Best steeps in Tahoe
-The Tahoe Basin (and its immediate vicinity) boasts a whopping 15 ski areas, and aside from it’s world class views is also renowned for some pretty awesome terrain. Here’s the Snow Life list of the 5 best zones for steep and deep terrain in Tahoe!
“The Chutes” Mount Rose (Reno, Nv)
Drop in
To access the Chutes you can choose any one of 9 designated entry gates around the perimeter of the zone. The Northwest Express chair from the main base area is the best lift to access the Chutes.
Get out
All Chutes bottom out at the “Chuter” return chair. Chuter brings you back to the Winters Creek Base area where you can load up onto the Zephyr Express for a return to the Summit.
Horonable Mention
Mt. Rose is one of the steepest ski areas in Tahoe and besides the Chutes, they have several other good zones for Expert and Advanced skiers/riders including: Washoe Zephyr on the Easternmost boundary line on looker’s left, and the Olympic Trees (same area).
40-55
Pitch Degree
17
Runs in the Zone
1,000’+
Vertical Feet
200+
Skiable Acres
Lift Ticket
$165 / Adult (peak)
- No pass alliance
- No Slope-side lodging
- Good Lift infrastructure
- Minimal view of Tahoe
- Good view of Carson Valley
- Good local beer
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“The Wall” Kirkwood (Kirkwood, CA)
Drop In
One of the most challenging run entrances in all of Tahoe, whether there’s tons of snow or not. From the top of “The Wall” #10 chairlift, the resort partially maintains an S-shaped trail that drops right into the main part of the run, or you can choose to “send it” from the top of the cornice that caps the whole length of The Wall. Also further down the ridge there are some chutes notched into the cliffs that are skiable if you’re daring.
Get out
Anything skier’s left of the chair will get you right back down to the main base area, but a slight traverse to skier’s right will give you access to Eagle Bowl, which is a little bit lower angle and is good after a fresh dump and before the sun hits it.
Honorable Mention
So… basically the honorable mention here is most of the rest of the resort, as every summit lift will reward you with some steeps. Some of the best and least skied runs can be accessed by going to the backside and hiking above the Sunrise chair, stay close to the barrier on Larry’s Lip, then drop into one the 7 chutes leading you back to the front side.
38-45
Pitch Degree
19
Runs in the Zone
1,600′
Vertical Feet
8
Expert Runs
Lift Ticket
$155 / Adult (peak)
- On the Epic Pass
- Slope-side lodging available
- Free & Paid parking available
- Top resort for steeps / powder
- Not known for their views
- Best ski bar in Tahoe = 7,800′
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“Killebrew & Mott Canyons” Heavenly (Stateline, NV)
Drop In
One of the harder zones to get to at Heavenly, and an even harder area to lap, the side by side Expert’s Only gated terrain of Killebrew & Mott Canyons are best accessed by taking a hard left from the top of the Dipper Express Quad and either skiing through the Dipper Woods, or dropping into Milky Way Bowl. They can also be accessed from the top of the Sky Express chair by following the Skyline Trail until it intersects with Milky Way Bowl.
Get Out
Technically there are two ways out, but the one Heavenly would like you to use is to ride the Rim Trail traverse around until you find the Mott Canyon chair which is a slow speed 2 seater that barely gets you out of the zone, dropping off at a flat blue trail where your best move is to ski down to Dipper Express if you want to lap the zone again. On super deep snow years, those daring enough dip out the bottom of Killebrew Canyon and grab a few thousand extra vert by skiing all the way down to the nearby town of Minden in what’s known as “The Minden Mile.” Not recommended for tourists or those without avy gear and local knowledge.
Honorable Mention
Unbeknowst to most, Heavenly has some of the best side-country gated terrain to be found anywhere! The problem is, it’s very rarely skiable unless the conditions are primo. Most of it is not even on the trail map, and is unmaintained by the resort, but Stateline Gate which can be found directly behind the Tamarack Lodge, and Firebreak Gate which is just off of the top of Olympic Chair allow for Gondola laps down Heavenly’s front side and is some of the craziest terrain you’ll ever ski. Oh, and the infamous Gunbarrel mogul run is a pretty fun run too.
40+
Pitch Degree
22
Runs in the Zone
863’+
Vertical Feet
22
Expert Runs
Lift Ticket
$225 / Adult (peak)
- On the Epic Pass
- Slopeside lodging available
- Best parking at Boulder Lodge
- Top resort for Lake Views
- 4 base areas over 2 States
- Highest summit in Tahoe
“Palisades” Palisades @ Tahoe (Olympic Valley, CA)
Drop in
Dropping in here requires some effort. Best way to access the Palisades is to jump on the Siberia Express Chair and take a hard left once at the top. Then the fun begins as you’re in for a bit of hike up the ridge to access some of the steepest and gnarliest terrain in Tahoe.
Get out
Most runs (unless you drop into Sun Bowl) will lead you back down to Siberia Express chair.
Honorable Mention
Some legendary runs here, so don’t spend all day on Siberia. The famous KT-22 chair has some of the best off-piste fall line skiing in the country, and around the backside the Granite Chief Bowl has some amazing powdery steeps as well.
40-67
Pitch Degree
9
Runs in the Zone
1,000’+
Vertical Feet
5
Expert Runs
Lift Ticket
$269 / Adult (peak)
- On the Ikon Pass & Base Pass
- Slopeside lodging available
- Best parking at Alpine Meadows
- Top resort for steeps / powder
- Not known for their lake views
- Longest ski season in Tahoe
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“Mount Lincoln” Sugar Bowl (Norden, Ca)
Drop in
One of the most overlooked ski areas in all of Tahoe, Sugar Bowl has arguably some of the best terrain and gets more snowfall than most other Tahoe resorts. A part of the Mt. Lincoln zone at Sugar Bowl, the “Palisades” (not to be mistaken for the other zone and resort by same name) are some extremely gnarly steeps. Accessed from skier’s left off the top of the Mountain Lincoln Express, there are chutes and cliffs and spines abound.
Get Out
All roads lead right back to the Mt. Lincoln Express chair, where you can load up and do it all over again.
Honorable Mentions
Although rarely opened, the terrain off of the Summit chair in the Mount Judah zone yields some exceptional sunny side skiing. Also the Crow’s Nest Peak on far looker’s right has some quality gladed terrain as well.
40+
Pitch Degree
10+
Runs in the Zone
1,293′
Vertical Feet
5+
Expert Runs in Zone
Lift Ticket
$158/ Adult (peak)
- On Mountain Collective Pass
- Slope-side lodging available
- Best parking at Village Lot
- Top resort for annual snowfall
- Not known for their lake views
- Antique Gondola still operating
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