Heavenly is the big resort on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, with about 4,800 acres (1,943 hectares) straddling the California-Nevada line. From a 6,570 ft (2,002 m) base to a 10,070 ft (3,068 m) summit, the vertical is 3,500 ft (1,066 m) across 97 runs. Intermediate terrain takes up 62%, with 25% advanced, 8% beginner and 5% expert, so cruising skiers get the most from it. Twenty-seven lifts, including a gondola, serve the mountain, though crossing between sides takes planning. Size is the draw here, with Lake Tahoe views from the California side.

Ridge Run and Big Dipper offer long, scenic descents with views of Lake Tahoe, and the California side is home to well-groomed cruisers. The Nevada side faces Carson Valley, with more varied terrain and fewer crowds. Advanced skiers head for the steeper pitches of Mott Canyon and Killebrew Canyon, where chutes, tree skiing and natural features reward confident riders, and Mott Canyon's north-facing chutes hold snow longer after a storm. Milky Way Bowl gives wide-open skiing and deep snow after storms. Heavenly suits strong intermediates, mixed groups and anyone wanting a large area to explore across two states, plus evenings in the casinos at Stateline.

The 2025-2026 season opens 22 November 2025 and closes 5 April 2026, delivering a 135-day operating window. Heavenly typically opens in the third or fourth week of November depending on snowmaking windows, with Thanksgiving weekend reliably seeing gondola and multiple base areas operational. The resort celebrated its 70th anniversary in the 2025-2026 season, having first opened as Heavenly Valley on 15 December 1955.

Annual snowfall averages 9.1 metres at upper elevations, with the 3,068-metre summit and extensive grooming fleet maintaining cover throughout winter. Snowmaking blankets approximately 60 per cent of terrain via over 200 snow guns, concentrated on lower and mid-mountain zones. The Tahoe basin's relatively moderate elevation for a major resort means rain can affect base areas during warm cycles, though upper mountain snow quality benefits from cold storms tracking across the Sierra crest.

January through March deliver peak powder reliability, with the first week of March historically the snowiest period averaging 43 centimetres across 3.3 snowy days. December and April offer thinner but often uncrowded conditions. Spring corn develops by late March on sun-exposed California faces. Base depths held at 104 centimetres mid-season 2025-2026, with 477 centimetres of cumulative snowfall recorded.

The resort hosts the Toyota Air and Après event in late February featuring professional athletes on a 14-metre jump constructed on World Cup terrain. A weekend DJ Cat programme runs December through March with guest DJs performing from a snowcat on weekends. Night operations are not offered, though the gondola operates for summer sightseeing from May, and tubing at Adventure Peak typically opens mid-December.