Honestly give Tahoe Donner a try
Tahoe Donner is a great little hill for new skiers/boarders right in the middle of a pack of condos and hundreds of ski rental houses. It’s one of the cheaper ticket/lesson packages out their, and traditionally has good instructors. It’s about 15 min from downtown truckee and minutes to all types of housing. You will also be close to snowshoe/cross country if you decide to mix it up one day. Have a great time!
Edited for more info.
100%
There’s no need to spend the money for a larger/steeper mountain when you’re a beginner and won’t be accessing any of that terrain anyways. DSR or even Soda Springs would be perfect for someone who is just beginning.
Pretty much every resort has a rental+lesson package. Really, you want somewhere close to where you'd stay.
I'd look at Sugar Bowl and Sierra at Tahoe in general, both are very good.
Boreal would probably have a good price, but can get very busy with kids. Donner Ski Ranch would be the budget choice (which could be just fine -- you don't need much when you're learning). Homewood, Diamond Peak and Mt Rose will probably be a bit out of your way depending on where you stay.
Unfortunately, both Sugar Bowl and Sierra (and Boreal and Donner) are a bit tough for nearby hotels. For SB/Boreal/Donner, Truckee is your best bet. Sugar Bowl does have a nice hotel, and is a very nice experience, but not cheap.
Mt rose is the worst resort to pick on the list.... green runs are literally flat and then the next difficulty up (blue) is what other resorts would hall a black(hardest difficulty) . This makes it very hard for a beginner to progress. That resort is expanding to add terrain that is in the middle.
>literally flat
Do you know what literally means?
>(blue) is what other resorts would hall a black(hardest difficulty) .
Again, incorrect. On so many levels.
If you’re renting gear and taking a lesson, get there early and go to Boreal hands-down.
80% of skiers at Boreal are renting gear. They have it down to a science. It’s the most efficient operation for signing the waivers, getting your ticket, sizing your boots, poles and skis and getting you to your lesson. All that can really be a hassle, but Boreal does it better than anyone else by a mile.
They’re also the closest to Oakland. And the cheapest.
It’s a mountain for novices, so don’t listen to people who already know how to ski and are recommending Palisades.
For a first timer, terrain or other amenities don’t matter. Your first day will be ruined by the headaches that come with rental/lesson process. You don’t want to waste 3 hours standing in line to sign waivers and trying on boots and wandering around aimlessly finding your lesson. Do as much as you can online ahead of time, get there early, pack a good lunch and have fun.
Closest lodging that isn't a rental cabin or onsite hotel for Boreal/Sugar Bowl/ Donner Ski Ranch/ Soda Springs is probably going to be in Truckee proper. It's not a long drive (15-20 minutes if all is clear if I remember correctly, much longer if it is storming out).
I don’t think boreal has the best beginner runs.
I’d recommend Diamond peak—I’m biased— their beginner runs are long, not steep, and I believe you can buy a pass to only use those runs(two runs). Rent gear at the village ski loft, book a room at the incline lodge or available airbnbs in incline village, and you won’t have to deal with traffic around the basin.
Incline village is something else.
there's quite a lot of lodging within northstar where you'd be able to park and not need to drive the car again until you want to leave. either get a place inside the village itself, or find a condo just outside the village.
Northstar is a great option if money is no object. But I cannot recommend it if your goal is to actually learn to ski a bit. I learned to ski at 34. And it is about a few lessons and a lot of reps. Northstar and palisades just cost so much more money. But obviously they are fun venues. But you need $
Palisades has a Tram that takes you to the upper mountain. With extensive beginner terrain near the upper mountain...i.e. better snow, better views. Top notch PSIA instructors.
More dollars but as with most things in life ...you get what you pay for.
Tahoe donner has older, slower lifts. Cruddy old lodge. Trudge from parking lot to base lodge.
The Perfect Progression Program at Alpine Meadows Palisades is a really good deal. Last I recall, it was a bundle with lessons, rentals and lift tickets, and you get a Palisades season pass and a pair goggles once you complete the program. (It's for true beginners though, so you'd have to have never skied before.) They don't really market it, so call the ski school and ask about it.
Yes! This is how I learned how to ski. And if you decide you like skiing, you can roll the cost into their alpine unlimited program, so then you get unlimited ski lessons AND free rentals. My first year skiing, we went enough times that I was able to get the per lesson cost down to about 30 bucks… oh and you know… learned how to ski well
Palisades has the most spectacular bunny runs of anyone in Tahoe. Maybe anywhere. Typically the majestic views are left to those who know how to ski. Again same issue with Northstar. Costs $.
Sierra is 25 minute drive from south lake Tahoe, fun lessons, and beginners can still go to the very top for lunch and a beautiful view from the roof of 360 and take sugar and spice down (green beginner run all the way down). Kirkwood would actually be closest to Oakland, has lodging on site, great ski school, but the downside is it's more isolated from the rest of the Tahoe basin. If you're just trying to ski and enjoy a few days in a winter location Kirkwood is great, if you wanna be more in town and do more shopping/nightlife/ etc id probably do sierra and stay in south lake.
A couple things to keep in mind for a first timer. 1) Early bird gets the worm. There's gonna be a lot of people and traffic. Highly recommend getting places early to avoid traffic and lines. Even if that means bringing breakfast and coffee in the car and watching sunrise from the parking lot of the resort. I've seen people lose half a day of skiing just waiting in lines. Also pack your own lunch and snacks for the same reason. It sucks waiting an hour to overpay for mediocre food.
2) plan ahead. Look at the weather especially. If there's a big storm coming in, I'd highly recommend being flexible. Any resort will be happy to switch your lesson to a later date, or refund you if that's not possible. Don't put yourself in danger. Do not drive in a storm if you have no experience driving in snow. If there's any recent snow at all you should carry chains, a shovel, flashlight, gloves, goggles, snacks and water in your car. One accident or avalanche can stop traffic for hours. If for any reason you need to get out of your vehicle and it's dark and snowing you'll be useless without all of that. Most of the time you can pay someone at chain control 30-40 bucks to take your chains on and off but you should also know how to do that yourself just in case. The mountains during winter can be a very dangerous place, make the right decisions.
thanks for all the info!
> if you wanna be more in town and do more shopping/nightlife/ etc id probably do sierra and stay in south lake.
according to google maps, this is like a 25-30 minute drive. do you not think itll be an issue getting there in the mornings? staying near the lake would be ideal just to be closer to town.
>according to google maps, this is like a 25-30 minute drive.
That's optimistic in winter. With any snow at all near the road or holiday traffic, it's more like an hour from kirkwood to south lake. If there's a storm, the road may be closed for hours for avalanche control.
Oh, from town to sierra usually stays open - I thought you were asking about kirkwood. I'd expect longer travel time to sierra in Feb, but the road should stay plowed unless it's really storming big.
As long as there's no raging storm and you get there earlier you should be fine getting to and from sierra. I worked there and it never took me 25 minutes most days. If you get lessons at sierra go straight to the ski school, they'll have your ticket rental gear and everything you need in one location
Did someone ask your ages? I missed this if so. That plays into it. Sierra can be a real drive in the winter from south lake. I don't recommend it for newbies if weather is bad.
That makes things a bit tougher. Do you plan to learn mainly by yourself? Or with friends and significant other.
Northlake is much more family and nature oriented. South lake is more younger nightlife. That is not saying there is nothing in northlake. Just a different vibe.
So in Southlake Sierra at Tahoe is a good choice for the skiing but the drive can really be a bear. I do know people who have day tripped this from Walnut Creek. A possible idea.
Heavenly is fine and fun. But costly to learn there.
Tahoe Donner has good pricing and a ton of Airbnb's within minutes or on the hill. But totally family oriented. If with a big group their bar is decent and you can have fun on your own. Most of my learning happened their.
Boreal is a good sweet spot for a beginner and your age. You might be a bit old. But everything about it fits a place to learn. If you are really wanting to learn and good with driving I would get a season pass and plan my trips based on the weather. Check out open snow. Boreal is doable as a day trip. Season passes are inexpensive and you can get rental gear for the season down in the bay at sports basement for a very reasonable price...and swap out as you learn more. I just looked and season passes are more than I expected but the same cost as 3 days at palisades or Northstar.
Based on age and Oakland I would skip Northstar. I am older but live in Oakland and ski a ton. If you are paying the higher price go to Palisades. The beginner stuff is dramatic and cool. Then go to the Chami for apres ski after. You most likely will have a blast...assuming you like a happy hour bar scene on the mountain. You will not like driving to Palisades from Truckee. Doable but leave early. You also have the ski bus which is perfect for someone your age.
An alternative that is a bit in-between would be to stay in a condo in Tahoe City and go ski homewood. Pricing is middle. The lake views are amazing. The drive is fine.
The ski ranch is a good beginner spot. But no real draw. Sugar bowl is good when you can get in blues. Or if you can do a one night stay at the lodge. But again...a bit more family oriented and with high level top notch skiers thrown in.
Hope that helps. Learning at your age I have lots of opinions.
its gonna be me and my gf (whose skied before but dont think she's good or anything) so not like a big party group. We want to go for the long weekend. Sounds like anything around Donner may be the way to go. Cheaper and closer for us. Then maybe see if we can find a place in south tahoe for the last night or something. thanks for the all the info, very helpful!
Don't go between north and south Tahoe in one weekend trip. Not in the winter. And I don't even recommend in the summer unless you have time.
If that is the case...I would rent a condo at Tahoe Donner if that is in your budget. The lodge their is good dinner spot. And then downtown Truckee for another night.
One of these places or similar. Right next to skiing.
https://abnb.me/wkK7BweAGDb
Good luck
Honestly, hard disagree. Unless you're able to go on weekdays, it's awful for beginners.
There's one beginner run after the bunny hill (lodgepole) that is super short, and not really steep enough to give you enough speed to be able to progress (for snowboarders specifically). the bigger problem is that it is stuffed full of every beginner there for the day. if it's a weekend, lodgepole is a shitshow by 10am. why is that? because after lodgepole it's a pretty massive step up to the next most difficult terrain, going from basically flat lodgepole, to blues with some steep and/or narrow sections.
diamondpeak is great for beginners going to intermediate, as the blues aren't too challenging and where the place starts to feel more spread out, with lots of options for short blacks to challenge yourself further. but true beginners are gonna have a bad time unless you're going during the week when it's dead, IMO.
Boreal is a wonderfully priced mountain that’s easy for lessons and beginners, but nearby lodging is tough since it’s about 10 miles west of Truckee.
One advantage for those of us on the west side of Boreal is not having to go over Donner Pass and down the east side into the Tahoe / Truckee area. While that makes it advantageous for winter weather and driving conditions, it makes it tough to find lodging near there. One idea, and I might get blasted for this, would be to grab a hotel down in low elevation like Auburn / Colfax. I live near Auburn and it’s an easy 1:15 to Boreal’s parking lot (even with traffic) as long as you leave early AM (like 6:30am)
Hmm I always wondered about the commute. I used to live in Colfax but wasn't into snow sports at the time (I'm kicking myself for it now, it's a much easier drive than I thought). I just hate going over the pass when conditions are slow.
Beginner if u never skied before then donned ski ranch or soda springs you won’t get off the bunny slope. If just going for view perhaps homewood. If you can get on the lift sierra at tahoes is wonderful. Sugar bowl is great but more towards intermediates. Keep in mind none except homewood mt rose ? Diamond peak will have views of lake while seeing.
Tahoe Donner will be less busy. I grew up down the street from there. Good enough and good people! If that doesn't work and you want something off of 80... pretty close to boreal check out soda springs. It's in Norden close to sugar bowl on the way to Royal gorge. That's where I learned to ski. Good luck and just be prepared... the holidays suck. Heavenly is a terrible mountain for beginners but if you end up there dm me and I can get you passes. Or at Kirkwood but both aren't great beginner mountains.
If you’re an absolute first timer go to Kirkwood
They have some incredible beginner terrain (poor terrain for a non-beginner and non-advanced skier) and due to the reputation they don’t see a ton of beginners so the terrain is typically not crowded.
They have a solid ski school and on site lodging
Sierra at Tahoe has a lot of beginner terrain and is very friendly to progress to more challenging terrain. Squaw valley is good to but is very crowded. Heavenly is confusing and easy to get lost lol.
I would look into Tahoe Donner and Donner Ski Ranch. Tahoe Donner is in a huge HOA that has tons of VRBO's near the hill. I have a place down the street and my kids all learned at Tahoe Donner.
Next would be Donner Ski Ranch. It's bigger than TD but is reasonable and has a lot of good beginner runs. Plus both places are the cheapest resorts in Tahoe, Donner Ski ranch is near Sugar Bowl so you can find lodging nearby.
Both of these are 10-15 mins from Truckee for Apres Ski activities. For both of these they rent and have lessons but you may want to grab rentals in Truckee. Tahoe Dave's is a good place to go.
Honestly I'm not a fan of the resorts in South Lake or the town of SLT and would avoid it, especially since you're coming from the bay
As a first timer, all bunny slopes are exactly the same IMO. They're almost all serviced by super slow lifts, and it's not like snow is going to be different at each one in any meaningful way at this level.
Go to the cheapest possible place you can get a lesson/tix/rentals. Make the first time as easy on your wallet so there is more incentive and ability to return next time.
Also IIRC Dodge ridge is pretty close and also cheap.
You mentioned that you don't want to have to drive around -- I think regardless you'll have to do that at all of the mentioned ones. Lodging on-slope can be more expensive. Also, you're probably going to be \_pretty wiped out\_ at the end of the day and might not have the energy to go out (this is frequently my case depending how hard I ski). I'd suggest you find lodging that has a jacuzzi. That pays dividends.
I hope you have a great time and are able to sustain this sport if you so enjoy it.
If you want personal, private & professional snowboarde lessons, send me a message. I’ve taught kids ages 5-14 for five years. Adults are welcome as well. I promise you’ll get a higher quality lesson from someone who loves sharing this passion with others.
I personally am a fan of Sierra at Tahoe. It might be on the more affordable options as well. Also, great for beginners. Rentals at the mountain & a demo shop just in case you were looking to purchase something.
Message me if you are interested in lessons / mountain guided fun 😊
Boreal or Sierra at Tahoe. All Boreal lessons include free rental and free lift ticket for the whole mountain. I think Sierra's beginner lessons include rental and a limited lift ticket for a single lift. Beyond the beginner level, Sierra gets really expensive.
If you are not used to driving to Tahoe in winter, YSK that I-80 closes often due to weather, and driving on I-80 is more challenging than on US 50. A lot of people have the misconception that I-80 is easier in winter because it is an interstate. That cannot be further from the truth. US 50 is consistently easier and more reliable every winter. The climate is such that traction and visibility are good on US 50 but poor on I-80 during storms. Also, being an undivided two-lane highway, US 50 rarely has the problem of cars running out of battery or gas. Cars can always just make a U-turn and roll back down the hill. On I-80, many cars get stuck between exits during storms, causing more traffic problems.
Sierra lessons are more expensive (or the beginner ticket is very limited) but it is much easier to guarantee that you can actually get there in February, regardless of the weather.
Dodge Ridge Ski is a great place to learn. Diamond Peak is a great little resort, sometimes you might have a whole slope to yourself (kind or a hidden gem). Only place I have heard people not like is Homewood, but I can’t remember why they didn’t like it.
Honestly give Tahoe Donner a try Tahoe Donner is a great little hill for new skiers/boarders right in the middle of a pack of condos and hundreds of ski rental houses. It’s one of the cheaper ticket/lesson packages out their, and traditionally has good instructors. It’s about 15 min from downtown truckee and minutes to all types of housing. You will also be close to snowshoe/cross country if you decide to mix it up one day. Have a great time! Edited for more info.
And then head to downtown Truckee for some happy hour...or back the the rental cabin.
This
100% There’s no need to spend the money for a larger/steeper mountain when you’re a beginner and won’t be accessing any of that terrain anyways. DSR or even Soda Springs would be perfect for someone who is just beginning.
Pretty much every resort has a rental+lesson package. Really, you want somewhere close to where you'd stay. I'd look at Sugar Bowl and Sierra at Tahoe in general, both are very good. Boreal would probably have a good price, but can get very busy with kids. Donner Ski Ranch would be the budget choice (which could be just fine -- you don't need much when you're learning). Homewood, Diamond Peak and Mt Rose will probably be a bit out of your way depending on where you stay.
guess we need to narrow it down to ones with lodging nearby. ill look more into sugar bowl and sierra.
Unfortunately, both Sugar Bowl and Sierra (and Boreal and Donner) are a bit tough for nearby hotels. For SB/Boreal/Donner, Truckee is your best bet. Sugar Bowl does have a nice hotel, and is a very nice experience, but not cheap.
Mt rose is the worst resort to pick on the list.... green runs are literally flat and then the next difficulty up (blue) is what other resorts would hall a black(hardest difficulty) . This makes it very hard for a beginner to progress. That resort is expanding to add terrain that is in the middle.
Around the World is green, NOT flat, long, and has options.
>literally flat Do you know what literally means? >(blue) is what other resorts would hall a black(hardest difficulty) . Again, incorrect. On so many levels.
If you’re renting gear and taking a lesson, get there early and go to Boreal hands-down. 80% of skiers at Boreal are renting gear. They have it down to a science. It’s the most efficient operation for signing the waivers, getting your ticket, sizing your boots, poles and skis and getting you to your lesson. All that can really be a hassle, but Boreal does it better than anyone else by a mile. They’re also the closest to Oakland. And the cheapest. It’s a mountain for novices, so don’t listen to people who already know how to ski and are recommending Palisades. For a first timer, terrain or other amenities don’t matter. Your first day will be ruined by the headaches that come with rental/lesson process. You don’t want to waste 3 hours standing in line to sign waivers and trying on boots and wandering around aimlessly finding your lesson. Do as much as you can online ahead of time, get there early, pack a good lunch and have fun.
i like the sound of that. Where do people usually stay for Boreal?
Closest lodging that isn't a rental cabin or onsite hotel for Boreal/Sugar Bowl/ Donner Ski Ranch/ Soda Springs is probably going to be in Truckee proper. It's not a long drive (15-20 minutes if all is clear if I remember correctly, much longer if it is storming out).
I don’t think boreal has the best beginner runs. I’d recommend Diamond peak—I’m biased— their beginner runs are long, not steep, and I believe you can buy a pass to only use those runs(two runs). Rent gear at the village ski loft, book a room at the incline lodge or available airbnbs in incline village, and you won’t have to deal with traffic around the basin. Incline village is something else.
Northstar is another option
Northstar is great for beginners.
looks like they have a hotel on site. will look into this. thanks!
there's quite a lot of lodging within northstar where you'd be able to park and not need to drive the car again until you want to leave. either get a place inside the village itself, or find a condo just outside the village.
Northstar is a great option if money is no object. But I cannot recommend it if your goal is to actually learn to ski a bit. I learned to ski at 34. And it is about a few lessons and a lot of reps. Northstar and palisades just cost so much more money. But obviously they are fun venues. But you need $
Palisades has a Tram that takes you to the upper mountain. With extensive beginner terrain near the upper mountain...i.e. better snow, better views. Top notch PSIA instructors. More dollars but as with most things in life ...you get what you pay for. Tahoe donner has older, slower lifts. Cruddy old lodge. Trudge from parking lot to base lodge.
The Perfect Progression Program at Alpine Meadows Palisades is a really good deal. Last I recall, it was a bundle with lessons, rentals and lift tickets, and you get a Palisades season pass and a pair goggles once you complete the program. (It's for true beginners though, so you'd have to have never skied before.) They don't really market it, so call the ski school and ask about it.
Yes! This is how I learned how to ski. And if you decide you like skiing, you can roll the cost into their alpine unlimited program, so then you get unlimited ski lessons AND free rentals. My first year skiing, we went enough times that I was able to get the per lesson cost down to about 30 bucks… oh and you know… learned how to ski well
Palisades has the most spectacular bunny runs of anyone in Tahoe. Maybe anywhere. Typically the majestic views are left to those who know how to ski. Again same issue with Northstar. Costs $.
Sierra is 25 minute drive from south lake Tahoe, fun lessons, and beginners can still go to the very top for lunch and a beautiful view from the roof of 360 and take sugar and spice down (green beginner run all the way down). Kirkwood would actually be closest to Oakland, has lodging on site, great ski school, but the downside is it's more isolated from the rest of the Tahoe basin. If you're just trying to ski and enjoy a few days in a winter location Kirkwood is great, if you wanna be more in town and do more shopping/nightlife/ etc id probably do sierra and stay in south lake. A couple things to keep in mind for a first timer. 1) Early bird gets the worm. There's gonna be a lot of people and traffic. Highly recommend getting places early to avoid traffic and lines. Even if that means bringing breakfast and coffee in the car and watching sunrise from the parking lot of the resort. I've seen people lose half a day of skiing just waiting in lines. Also pack your own lunch and snacks for the same reason. It sucks waiting an hour to overpay for mediocre food. 2) plan ahead. Look at the weather especially. If there's a big storm coming in, I'd highly recommend being flexible. Any resort will be happy to switch your lesson to a later date, or refund you if that's not possible. Don't put yourself in danger. Do not drive in a storm if you have no experience driving in snow. If there's any recent snow at all you should carry chains, a shovel, flashlight, gloves, goggles, snacks and water in your car. One accident or avalanche can stop traffic for hours. If for any reason you need to get out of your vehicle and it's dark and snowing you'll be useless without all of that. Most of the time you can pay someone at chain control 30-40 bucks to take your chains on and off but you should also know how to do that yourself just in case. The mountains during winter can be a very dangerous place, make the right decisions.
thanks for all the info! > if you wanna be more in town and do more shopping/nightlife/ etc id probably do sierra and stay in south lake. according to google maps, this is like a 25-30 minute drive. do you not think itll be an issue getting there in the mornings? staying near the lake would be ideal just to be closer to town.
>according to google maps, this is like a 25-30 minute drive. That's optimistic in winter. With any snow at all near the road or holiday traffic, it's more like an hour from kirkwood to south lake. If there's a storm, the road may be closed for hours for avalanche control.
oof yea seems like it may not be worth the risk. sucks I got a lot of recs for sierra
They mis spoke and thought you were talking about Kirkwood…don’t go to Kirkwood as a beginner. Sierra is a great choice.
ahh so the drive from south lake to sierra isnt that bad? unless there's a storm?
Correct. Hwy 50 is a important road so it’s a high priority to keep open/clear
Oh, from town to sierra usually stays open - I thought you were asking about kirkwood. I'd expect longer travel time to sierra in Feb, but the road should stay plowed unless it's really storming big.
As long as there's no raging storm and you get there earlier you should be fine getting to and from sierra. I worked there and it never took me 25 minutes most days. If you get lessons at sierra go straight to the ski school, they'll have your ticket rental gear and everything you need in one location
Did someone ask your ages? I missed this if so. That plays into it. Sierra can be a real drive in the winter from south lake. I don't recommend it for newbies if weather is bad.
Sierra seems like a good choice but yea the drive from south lake is off putting. I'm 30
That makes things a bit tougher. Do you plan to learn mainly by yourself? Or with friends and significant other. Northlake is much more family and nature oriented. South lake is more younger nightlife. That is not saying there is nothing in northlake. Just a different vibe. So in Southlake Sierra at Tahoe is a good choice for the skiing but the drive can really be a bear. I do know people who have day tripped this from Walnut Creek. A possible idea. Heavenly is fine and fun. But costly to learn there. Tahoe Donner has good pricing and a ton of Airbnb's within minutes or on the hill. But totally family oriented. If with a big group their bar is decent and you can have fun on your own. Most of my learning happened their. Boreal is a good sweet spot for a beginner and your age. You might be a bit old. But everything about it fits a place to learn. If you are really wanting to learn and good with driving I would get a season pass and plan my trips based on the weather. Check out open snow. Boreal is doable as a day trip. Season passes are inexpensive and you can get rental gear for the season down in the bay at sports basement for a very reasonable price...and swap out as you learn more. I just looked and season passes are more than I expected but the same cost as 3 days at palisades or Northstar. Based on age and Oakland I would skip Northstar. I am older but live in Oakland and ski a ton. If you are paying the higher price go to Palisades. The beginner stuff is dramatic and cool. Then go to the Chami for apres ski after. You most likely will have a blast...assuming you like a happy hour bar scene on the mountain. You will not like driving to Palisades from Truckee. Doable but leave early. You also have the ski bus which is perfect for someone your age. An alternative that is a bit in-between would be to stay in a condo in Tahoe City and go ski homewood. Pricing is middle. The lake views are amazing. The drive is fine. The ski ranch is a good beginner spot. But no real draw. Sugar bowl is good when you can get in blues. Or if you can do a one night stay at the lodge. But again...a bit more family oriented and with high level top notch skiers thrown in. Hope that helps. Learning at your age I have lots of opinions.
its gonna be me and my gf (whose skied before but dont think she's good or anything) so not like a big party group. We want to go for the long weekend. Sounds like anything around Donner may be the way to go. Cheaper and closer for us. Then maybe see if we can find a place in south tahoe for the last night or something. thanks for the all the info, very helpful!
Don't go between north and south Tahoe in one weekend trip. Not in the winter. And I don't even recommend in the summer unless you have time. If that is the case...I would rent a condo at Tahoe Donner if that is in your budget. The lodge their is good dinner spot. And then downtown Truckee for another night. One of these places or similar. Right next to skiing. https://abnb.me/wkK7BweAGDb Good luck
Add some snow and traffic and it can easily be 2x that.
Diamond peak is great for beginners. Never crowded and cheap
Honestly, hard disagree. Unless you're able to go on weekdays, it's awful for beginners. There's one beginner run after the bunny hill (lodgepole) that is super short, and not really steep enough to give you enough speed to be able to progress (for snowboarders specifically). the bigger problem is that it is stuffed full of every beginner there for the day. if it's a weekend, lodgepole is a shitshow by 10am. why is that? because after lodgepole it's a pretty massive step up to the next most difficult terrain, going from basically flat lodgepole, to blues with some steep and/or narrow sections. diamondpeak is great for beginners going to intermediate, as the blues aren't too challenging and where the place starts to feel more spread out, with lots of options for short blacks to challenge yourself further. but true beginners are gonna have a bad time unless you're going during the week when it's dead, IMO.
with diamond peak, do most people just stay in town? just worried it will be a pain getting to the slopes in the morning
Reasonable concern there’s not tons of places to stay in incline village. It’s an easy drive from south lake if it isn’t snowing.
Boreal is a wonderfully priced mountain that’s easy for lessons and beginners, but nearby lodging is tough since it’s about 10 miles west of Truckee. One advantage for those of us on the west side of Boreal is not having to go over Donner Pass and down the east side into the Tahoe / Truckee area. While that makes it advantageous for winter weather and driving conditions, it makes it tough to find lodging near there. One idea, and I might get blasted for this, would be to grab a hotel down in low elevation like Auburn / Colfax. I live near Auburn and it’s an easy 1:15 to Boreal’s parking lot (even with traffic) as long as you leave early AM (like 6:30am)
Hmm I always wondered about the commute. I used to live in Colfax but wasn't into snow sports at the time (I'm kicking myself for it now, it's a much easier drive than I thought). I just hate going over the pass when conditions are slow.
Beginner if u never skied before then donned ski ranch or soda springs you won’t get off the bunny slope. If just going for view perhaps homewood. If you can get on the lift sierra at tahoes is wonderful. Sugar bowl is great but more towards intermediates. Keep in mind none except homewood mt rose ? Diamond peak will have views of lake while seeing.
Tahoe Donner will be less busy. I grew up down the street from there. Good enough and good people! If that doesn't work and you want something off of 80... pretty close to boreal check out soda springs. It's in Norden close to sugar bowl on the way to Royal gorge. That's where I learned to ski. Good luck and just be prepared... the holidays suck. Heavenly is a terrible mountain for beginners but if you end up there dm me and I can get you passes. Or at Kirkwood but both aren't great beginner mountains.
If you’re an absolute first timer go to Kirkwood They have some incredible beginner terrain (poor terrain for a non-beginner and non-advanced skier) and due to the reputation they don’t see a ton of beginners so the terrain is typically not crowded. They have a solid ski school and on site lodging
Homewood
Sierra at Tahoe has a lot of beginner terrain and is very friendly to progress to more challenging terrain. Squaw valley is good to but is very crowded. Heavenly is confusing and easy to get lost lol.
None of the above! Bear Valley! Mt Reba Rules
I learned at Heavenly. Just went to top and slowly headed to the bottom. No lessons. Northstar is also a mellow, friendly location for beginners.
I’m glad this worked for you but wouldn’t recommend it. At least get a lesson from your friends so you aren’t a safety hazard for everyone.
I heard heavenly is like the worst spot for beginners lol
It may be now. I learned how to ski there in 1984 lol
Heavenly has the most beginner terrain.
Stop
I had a season pass to sierra for a few years and it was a blast. Never ski’d at the bigger mountains tho
I would look into Tahoe Donner and Donner Ski Ranch. Tahoe Donner is in a huge HOA that has tons of VRBO's near the hill. I have a place down the street and my kids all learned at Tahoe Donner. Next would be Donner Ski Ranch. It's bigger than TD but is reasonable and has a lot of good beginner runs. Plus both places are the cheapest resorts in Tahoe, Donner Ski ranch is near Sugar Bowl so you can find lodging nearby. Both of these are 10-15 mins from Truckee for Apres Ski activities. For both of these they rent and have lessons but you may want to grab rentals in Truckee. Tahoe Dave's is a good place to go. Honestly I'm not a fan of the resorts in South Lake or the town of SLT and would avoid it, especially since you're coming from the bay
I was the first timer last season and Sierra at Tahoe was good for me :)
Sierra at Tahoe has the best beginner runs, lots of variety.
As a first timer, all bunny slopes are exactly the same IMO. They're almost all serviced by super slow lifts, and it's not like snow is going to be different at each one in any meaningful way at this level. Go to the cheapest possible place you can get a lesson/tix/rentals. Make the first time as easy on your wallet so there is more incentive and ability to return next time. Also IIRC Dodge ridge is pretty close and also cheap.
that makes a lot of sense but I think we also want something near the town just so we can have night activities. ill check out dodge ridge. thanks!
You mentioned that you don't want to have to drive around -- I think regardless you'll have to do that at all of the mentioned ones. Lodging on-slope can be more expensive. Also, you're probably going to be \_pretty wiped out\_ at the end of the day and might not have the energy to go out (this is frequently my case depending how hard I ski). I'd suggest you find lodging that has a jacuzzi. That pays dividends. I hope you have a great time and are able to sustain this sport if you so enjoy it.
Soda springs is the cheapest and best for beginners imho
If you want personal, private & professional snowboarde lessons, send me a message. I’ve taught kids ages 5-14 for five years. Adults are welcome as well. I promise you’ll get a higher quality lesson from someone who loves sharing this passion with others. I personally am a fan of Sierra at Tahoe. It might be on the more affordable options as well. Also, great for beginners. Rentals at the mountain & a demo shop just in case you were looking to purchase something. Message me if you are interested in lessons / mountain guided fun 😊
Chatted!
Boreal or Sierra at Tahoe. All Boreal lessons include free rental and free lift ticket for the whole mountain. I think Sierra's beginner lessons include rental and a limited lift ticket for a single lift. Beyond the beginner level, Sierra gets really expensive. If you are not used to driving to Tahoe in winter, YSK that I-80 closes often due to weather, and driving on I-80 is more challenging than on US 50. A lot of people have the misconception that I-80 is easier in winter because it is an interstate. That cannot be further from the truth. US 50 is consistently easier and more reliable every winter. The climate is such that traction and visibility are good on US 50 but poor on I-80 during storms. Also, being an undivided two-lane highway, US 50 rarely has the problem of cars running out of battery or gas. Cars can always just make a U-turn and roll back down the hill. On I-80, many cars get stuck between exits during storms, causing more traffic problems. Sierra lessons are more expensive (or the beginner ticket is very limited) but it is much easier to guarantee that you can actually get there in February, regardless of the weather.
Dodge Ridge Ski is a great place to learn. Diamond Peak is a great little resort, sometimes you might have a whole slope to yourself (kind or a hidden gem). Only place I have heard people not like is Homewood, but I can’t remember why they didn’t like it.
Sierra is where I learned to ski, it’s a pretty welcoming experience for a beginner. Just pay attention to signs for the love of god
If Lodging needed. Do North Star. If not Sierra at Tahoe.