It’s snow time! Here’s what to expect in the 2025-2026 ski season

Early November consistently brings a bit of teaser snow on the high peaks around Lake Tahoe It might or might not be much but even a limited flakes are enough to light the fire of anticipation among skiers and boarders twitching to make tracks at their favorite snow-sport resorts Related Articles Suffer six cold-weather Bay Area hikes and reap the rewards Wish You Were Here A -day National Parks tour with breathtaking views Oregon Coast A place for high-key adventures or low-key outdoor fun Opening dates depend on weather and conditions of program with the bulk resorts prepared to start turning their lifts between now and mid-December But you don t have to ski or ride to enjoy what ski areas have to offer All are seeking to attract a broader audience especially first-timers with an array of alternate recreational options Tubing sliding on an inner tube down a groomed track has gotten so popular that virtually every Tahoe-area resort has a tubing hill Look too for snow-play areas snowshoe and cross-country ski venues and lots of concerts and other forms of entertainment on mountain as well as at street level We re working hard to introduce more people to snow sports says John Rice president of Ski California a nonprofit business association representing California snow-sport resorts This year the season coincides with the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina Italy in February Tahoe-area ski resorts have produced gold-medalists so far Rice notes plus a large number of more silver and bronze winners Look for special events and watch parties at the resorts and also at hotels bars clubs and other venues around the lake A cloud of powder follows a skier downhill at Mt Rose Ski Tahoe toward the Washoe Valley Photo by Dino Vournas Here s a peek at what s new in Northern California for the - season Badger Pass Ski Area Yosemite National Park Yosemite is sublime in winter not to mention uncrowded After a year out of amenity due to lack of snow the oldest ski area in California dating to is set to welcome skiers boarders tubers snowshoers and cross-country enthusiasts starting in mid-December weather permitting Free shuttle buses access the area from several points in Yosemite Valley travelyosemite com winter badger-pass-ski-area Bear Valley Mountain Resort and Adventure Company Situated on Highway in Alpine County Bear Valley ski resort and its adjacent cross-country venue offer rural experiences in a gorgeous setting Bear Valley boasts lifts serving a mix of terrain The Adventure Company venue across the road is a top cross-country resort that also sports sledding and tubing hills as well as groomed snowshoe trails www bvadventures com bearvalley com Boreal Woodward Tahoe The closest Interstate resort to the Bay Area is a multifaceted complex that includes a family-friendly downhill ski area with a great number of terrain park features as well as a tubing hill offering -minute slide sessions There s also an indoor bunker with foam pits skateboard ramps and other features for indoor fun and training It s the only Tahoe-area resort offering night skiing and riding Check the website for a variety of access options rideboreal com ASC Training Center The Auburn Ski Club Training Center adjacent to Boreal on Donner Summit is a nonprofit organization offering alpine Nordic biathlon combining skiing and marksmanship and snowboard programs for all levels beginner to expert Multiple competitions in all four disciplines are on tap during the season asctrainingcenter org Diamond Peak Ski Resort Nevada has specific of the best ski area views of Lake Tahoe Visitors to Diamond Peak Ski Resort stop to take it in Photo by Dino Vournas Diamond Peak Off the beaten track yes but this community-owned ski area in Incline Village on the Nevada side of the lake is intimate and exciting with acres of ski territory including three terrain parks That s not to mention the incredible views Celebrating its th anniversary the resort is offering lift tickets and discounted equipment rentals and lessons diamondpeak com Granlibakken Tahoe This sprawling conference center near Tahoe City transforms in winter to a family-friendly getaway destination offering downhill and cross-country skiing plus sledding snow play snowshoe terrain lessons and more Check website for affordable access options granlibakken com Heavenly Mountain Resort You can t miss Heavenly if you pass through South Lake Tahoe Stateline on Highway The resort s iconic gondola rises up from the busy tourist area showcasing Gunbarrel and other double-diamond runs on the steep slope known as the Face But don t worry it s not all scary Heavenly a Vail Resort straddles the California Nevada state line and has plenty of terrain for beginners as well as experts It s a top spot for world-class competitions too with the majority visible from the California base area no lift ticket required Tubing mini-tubing and an alpine coaster are other recreation options The resort is celebrating its th year with a full lineup of events Be sure to check on parking policies before you go skiheavenly com Skiers were treated to a winter wonderland with views of Lake Tahoe coming down from the California-side summit at Heavenly Ski Resort Photo by Dino Vournas Homewood Mountain Resort A decade of change and uncertainty over population growth issues has been smoothed out to see Homewood a landmark resort on Tahoe s west shore reopening with a host of upgrades Enhanced snowmaking an ice-skating rink and a new eight-passenger gondola are on the books for this season along with a new mid-mountain lodge and learn-to-ski area with a dedicated beginner lift skihomewood com Kirkwood Mountain Resort One of three Tahoe resorts under the Vail Resorts umbrella the others are Heavenly and Northstar Kirkwood in a spectacular setting off Highway is a bit removed from the Tahoe tourist scene but has an extremely loyal following A full lineup of freeride competitions is on tap this season while the adjacent Kirkwood Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Center offers a wide range of lessons and clinics kirkwood com Mammoth Mountain It s a four-hour trek south from Reno on scenic Highway but holders of the Ikon Pass good for more than destinations don t mind the drive Mammoth the biggest ski resort in the state has invested million in enhanced snowmaking and added entertainment features including a dual zip line at Woolly s Adventure Summit The race department marks years with an enticing schedule of high-speed events In the same neighborhood is June Mountain a smaller but no less scenic venue mammothmountain com junemountain com A skier takes a ride up to Mammoth Ski Resort's summit while enjoying the view of the Minarets Photo by Dino Vournas Mt Rose Ski Tahoe With the highest base area feet in the region Mt Rose on the Nevada side of the lake is known to open early and enjoy a long season This year million in improvements includes a new WildSlide Tubing Center with lanes stretching feet down the mountain The lanes are groomed differently for tubers who like to go from fast to slow and tubes are textured for speed control WildSlide comes with its own lodge and parking lot The idea says a spokesman is to get people into snow sports affordably and easily skirose com Northstar California One of three Vail Resorts at Tahoe Northstar near Truckee is known for its wind-protected slopes and a base village centered on an ice-skating rink offering selected of the best people-watching at Tahoe This year the resort is celebrating the social side of skiing with T st a ski-up experience offering a complimentary taste of bubbly along with complimentary weekend s mores by the firepits at the base area Parking reservations required weekends and holidays northstarcalifornia com Skiers stop to enjoy a few bubbly at T st at Northstar California Resort Janet Fullwood for Bay Area News Group Palisades Tahoe A two-pronged complex encompassing the resorts formerly known as Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley Palisades on Tahoe s west shore is huge and multifaceted The two areas are connected by a gondola New snowmaking investments and a full schedule of events from music concerts to world-class ski races are on the calendar There s perpetually particular kind of entertainment going on in the base village Check out the parking activity before coming on weekends and holidays Tubing and ice skating are offered too palisadestahoe com Royal Gorge The largest cross-country ski area in North America boasts groomed trails across acres along with eight warming huts Classic cross-country plus skate skiing and snowshoeing for all levels are on offer There s a new kids Nordic effort too The resort is in Soda Springs near Donner Summit on Interstate and is managed in partnership with Sugar Bowl royalgorge com Sierra at Tahoe The closest Highway resort to Sacramento and the Bay Area has had to reinvent itself since being severely damaged during the Caldor Fire But it s worked Yes things are different now but a loyal clientele backed by a steady stream of improvements has resurrected the legacy Look for two new trails in West Bowl more learner terrain off Easy Rider weekly live music and signature events including Subaru Winterfest sierraattahoe com Sugar Bowl If you haven t been to this historic Interstate resort in a while prepare to be blown away with the plenty of changes underway as a million expansion plan continues to progress Look for a new Village Lodge Terrace removal of outdated buildings expansion of training facilities and signature events including the Silver Belt Freeride competition sugarbowl com Sugar Bowl visitors take advantage of the last run of the day of the Mt Disney Express Photo by Dino Vournas Soda Springs Mountain Resort Looking for a place to get your little kiddos started Consider Soda Springs a smallish resort near Donner Summit that offers sledding and tubing Tube Town and Planet Kids for families It s all targeted to beginners with two magic carpets to movement tots to the top of the runs Kids and parents can also play in the Family Fun Zone build snowmen go snowshoeing and more skisodasprings com Tahoe Donner Downhill and Cross-Country The downhill ski area in the neighborhood north of Truckee debuts a new ski lodge this winter while the expansive cross-country resort celebrates its th birthday with a host of special events tahoedonner com Tahoe XC This resort near Dollar Point gets a new lodge and recognition as the first net-zero-energy commercial building in the Tahoe Basin To increase access to outdoor recreation the resort offers free day passes to anyone under age or over tahoexc org What To Know About Passes and More About those passes Do you really need a season pass There are dozens of multi-resort choices from Vail Resorts Epic Pass the full version covers resorts on four continents but Tahoe-only passes are available too The popular Ikon Pass covers destinations worldwide including Sierra at Tahoe Palisades and Mammoth in California Smaller resorts have multivenue offerings too The Cali Pass for example is good at Bear Valley Dodge Ridge China Peak and Mountain High in California plus three days at each of Powder Alliance resorts worldwide The Indy Pass offering two days at each of destinations is another option But if you re sticking to one resort rather than traveling around consider more economic offerings like the three- and four-day passes offered by the bulk ski areas Try to avoid single-day passes which can top at specific resorts epicpass com ikonpass com indyskipass com thecalipass com Skiers ride Schaffer's Camp six-pack chair at Northstar California Ski Resort Photo by Dino Vournas Getting there Quite a sparse resorts now require parking reservations for a fee on weekends and holidays How to avoid Park your bicycle remotely and take TART Tahoe Area Rapid Transit providing free shuttle facility from Truckee to east- and west-shore resorts tahoetruckeetransit com Or summon the Mountaineer a free app-based shuttle arrangement it s dog-friendly too serving the two Palisades base areas and other destinations in Olympic Valley mountaineertransit org Lake Link on the South Shore is a similar on-demand arrangement serving residential as well as commercial destinations ltva org lake-link-transportation Need to know Learn more at skicalifornia org where you can also download the digital Mountain Safety Guide for tips on skiing and snowboarding responsibly safety skicalifornia org