled on the property, then head back to the room to rest when they’re tired. You can also enroll kids in onsite ski or snowboard lessons to give them a head start before hitting larger ski resorts nearby. 

Inside a ski rental hut with a wall of snowboards and ski boots.
Rent your snowboards, skis, boots, and helmets from Granlibakken. Photo Heidi Gollub.

We rented skis, poles, boots, and helmets in Granlibakken’s historic warming hut for a cheap daily rate. This made visiting several ski resorts with our “own” gear so much easier. 

For more winter fun, you can rent snowshoes and cross-country skies to use on Granlibakken’s 1.5-mile forest loop trail and 7-mile wilderness loop out to Paige Meadows. Afterward, you can enjoy the resort’s heated pools, hot tub, and sauna, or book a treatment at the spa. 

Where To Ski In North Lake Tahoe

With Granlibakken as our home base, we ventured out to ski for two days at Palisades Tahoe and one day at Homewood Ski Resort. Both were less than a 15-minute drive from our cabin. We threw our ski rentals in the car and headed out for the easiest ski vacation ever. 

Palisades Tahoe

Girl sits on an oversized wooden chair while snow falls.
Palisades Tahoe has restaurants and shops galore at the base of the mountain. Photo Heidi Gollub.

Palisades Tahoe has blue and green ski runs at the top of the mountain, which can be exciting for brave beginner and intermediate skiers. Start your day with a scenic aerial tram ride up nearly 2,000 feet for views of Sierra Crest and Lake Tahoe, then ski your way down. 

Caterpillar for beginner skiers on a bunny hill.
Taking the caterpillar at the Palisades Tahoe SnoVentures Activity Zone. Photo Heidi Gollub.

My 11-year-old loved the tram ride up the mountain but was not a fan of skiing down, so we relocated to the SnoVentures Activity Zone for the day. Here, she rode the caterpillar up the bunny hill to her heart’s content while she gained confidence. She liked it here so much that we ended up coming back another day later in the week.

Once we were fully worn out, we headed to The Pub at The Village at Palisades Tahoe. Located at the base of the mountain, this Irish pub serves up hearty portions of shepherd’s pie and fish and chips. I enjoyed a warm Snuggler, which combines peppermint schnapps with hot cocoa — a great reward for a day outside in the elements. 

Homewood Mountain Resort

Young man in ski gear on top of a snowy mountain overlooking a lake and the mountains beyond.
Incredible lake views at Homewood Ski Resort. Photo Heidi Gollub.

Homewood Mountain Resort shines when it comes to beautiful mountain scenery. All of its 67 runs have striking lake views. It’s a smaller resort, but we loved every minute. The trails were less intimidating for my young skier, and, apart from a few wipeouts on turns, we had a happy time skiing together in breathtaking winter beauty. 

Homewood feels like a local ski hill — rentals are steps from the parking lot, and it was not crowded in March. There were no lift lines when we were there and it was easy to keep looping the mountain on green runs all day. 

One downside is that there is no bar on Homewood’s Madden Triple Chair lift, which makes it scary to ride with kids. But this is the lift that takes you to lunch on the mountaintop with an epic view. It’s worth the nerve-wracking ascent for the burrito you can get at Big Blue View Bar. 

Winter Adventures in North Lake Tahoe

Girl in snowshoes on the shore of a lake with mountains in the background.
Snowshoeing at Sugar Pine State Park. Photo Heidi Gollub.

In between ski adventures, there are other ways to explore the North Lake Tahoe coastline. We enjoyed a guided snowshoe tour of Sugar Pine State Park, led by Jill Johnson of Tahoe Adventure Company. 

On an easy one-hour trek through the snow, Johnson explained why the lake water is crystal clear — a result of snowmelt and precipitation filtering through steep, granite cliffs. 

Johnson also taught us about the local pika, bobcats, foxes, and coyotes, shared forest survival tips, and pointed out the tallest peaks across the lake. 

Tahoe Adventure Company offers a variety of tours, including kayaking, biking, hiking, and team-building activities. Having a personal guide is an excellent way to get to know the area. 

Where To Eat in North Lake Tahoe

Diners at a restaurant counter.
The Dog and Bear restaurant in North Lake Tahoe. Photo Heidi Gollub.

We enjoyed everything we ate during our week in Tahoe City, but there were a few favorites: 

  • Granlibakken Tahoe. My daughter claims the resort’s breakfast buffet with cinnamon rolls, French toast, and whipped-cream-topped hot chocolate is the “best in the world.” My favorite was dinner at Cedar House Pub, where you can indulge in warm cheddar bread and a Hot Toddy by the fireplace. I also enjoyed mulled wine from Rusty’s, the cafe inside the wooden ski hut. 
  • Fire Sign Café. This local spot serves up giant pancakes and grilled sandwiches. Service is leisurely, but the food is worth the wait. 
  • Bridgetender Tavern and Grill. Try fried everything at this rustic tavern along the Truckee River. It’s not healthy, but it will warm you up inside. 
  • The Dog and Bear Neighborhood Tavern. For aprés ski, head to nearby Tahoma for Pizza and Pinot night at this intimate gourmet restaurant.

When To Visit North Lake Tahoe

The ski season in North Lake Tahoe runs from mid-November until April or later, depending on snowfall. This year, Palisades Tahoe stayed open until the end of May. 

I found that visiting in mid-March was perfect for skiing because the slopes were uncrowded. California’s spring break is later than ours so it felt like we had North Lake Tahoe to ourselves.

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Photo courtesy Heidi Gollub.

Heidi Gollub is a professional editor and amateur skier who lives in Austin with her family. She enjoyed spending her son’s
last college spring break in North Lake Tahoe.

Cover photo Heidi Gollub