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29. Heavenly Mountain Resort, California

Heavenly, California
(Photo: Rachid Dahnoun)

Big personality, tons of terrain, and expansive lake views that will blow your mind—and fill the photo gallery on your phone. Heavenly is Tahoe’s answer to the one-size-fits-all vacation equation. With 4,800 acres of terrain—and a summit that tops out at an eye-popping 10,040 feet—variety is king. But many come for the fun factor. South Lake Tahoe, on the California/Nevada border, is packed with 24-hour casinos, trendy eateries, and rockin’ clubs. Not everyone’s cup of tequila, of course, but nothing wrong if it is.

No. 29 in the West: Heavenly Mountain Resort, Calif.

Heavenly Mountain Resort Stats

Annual Snowfall Acres Lifts Trails
360″ 4,800 29 170+

Heavenly Mountain Resort Pass Info

Heavenly is on the Epic Pass. Epic Pass holder get unlimited access to the resort. Tahoe Local pass holders get unlimited, holiday-restricted access; Tahoe Value pass holders get unlimited holiday and peak-period restricted access.

Trip Planning

From lodging and and dining to off-slope activities and local tips, here are the SKI editors’ picks for what to do in Heavenly, Calif.

What’s New

The slow North Bowl triple gets upgraded to an express quad for this coming winter, which will bump its capacity by 40 percent. The capital improvement is also expected to ease wait times and improve traffic flow at the Stagecoach and Olympic lifts.

The resort is bringing a new event to the slopes this season. The Sam Adams Air & Après show is an athlete-packed production featuring big air, acrobatics, and other vert-defying ski maneuvers set music, lights, and fireworks. It comes to Heavenly on March 4.

Après Spot

New this winter, look for the DJ Cat roaming the slopes on weekends starting in December. Rotating DJs will host pop-up dance parties at different locations around the mountain, so practice those ski-boot dance moves.

Local Tip

Want a killer view of the lake? Head to Ridge Run (for intermediates) or Gunbarrel (for experts), then try not to crash when you can’t help but ogle the amazing crystalline views.

Family Experience

There’s free outdoor sledding on the hill at Kahle Park—grab coffee and hot chocolate to-go from Clyde’s Coffee up the street then let them slide until they’ve had their fill.

Bragging Rights

Ski 1,700 vertical feet of bumps under the Gunbarrel Express—do it nonstop for extra points—or sign up for Gunbarrel 25 contest, usually in March, and attempt 25 laps against the region’s hardiest skiers.

Dinner Pick

Cold Water Brewery has the tastiest beer in town and the oyster bar at the Hard Rock Hotel is delicious.

Breakfast Nook 

Start your morning with a deep-fried glaze at Heavenly Donuts near the gondola base in Heavenly Village.

Don’t Miss

The après specials at Tamarack Lodge are a great deal and a good time.

Heavenly Mountain Resort’s website

Adventure

Vail Resorts Announces EpicMix

On Monday, Vail Resorts announced a location-based mobile and web app, called Epic Mix. The company's Interactive Director, Mike Slone, sat down with us to discuss check-ins, pins, and where digital experience collides with a typical ski day.

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