Help Needed: Lodging recommendation: Lake Tahoe Epic resorts

[alison wong]

Original plan is going to WB as our main ski trip for the 2022 season. But with covid still ongoing, we need a backup location. For now we decided on Lake Tahoe, Epic locations (Kirkwood, Heavenly and Northstar) in mid March.

We are intermediates, comfortable on groomers, blues, easy blacks and can handle steeper runs if not too moguly.

Never been to Tahoe and have done some reading and google map the area. I am still unclear about the area layout....

Specific questions:
1) For the 3 Epic mtn in Tahoe, given our ability, which mountain we shall spend more time on? Any of the 3 we should skip?
2) Where can we stay as a "base" location? We prefer place w/ kitchen, does not need to be ski in/out, don't mind driving a bit since we will have a rental car. I'd like to visit Mt Rose for 1 day if possible.
3) Besides VRBO, AirBnB, what other web sites host Lake Tahoe rental properties we can look into?

 

[bsskier]

So many lodging options in Lake Tahoe! I love the Hyatt High Sierra Lodge in quiet Incline Village. 2BR, full kitchen and washer/dryer condos, great parking, steps to the lake, and on the grounds of the larger Hyatt hotel. They (used to) shuttle to Mt. Rose. you can book directly via the Hyatt Residences site and you do not need to be an owner/member.

When I first started exploring Lake Tahoe, I found it helped me to look at the lake like an imaginary clock. The casinos, Kirkwood and Heavenly are at the 5/6, Northstar is at the 11. Hyatt is at the 1.

 

[marzNC]

Specific questions:
1) For the 3 Epic mtn in Tahoe, given our ability, which mountain we shall spend more time on? Any of the 3 we should skip?
2) Where can we stay as a "base" location? We prefer place w/ kitchen, does not need to be ski in/out, don't mind driving a bit since we will have a rental car. I'd like to visit Mt Rose for 1 day if possible.
3) Besides VRBO, AirBnB, what other web sites host Lake Tahoe rental properties we can look into?

Keep in mind that the drive between South Tahoe where Kirkwood and Heavenly and North Tahoe for Northstar takes around an hour. Heavenly is huge, so even if only skiing blue groomers might want to spend two days there.

Mt. Rose is well worth a visit. If flying out on a late flight, easy to ski Mt. Rose and then head to the Reno airport.

If there is good visibility, going to Homewood in North Tahoe for the views might be worth considering. But need to arrive very early because the parking lots are quite small.

How many ski days are you thinking?

 

[santacruz skier]

My friend has a nice house in Tahoe City she rents out . I’ll text her to get the link. It’s a good location but definitely driving distance. It’s 3 bedrooms 2 baths.
I would suggest Northstar a great place for your trip. Blacks are usually groomed and on the easier side (except for lookout mtn).
Heavenly is super fun. I’ll be there mid March!

 

[santacruz skier]

Kirkwood a great resort but an hour from Heavenly and even longer from north Lake Tahoe. Mt Rose has some 2 for 1’s but not on the epic pass. Homewood is right on the lake, a small resort and not on the epic either. Also not as cheap as it should be. I’ve been skiing Tahoe for 45+ years.

 

[alison wong]

Tentatively plan to spend 6 or 7 days. It maybe a party of 2, 3 or 4. Should finalize head count, dates before x'mas the earliest.
My friend prefers slope side lodging if we can find something reasonable..... Since we plan to visit at least 2 mountains, may split our stay to 2 locations, Northstar and Heavenly.

@santacruz skier - thank for the info. let me know if your friend's place is available, we will take a look.

 

[santacruz skier]

Northstar has a lot of lodging in the village. Walk to lifts. Heavenly is in south Lake Tahoe and many places to stay within.walking distance. I’ll let you know about my friend’s house as soon as I hear back from her. Her house is 2 blocks from the lake but you need to drive to ski.

 

[santacruz skier]

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[marzNC]

Tentatively plan to spend 6 or 7 days. It maybe a party of 2, 3 or 4. Should finalize head count, dates before x'mas the earliest.
My friend prefers slope side lodging if we can find something reasonable..... Since we plan to visit at least 2 mountains, may split our stay to 2 locations, Northstar and Heavenly.

For a full week, if you can find lodging you like then moving makes sense.

May not be worth taking a day to ski Kirkwood. I took the day bus with Jason and his daughter years ago when I was an intermediate. We were staying at a timeshare resort near the Heavenly gondola base that was arranged by my BIL. Back then Jason was a more experienced skier than I was on bumps. All I remember was an intense run down a black bowl. No memory of the groomers at all, although we must have skied a few.

Heavenly blue groomers are long. Need to be careful so that you don't end up in the wrong state.

I've skied Northstar more. Liked it as an intermediate in the 1990s and low advanced in 2010.

 

[santacruz skier]

@marzNC i can almost bet you were on Sentinel Bowl at Kirkwood! You wouldn’t think it was intense now!

 

[marzNC]

@marzNC i can almost bet you were on Sentinel Bowl at Kirkwood! You wouldn’t think it was intense now!

I don't remember falling, but I do remember seeing Jason and his daughter moving fast below me. It wasn't the steepness so much as not having skied hardly at all on ungroomed snow as an adult. That was when I was still using straight skis bought as a cheap package deal in the 1980s. I'd gotten different boots in the 1990s. I never did become a parallel skier on straight skis so all the turns involved stemming.

There was a free demo tent at Heavenly in 2000. First time I tried "shaped skis." Was amazed that I could make parallel turns without effort. In that case, it helped that my natural ski stance didn't have my feet close together.

How often do you ski at Kirkwood?

 

[ziggyzagski]

I grew up a Tahoe skier and live a couple hours away! This is my personal opinion on the 3 Epic resorts -

1. Northstar - personal favorite. Lots of blues and approachable blacks. The blacks on the front side are a little short, especially if you don't go all the way to the mid-mountain base (it gets crowded). And I never go back to the village base / gondola until the end of the day. I usually loop on Rendevous lift since there are really fun tree areas and glades to explore. Backside is amazing especially after fresh snow, has groomed and ungroomed runs, and has longer runs. Not a huge resort overall, but I like the layout and it's a playful resort with extra small features if you want to do some mini jumps. You can see the lake from East Ridge on a clear day and it's quite nice!

2. Heavenly - best sights. Easily one of the most beautiful Tahoe resorts, with expansive views of the lake. It's definitely a large resort and though that means there's lots of ski area, there's also a lot of traversing. Not a big deal with skis, but if you have boarders it can take a bit longer. High concentration of blue runs and overall lots of fun. Can also get pretty crowded but I think Comet and Dipper lifts are surrounded by a lot of blues and not usually too bad when I've gone. Sky / Canyon I remember drawing crowds but those runs are longer and the lake views are stunning.

3. Kirkwood - fun locals resort. It tends to be less crowded than the other two when I've gone with good terrain and a fun backside. It has fun varied terrain and good pockets to jump on and off the trails. Tends to have a higher ratio of steeper terrain. It's about an hour from Heavenly, but a beautiful drive. I don't go as much purely because it's a little out of the way.

There's a lot of lodging at Northstar Village, apartment style via Airbnb, and the village itself is a ton of fun. There's also a Marriott right at the Heavenly Gondola base as well as rentals, hotels, and casino hotels. Otherwise there is a ton of options on Airbnb!

The drive from Northstar to Heavenly has a steep hairpin turn on the cliffside so careful making the drive if it's storming or icy.

 

[santacruz skier]

What she said ^^^
northstar also has steeper area called lookout mountain. One blue run but not much different than black. Usually blue run groomed and maybe one black…

 

[santacruz skier]

I don't remember falling, but I do remember seeing Jason and his daughter moving fast below me. It wasn't the steepness so much as not having skied hardly at all on ungroomed snow as an adult. That was when I was still using straight skis bought as a cheap package deal in the 1980s. I'd gotten different boots in the 1990s. I never did become a parallel skier on straight skis so all the turns involved stemming.

There was a free demo tent at Heavenly in 2000. First time I tried "shaped skis." Was amazed that I could make parallel turns without effort. In that case, it helped that my natural ski stance didn't have my feet close together.

How often do you ski at Kirkwood?

Maybe once a year now but often in previous years. Lodging at Kirkwood is great but can be pricey… prob would ski 6-8 days at K’wood each season.

 

[Cantabrigienne]

Original plan is going to WB as our main ski trip for the 2022 season. But with covid still ongoing, we need a backup location. For now we decided on Lake Tahoe, Epic locations (Kirkwood, Heavenly and Northstar) in mid March.

We are intermediates, comfortable on groomers, blues, easy blacks and can handle steeper runs if not too moguly.

Never been to Tahoe and have done some reading and google map the area. I am still unclear about the area layout....

Specific questions:
1) For the 3 Epic mtn in Tahoe, given our ability, which mountain we shall spend more time on? Any of the 3 we should skip?
2) Where can we stay as a "base" location? We prefer place w/ kitchen, does not need to be ski in/out, don't mind driving a bit since we will have a rental car. I'd like to visit Mt Rose for 1 day if possible.
3) Besides VRBO, AirBnB, what other web sites host Lake Tahoe rental properties we can look into?

FYI - if you haven't confirmed for Tahoe yet, everything has opened back up for travel between US& Canada. I think all you need is a covid test and proof of vaccination. Currently need the more expensive PCR test (or similar like nucleic acid - rapid antigen not allowed) and proof of vaccination, but that's about all.

 

[alison wong]

FYI - if you haven't confirmed for Tahoe yet, everything has opened back up for travel between US& Canada. I think all you need is a covid test and proof of vaccination. Currently need the more expensive PCR test (or similar like nucleic acid - rapid antigen not allowed) and proof of vaccination, but that's about all.

Thanks for the info.

We decided to cancel WB because of the new travel restrictions to Canada. If flying, need covid test 24 hours within travel date. I supposed we can get around it by flying to SEA-TAC, pick up rental and drive across border. That way, covid test is 72 hours within travel date. In any case, it is too much trouble for arranging it, especially coming back to the U.S. Need to get covid test done in Canada....

We just booked Tahoe. Lodging wise, my friend's distant relative has a seasonal rental in Truckee, so we will be staying there and skiing Epic resorts, plus Mt Rose.

 

[santacruz skier]

Thanks for the info.

We decided to cancel WB because of the new travel restrictions to Canada. If flying, need covid test 24 hours within travel date. I supposed we can get around it by flying to SEA-TAC, pick up rental and drive across border. That way, covid test is 72 hours within travel date. In any case, it is too much trouble for arranging it, especially coming back to the U.S. Need to get covid test done in Canada....

We just booked Tahoe. Lodging wise, my friend's distant relative has a seasonal rental in Truckee, so we will be staying there and skiing Epic resorts, plus Mt Rose.

When are you going?

 

[alison wong]

When are you going?

March 8th -> March 20th if my nephew wants to come for his spring break.
If not, I may stay until the weekend March 12th (?) I only book one way to Reno. Have not booked return flight since return date is TBD.

We plan to go to Heavenly as well, therefore we will not be staying in Truckee the entire trip. Plan to stay at Kingsbury crossing few days so we can ski Heavenly.

 

[santacruz skier]

Okay good. Think I have the week of March 13 booked at my timeshare by the Heavenly gondola. Maybe we can meet up? Have you skied Tahoe resorts before?

 

[alison wong]

Okay good. Think I have the week of March 13 booked at my timeshare by the Heavenly gondola. Maybe we can meet up? Have you skied Tahoe resorts before?

That will be good if I end up staying until March 20th. I may have to work March 13th - 16th, take rest of that week off (March 17th, 18th) to ski. I will reach out to you as my travel date gets closer.

I have never been to Tahoe. Honestly, I have been avoiding it because of the cement snow... i hope this trip will prove me wrong.