Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts: Season Pass Roundup

With so many ski resorts at Lake Tahoe, it's hard to choose where to ski. Each resort has its own claim to fame, and it really comes down to personal preference. If you ski more than a few days a year, the best bargain is to go for a season pass. Even if you are only skiing for a week, a season pass might be cheaper than buying a ticket each day.

Some of the resorts are teaming up to offer great value and variety. Heavenly teams up with Northstar, plus five more mountains, including Vail and Breckenridge. Squaw Valley teams with Alpine Meadows. Kirkwood teams with Alpine Meadows.

There's a lot of skiing out there, so go grab a season pass.

Here are my top four picks for ski resort season passes at Lake Tahoe for 2011:

Heavenly: http://www.skiheavenly.com/

800-587-4430

• Adult Epic Pass $699 (unlimited access to Heavenly, Northstar, and out of area Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Beaver Creek, and Arapahoe Basin)
• Child Epic Pass $399 (unlimited access to Heavenly, Northstar, and out of area Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Beaver Creek, and Arapahoe Basin)
• Adult Tahoe Value Pass $389 (unlimited access to Heavenly, access to Northstar Sunday-Friday)
• Teen Tahoe Value Pass $309 (unlimited access to Heavenly, access to Northstar Sunday-Friday)
• Child Tahoe Value Pass $189 (unlimited access to Heavenly, access to Northstar Sunday-Friday)
• Senior Tahoe Value Pass $309 (unlimited access to Heavenly, access to Northstar Sunday-Friday)
• Heavenly also offers cheaper passes with different access and some restrictions

Squaw Valley: http://www.squaw.com/

530-452-4331

• Adult Gold pass $799 (includes Alpine Meadows)
• Young Adult (13-22) Gold pass $529 (includes Alpine Meadows)
• Child (5-12) Gold pass $199 (includes Alpine Meadows)
• Senior (65-75) $529 (includes Alpine Meadows)
• Super Senior (76+) $199 (includes Alpine Meadows)
• Squaw Valley also offers cheaper passes with some restrictions

Kirkwood Mountain Resort: http://www.kirkwood.com/site/

209-258-6000

• Adult premium $649 (includes Alpine Meadows)
• Junior premium $459 (includes Alpine Meadows)
• Child premium $259 (includes Alpine Meadows)
• Senior $469 (includes Alpine Meadows)
• Kirkwood also offers cheaper passes with some restrictions.

Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort: http://www.sierraattahoe.com/

775-849-0704

• Adult unlimited pass $379
• Youth unlimited pass $279
• Child unlimited pass $99
• Super Senior unlimited pass $99
• Sierra-at-Tahoe also offers cheaper passes with some restrictions.

Think about your ski preferences before you invest in a season pass. If you like glitzy casinos plus convenience of a mid-town gondola, then Heavenly is the way to go. You can't beat a casino buffet after a hard day of skiing. If you like a more self contained and luxurious resort with an incredible mid-mountain lodge, then Squaw Valley might be for you. Want a smaller more intimate resort? Consider Sierra-at-Tahoe. There's something for everyone at Lake Tahoe.

My experience with winter sports includes over 14 years of snowshoeing, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, and light winter mountaineering. I am trained in avalanche assessment and emergency procedures, plus basic mountaineering skills using crampons and ice axe. I enjoy leisurely downhill resorts as well as tough treks through the forest.

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