SnowStash
ForecastsCompareNews
SnowStash Logo

Live snow, webcams and expert resort guides for the world's mountains - plan your next day on snow.

hello@snowstash.com
Download on the App Store

Destinations

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Europe
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • United States

Company

  • About Us
  • Work With Us
  • Privacy Policy

Explore

  • Compare Resorts
  • News & Updates
  • Snow Forecast
  • Mobile App

© 2026 SnowStash. All rights reserved.

    California, Usa · Powder Alliance

    Sierra at Tahoe

    2,000 acres, 400+ inches annual snow, 14 lifts. Ikon Pass and Powder Alliance access 19km from South Lake Tahoe, California.

    Season 2026 - 2027
    Opens
    5 Dec 2026
    Closes
    11 Apr 2027
    Days open
    127
    Annual snow
    38ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Sierra at Tahoe spreads 2,000 acres across elevations from 6,640 to 8,852 feet, delivering 2,212 feet of vertical drop across 47 trails. The resort divides terrain into 25 percent beginner, 50 percent intermediate, and 25 percent advanced runs, backed by an average annual snowfall exceeding 400 inches. Sierra holds Ikon Pass access with limited days and full Powder Alliance membership, whilst season passholders receive three free days at 17 other partner resorts across North America and New Zealand.

    The Frontside offers groomed cruisers and dedicated learning zones, whilst West Bowl serves up consistent intermediate terrain accessed by high-speed quads. Grandview Express climbs to the 8,852-foot summit, accessing blue and black runs through widely spaced old-growth red fir trees left by 1850s loggers. Huckleberry Canyon's five backcountry gates open 320 acres of expert-only terrain with cliff drops, cornices, and steep chutes rated extremely challenging.

    Seven terrain parks include Broadway Park, Burton Progression Park, and Upper Snowshoe's roller park, alongside a superpipe and 18 maintained rail features. The resort sits below timberline within Eldorado National Forest, sheltered from winds that often close lifts at competing resorts. Sugar n' Spice, a 2.5-mile green run, stretches from summit to base as the mountain's longest descent.

    Sierra operates 12 miles west of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 50, positioned as the closest major resort to Sacramento and the Bay Area. The family-oriented atmosphere draws fewer crowds than north shore resorts, with shorter lift queues and uncongested base facilities. Operating hours run 9:00am to 4:00pm weekdays and 8:30am to 4:00pm weekends, with the 2025-26 season opening November 28 and closing March 22.

    2,211ft
    Vertical
    47
    Runs
    2,000 acres
    Skiable
    38ft
    Annual snow
    Powder Alliance
    Pass
    The Terrain

    47 runs across 2,000 acres skiable

    Sierra at Tahoe spreads 47 runs across 2,000 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 50%, with 12 beginner runs to find your feet and 12 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    47
    runs
    47 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner12 runs · 25%
    Intermediate24 runs · 50%
    Advanced12 runs · 25%
    Expert0 runs · 0%
    Time it right

    When to visit Sierra at Tahoe

    The 2025-26 season runs from November 28, 2025, through March 22, 2026, spanning 115 operating days. Projected opening dates typically fall in late November, though delayed starts occur during marginal snow years. The resort historically closes in mid-April, with spring operations dependent on snowpack and visitation levels through March and early April.

    Annual snowfall averages exceed 400 inches at mid-mountain, with the resort ranking 41st in North America for total seasonal accumulation. Snow density measures approximately 12 percent water content—wetter than interior Rocky Mountain resorts but manageable on modern wide skis. The summit elevation of 8,852 feet and forested terrain below timberline preserve snow quality during Sierra storms, whilst northwest-facing aspects on Grandview and West Bowl hold coverage better than the sun-exposed backside.

    February and March deliver peak snowfall, with the third week of February historically producing 44 centimetres and 2.7 snowy days per week. January through March offer the most consistent conditions, whilst November and early December require patience as base depths build. Spring riding from late March into April features corn snow cycles on south-facing terrain, though freeze-thaw conditions can create variable surfaces at lower elevations.

    Signature events include Subaru Winterfest, Vans Methodology, and Sierra Playgrounds Party, alongside weekly live music in the Sierra Pub. The resort does not offer night skiing, closing daily at 4:00pm. Weekend and holiday periods from December 20 through January 4, January 17-19, and February 14-22 see peak crowds and require parking reservations starting in the 2026-27 season.

    Season 2026 - 2027
    5 Dec 2026
    Opens
    11 Apr 2027
    Closes
    127
    Days open
    38 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Sierra at Tahoe, and where to stay

    Sierra at Tahoe occupies the south slope of Echo Summit in Twin Bridges, California, within Eldorado National Forest approximately 19 kilometres south of South Lake Tahoe. The base area sits at 6,640 feet elevation where Sierra at Tahoe Road meets Highway 50, positioned five miles west of Echo Summit's 7,382-foot crest. Lake Tahoe itself lies 19 kilometres northeast, visible from upper mountain ridges alongside Desolation Wilderness and Pyramid Peak.

    South Lake Tahoe, 19 kilometres east, provides the nearest full-service town with 30,000 residents, lodging, dining, and casino entertainment. Meyers sits 20 minutes away with additional accommodation options. Twin Bridges, the immediate locality at 6,115 feet elevation, functions as a chain control checkpoint when winter storms close Echo Summit. Stateline, Nevada, lies 26 kilometres southeast on the California-Nevada border.

    Highway 50 provides direct access from both Sacramento and Reno, with the resort located just off the highway requiring a brief turn onto Sierra at Tahoe Road. Westbound travellers from South Lake Tahoe drive 19 kilometres, passing Echo Summit before descending to the resort entrance. Sacramento lies 161 kilometres west via Highway 50, whilst Reno sits 193 kilometres northeast via Highway 50 and I-580 through Carson City.

    Reno-Tahoe International Airport sits 120 kilometres away with 90-minute drive times, offering over 130 daily flights to 20-plus nonstop destinations. Sacramento International Airport lies 158 kilometres distant, approximately two hours by car with service from major carriers. Sports Basement operates a Bay Area shuttle for $99 roundtrip. San Francisco International Airport, 301 kilometres west, provides the closest major hub with extensive international connections, requiring 3.5 hours driving time.

    Where to stay

    Search all stays →

    Hotels and lodges near Sierra at Tahoe, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

    View all news →
    Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026

    Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026

    Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.

    4 Sept 2026
    Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season

    Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season

    Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.

    2 Sept 2026
    Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6

    Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6

    We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.

    1 Sept 2026
    Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

    Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

    Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.

    31 Aug 2026
    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

    An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.

    28 Aug 2026
    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

    A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.

    27 Aug 2026
    Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September

    Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September

    Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.

    26 Aug 2026
    Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert

    Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert

    A hanging glacier above the Swiss village of Randa, just south of Zermatt, has been shedding large chunks of ice for weeks, with authorities warning more break-offs are likely. A danger zone has been closed off since June, though officials say the village's 479 residents aren't at risk. It's a familiar pattern for this glacier - it's done this before, in 1819, 1972 and 1973 - but a reminder of how closely Alpine authorities now watch terrain once considered stable.

    26 Aug 2026

    Sierra at Tahoe Lift Tickets

    Sierra at Tahoe lift tickets & passes

    Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Dec 5, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at Sierra at Tahoe typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.

    Day passes start from US$79, with peak rates up to US$129.

    Powder Alliance8 pass options
    Buy passes ↗

    Single-day passes

    Adult 19–64

    Adult Daily Ticket

    US$89up to US$129 peak

    Full-day access to Sierra at Tahoe's 2,000 acres with stunning Lake Tahoe views from the backside. Experience diverse terrain with 14 lifts, 46 trails, and award-winning terrain parks in South Lake Tahoe.

    Buy pass
    Youth 13–18

    Young Adult Daily Ticket

    US$79up to US$119 peak

    Discounted lift access for young adults at Sierra at Tahoe. Enjoy South Lake Tahoe skiing with excellent terrain parks and beautiful lake views from the backside.

    Buy pass
    Child 5–12

    Child Daily Ticket

    US$79up to US$119 peak

    Child-friendly lift tickets for Sierra at Tahoe's learning areas. Kids enjoy South Lake Tahoe skiing with excellent beginner terrain and family-oriented atmosphere.

    Buy pass
    Senior 65–79

    Senior Daily Ticket

    US$79up to US$119 peak

    Senior discounted daily lift access to Sierra at Tahoe. Enjoy South Lake Tahoe skiing with 2,000 acres and spectacular backside lake views.

    Buy pass
    Child 0–4

    Kids 4 & Under Free

    Free

    Complimentary lift access for children 4 and under at Sierra at Tahoe. Free skiing with proof of age at South Lake Tahoe's family-friendly resort.

    Buy pass
    Senior 80–99

    Seniors 80+ Free

    Free

    Complimentary lift access for seniors 80+ at Sierra at Tahoe. Free skiing with proof of age and $25 processing fee for season pass products.

    Buy pass

    Season passes

    Adult 19–64

    Ikon Pass Access

    US$1,009up to US$1,109 peak

    Sierra at Tahoe is included with Ikon Pass providing unlimited access to South Lake Tahoe skiing. Also includes 70+ destinations worldwide including other Tahoe resorts.

    Buy pass
    Adult 19–64

    Powder Alliance Access

    US$599up to US$699 peak

    Sierra at Tahoe is part of the Powder Alliance providing 3 free days. Also accessible with Bear Valley and other Powder Alliance resort passes.

    Buy pass

    Lift tickets FAQ

    How much does a Sierra at Tahoe day pass cost?+
    Sierra at Tahoe day passes range from US$79 to US$129 depending on the date and advance booking.
    Can I buy Sierra at Tahoe lift tickets online?+
    Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
    Are there discounts for multi-day passes?+
    Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
    What is included with a Sierra at Tahoe lift ticket?+
    Full access to all lifts and trails at Sierra at Tahoe, including mountain safety and patrol services.
    What is the difference between Sierra at Tahoe lift tickets and ski passes?+
    "Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Sierra at Tahoe - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
    When should I buy Sierra at Tahoe lift tickets for the best price?+
    Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
    Does Sierra at Tahoe offer group discounts on lift tickets?+
    Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Sierra at Tahoe directly for group booking information and rates.
    How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?+
    Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Sierra at Tahoe.

    More Sierra at Tahoe intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.