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Heavenly Ski Holidays

At a glance

  • Largest ski area in California
  • Spectacular views
  • Las Vegas style Casinos

Great for

  • Groups
  • Tree Run Enthusiasts
  • Après

Ski Holidays in Heavenly

We don’t think there’s anywhere you can ski that’s quite like Heavenly. With its Californian and Nevadan dissection, it offers Las Vegas style nightlife on the one hand, with Californian sun soaking its huge, diverse ski area on the other. Voted most scenic resort by SKI Magazine in 2013, the spectacular views will take your breath away.

  • Flight Time
  • 9 hours
  • From London
  • Nearest Airports
  • Denver, Jackson Hole etc.
  • Time zone
  • GMT -5 to -8 hours
  • Language
  • English
  • Currency
  • US Dollar
  • Ski Season
  • Dec - April

Heavenly Stats

Top Altitude
3068m
Bottom Altitude
1993m
Resort Altitude
1937m
Total Piste
97
Longest Run
5.5 miles Olympic
Slope Orientation
South West, North East
Vertical Drop
1131m
Skiable Vertical
1131m
Night Skiing
No
Glacier Skiing
No

Straddling the state line between Nevada and California lies the resort of Heavenly. Owned by the world famous Vail Resorts - responsible for the success behind Vail, Breck and Beaver Creek – Heavenly village, at 1937m, has seen many changes over the years. The most recent was in 2002, with its new central gondola, pedestrianised streets and alpine themed architecture. Views from the slopes can either look over the desert of Nevada, or down at the stunning lake and built up hub servicing the ski area, called South Lake Tahoe. This year round populated town is on the shores of, you guessed it, the spectacular Lake Tahoe, North America’s largest and third deepest alpine lake.

The fact that the town is spliced by the Nevada/California state line means that you can be subjected to the differing state laws. Even though the whole town is known for its great party scene, if you’re looking for a quieter holiday where you focus mainly on the skiing, opt for the Californian side, as drinking holes usually close around 1am. If you don’t mind having a hangover the following day, or want to take your chances at craps or blackjack, make sure you’re staying in Nevada. With relaxed gambling and drinking laws, casinos have cropped up on the border, as well as bars legally staying open for 24 hours a day.

Heavenly is perfect situated to be within easy access to a number of other resorts in the Lake Tahoe area. With the Heavenly Lift ticket available for use for any number of days in Kirkwood, 35 miles away, as well as a limited number of days in Northstar, only 41 miles away, you’ll be spoilt for choice of varying terrain. If you don’t want to travel any more than you have to, the local area has almost everything you need. The mountain has definite sides - the Californian side with views over Lake Tahoe, and the Nevadan side, offerings views of the stunning desert and the ski area is easily accessible by a gondola from the centre of the village.

Winter Sports Ratings

Beginners

Intermediate

Advanced

Snowboarding

Heavenly Transfer Times

Reno/Tahoe International Airport: 1 hour 15mins

The nearest airport to Heavenly is San Francisco at 320 km or about 4 hours by car

What's the ski area like in Heavenly?

With 4,800 acres of inbound terrain, the vastness of this ski area puts it third largest in the whole of the USA, closely beaten by Big Sky and Vail. Naturally, this expanse includes skiing for almost every experience level, from a wealth of groomers, moguls, steeps and trees. In fact, the whole mountain is covered by trees with the exception of Milky Way Bowl, from gentle gradient, widely spread trees, to steep chutes with barely enough space to pass through the firs.

Beginners will find a variety of terrain around the Boulder Chair, 15 acres at the top of the Gondola from Heavenly Village and around the First Ride Lift near California Lodge. If you want to improve your skills, want a confidence boost or just fancy getting some insider tips, book lessons with the ski school – their friendly instructors are famous for getting superb results.

If you head over to the Californian side of the mountain, intermediates will find a great selection of runs. Sticking on trails like Galaxy or Perimeter should gain the confidence of most nervous intermediates, before tackling some harder runs like Olympic Downhill for a wide, long groomer. For the most courageous inters, Heavenly’s easy tree runs can provide that step from intermediate to advanced.

Even the most battle scarred expert can find a test here. You could lean towards snaking through the trees on Dipper Woods, hitting the chutes in Killebrew or Mott Canyon or opt for bashing the moguls on the famous Gunbarrel. The hardest of these three is Killebrew Canyon, with its chutes, drops, rocks and trees – just make sure you have a strong disposition before you set ski in it.

Snowboarders will find some interesting and appealing aspects on this mountain. If you ski big mountain, the Milky Way Bowl is the only open expanse and thus catches some deep powder after some heavy snow. If you’re a park rat, the gradually progressive parks (from the mini “Progression” Park to the large “High Roller”) will be perfect to hone skills before stomping them on bigger features.

Which other ski resorts are near to Heavenly?

The nearest ski resorts to Heavenly include Lake Tahoe, Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort, Northstar, Squaw Valley.

Ski Area Facts

LocationUSA, Lake Tahoe
EstablishedHeavenly Valley 1955
Downhill97
Lift Pass$366 to $498 (adult 6 days)

Beginner Slopes

19runs20%

Intermediate Skiing

43runs45%

Advance & Expert Terrain

33runs35%

Snowboarding Trails

97100%

Heavenly Restaurants

Heavenly Après Ski

Heavenly Activites for Non-skiers

Clothing Food & Souvenir Shops

A good choice for shopaholics, South Lake Tahoe has a wealth of unique shopping plazas. Everything is here from chain-store outlets and factory malls to character-filled boutiques.

Heavenly itself has four on-mountain winter sports shops and operates a further six at South Lake Tahoe including two snowboarder only shops - 'The Boardinghouse'.

Best Time to Visit Heavenly

Obviously the weather gods are fickle, so there is no definite best time to ski this resort. The weather in Lake Tahoe is of temperate climate, which makes for a make or break snow situation – in some seasons, the pacific storms have brought in amounts of snow you would only associate with Antarctica, in others, the resort has gone months without seeing even a sprinkling. That said, with an average of 360 inches a year in combination with 73% of runs featuring artificial snow making, people sticking to groomers should be relatively safe all season.

One of the best times to ski is February, which has historically had high levels of snowfall. Even if you do go and there is little in the way of the white stuff or major storm rolls in, the fact that the resort is almost completely covered in trees means that visibility is usually better than exposed areas, reducing flat light. If you’re looking for the best powder, it might be worth booking last minute so you can make sure the snow conditions are the best they can be before your departure.

What's Heavenly like at Christmas?

If you’re looking for a heavenly (excuse the pun) Christmas, this is the place to go. For all ages, the range of options on offer will make spending Christmas in Heavenly a festive season to remember.

What's Heavenly like in the New Year?

If you’re looking to party hard before hitting the slopes the following day, this will definitely provide the experience. If you’re looking for a quiet family getaway, then again, this resort will have it. In fact, whatever you desire, spending New Year’s in Heavenly will bring in the Year with a bang.

What's Heavenly like in Half-Term?

Recent studies have illuminated the fact that families make up 30% of this resort’s clientele – it’s no wonder half term in Heavenly has become so accommodating to people with young ones. Combine its exceptional ski school and activities with the fact that this is the time of year it typically snows the most and you have the makings of a great holiday.

What's Heavenly like at Easter?

In the skiing calendar, spring is typically the time to head up the mountain, ski the fantastic conditions in the morning before chilling at an après venue in the afternoon whilst getting a goggle tan. Easter in Heavenly won’t disappoint, with its multitude of events, activities, and, of course, huge ski area keeping customers happy for years.

Heavenly Snow Conditions

Snow Report, History & Forecast

View our detailed Heavenly snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Heavenly snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Heavenly snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.

  • Sunny skies Today
  • Patchy light snow Sunday
  • Sunny skies Monday
  • Sunny skies Tuesday
  • Sunny skies Wednesday
  • Sunny skies Thursday
  • Current snow depth at top
    180 cm
  • Alternate Text
  • Current snow depth at base
    110 cm
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Ski Extras

How much is a ski pass in Heavenly

Maximum and minimum adult Heavenly lift pass prices ranged from $432 to $642 for 6 days access to the Heavenly ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Heavenly holiday with accommodation, so prices vary depending on chalet or hotel suppliers. Confirm price for the lift ticket before booking your holiday.

Lift Tickets Child Adult Senior
1 Day Price $44 - $63 $80 - $115 $66 - $94
6 Day Price $240 - $354 $432 - $642 $354 - $528
Age Range 5 - 12 19 - 64 65+

Getting to Heavenly

Most of our ski holidays to Heavenly packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Heavenly from nearby airports

How long does it take to fly to Heavenly from the UK?

Flights from London take about 9 hours to Denver, Jackson Hole etc.. This table shows approximate transfer times to Heavenly from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.

Airport Distance Transfer Time
San Francisco 320 km 4 hours
Reno 89 km 1 hour 15 minutes

How long is the transfer from nearest United States train station to Heavenly?

The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Heavenly transfers.

Station Distance Transfer Time
Reno 89 km 1 hour 29 minutes

Heavenly Ski Holiday Resources

Need help choose your Heavenly ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!

Enquire

Similar Ski Resorts to Heavenly in United States


Every Sno holiday packaged with flights is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. All our suppliers are ATOL bonded, so your money is safe. In addition to this, payments for your holiday are held in trust, by NatWest bank and the Travel Trust, who insure every booking against supplier failure.

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© 2025 SNO Group Ltd • company no. 5995288 • VAT no. 946 9394 63 SNO, Apsley House, 176 Upper Richmond Road, London, SW15 2SH.

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