Travel to Sierra at Tahoe with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Located within easy access of Lake Tahoe’s profuse attractions, the ski resort is made up of three separate mountainsides: The Base Area, The Backside and The West Bowl.

Sierra at Tahoe is situated roughly 19kms west of South Lake Tahoe on US highway 50, within driving distance of a vast selection of accommodation options, casinos and retail outlets. Sierra at Tahoe provides challenging runs and exciting post-ski possibilities for all ages and stages. Additionally, the resort attracts a diverse variety of visitors to its wind-protected slopes, making it a great place to meet new people from all walks of life.

A network of 46 slopes and trails make up Sierra-at-Tahoe’s ski system, which is interconnected by 12 efficient lifts. The runs include one of Tahoe’s longest and most legendary, Sugar n’ Spice, stretching over four kilometres. Of the trails, 25 per cent are geared to beginners, 50 per cent to intermediates, and 25 per cent to advanced skiers - providing a fantastically varied selection.

The ski resort offers just as many options for snowboarders as for skiers. Six challenging terrain parks with half-pipes and a mind-blowing five-metre super-pipe are kept in tip-top shape by a hard-working park crew, ensuring optimal thrills and ultimate safety. An excellent ski tuition centre will help you to perfect your skiing and snowboarding in record time, and a children’s centre allows you peace of mind, as you know that your children are safe and sound while you surf the slopes.

Skiing in Sierra at Tahoe

With a wide selection of immaculately groomed ski runs catering to all levels of ability, fantastic terrain parks, spectacular views and wind-protected slopes, you really can’t beat the skiing in Sierra-at-Tahoe. To top it off, the Lake Tahoe area below offers an endless choice of wining, dining, dancing and gambling venues to keep you busy in off-slope hours.

Over 45 trails at Sierra at Tahoe are open to skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels, with routes divided into beginner skiing (25 per cent), intermediate skiing (50 per cent) and advanced skiing (25 per cent). Runs are connected by 12 lifts, including three Dopplemayr express quads.

Additionally, the resort features some of Lake Tahoe’s best-kept boarding secrets: three spectacular terrain parks complete with half-pipes and a serious super-pipe to provide non-stop action. An international standard ski and snowboard school provides first class tuition, ensuring your optimal slope confidence.

Skiing in Sierra at Tahoe generally extends from mid-November through to mid-April, depending on snow and slope conditions. The most popular means of reaching the resort is by road, via highway 50. International and out-of-state visitors also have the option of flying into Reno Tahoe International Airport and making their way to the resort from there.

Après-ski in Sierra at Tahoe

Variety is the spice of life, and Sierra at Tahoe comes up trumps for providing a diverse range of winter activities. If you tire of skiing, you can sample high-paced tubing, snow toys that will get your adrenalin whizzing, and snowshoeing or ski touring through breathtaking Sierra Nevada countryside.

Sierra at Tahoe offers no onsite lodging options, but an excellent shuttle system links the ski resort with over 250 accommodation establishments on the southern shore of Lake Tahoe. Also in the Lake Tahoe area are an endless range of entertainment options, including: restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs, cinema, theatre, and the area’s renowned assortment of casinos. Before heading out of the resort area, try out some of Sierra-at-Tahoe’s fabulous dining options; the resort is known as the best ski resort in the West for on-mountain food.

On-mountain restaurant facilities at Sierra at Tahoe are among the best in the far west, and a host of alternative dining options await you below the ski area, in the base camp, and on the lake’s southern shore. There is not much nightlife at the resort itself, as the lack of onsite lodging means that the area empties out when the lifts close; however, South Lake Tahoe has a vibrant after-hours scene, with countless eateries, bars, pubs, clubs and casinos to choose from.

Lake Tahoe is a skiing Mecca, and if you want to check out some alternatives to Sierra-at-Tahoe, there is no shortage of ski resorts in the area. Heavenly, Squaw Valley and Kirkwood are just a few of the other options, but most of these tend to be more crowded than Sierra-at-Tahoe.

Transportation to Sierra at Tahoe

One of the greatest attractions of Sierra at Tahoe is its proximity to Sacramento and San Francisco, since it is one of the closest ski resorts to both these major cities. The most popular method of transportation to Sierra at Tahoe is self-drive via highway 50; however, visitors wishing to utilise air transportation have the option of flying into Reno Tahoe International Airport.

If you are driving from San Francisco, take I-80 east into Sacramento, and then highway 50 east towards South Lake Tahoe. The resort is roughly 70kms past Placerville on the right, up Sierra at Tahoe road. Journey time to the resort is around 2 hours, 30 minutes.

From Sacramento, the drive is slightly shorter, taking roughly 1 hour, 30 minutes. Take highway 50 east towards Lake Tahoe and past Placerville, until you reach the resort. From Reno, the distance to Sierra at Tahoe is 115kms and you should count on about 1 hour, 45 minutes’ driving time. Take I-395 south through Carson City to highway 50 west, over Echo Summit, and turn left on to Sierra at Tahoe road.

Amtrak trains go to San Francisco along the California Zephyr line. There are also trains to Sacramento and Reno, from where you can transfer by road to the resort. Alternatively, Greyhound Lines buses go to Lake Tahoe.

Sierra at Tahoe can also be reached by air transportation. Most major and regional carriers provide frequent service into Reno Tahoe International Airport, from where you can make use of buses to access the resort. San Francisco Airport and Sacramento Airport, slightly farther afield, are alternative points of entry if you are arriving by air.

A new shuttle system runs from Sacramento to Sierra at Tahoe on Saturdays and Sundays, stopping at three pick-up locations.

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