Last updated 2/1/24
 

Planning your next winter adventure can be stressful, but your friends at Sports Basement are here to help you get the information you need so you can take full advantage of all those pow days. Keep on reading and check out our other guides to get the lowdown on all things snow for this season. And don't forget to drop by your local SB, say hello, and let us know how it all went!
 

 
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RESORT OPENING DAYS & LIFT TICKET RATES

There's snow on the mountains and all resorts are open! Short term forecasts are moderate, but long term forecasts look great. After the manic storm season of last year, it'll be good to be able to travel up to the mountains whenever we want to. Don't forget to leave the driving to us - our Ski Bus is now serving six different ski resorts!
 

Palisades Tahoe - 29 lifts open (20/26 Palisades, 9/13 Alpine)

Single Day: Adult prices start at $179
4-Pack: Adult prices start at $640
IKON Season Pass: no longer available for 23/24 season
Basementeers: get discounts on your Palisades Tahoe lift tickets!

Homewood - 7/7 lifts open

Single Day: Adult prices start at $99
Season Pass: Adult prices starting at $899 (includes 2 days at Diamond Peak & more)

Diamond Peak - 5/7 lifts open

Single Day: Adult prices start at $140
Season Pass: Adult prices starting at $799

Heavenly* - 24/27 lifts open

Peak Single Day: Adult price $246 (save more on multi-day passes!)
Epic Season Pass: no longer available for 23/24 season

Northstar* - 13/19 lifts open

Kirkwood* - 8/13 lifts open

Boreal - 6/7 lifts open

Bear Valley - 6/9 lifts open

Mt. Rose - 7/8 lifts open

Sugar Bowl - 10/12 lifts open

Sierra-at-Tahoe - 7/14 lifts open

MULTI-RESORT PASSES

EPIC Pass* (no longer available for the 23/24 season)

IKON Pass (no longer available for the 23/24 season)

PLAN AHEAD & PREPARE

Wait, isn't that a principle of Leave No Trace? YES! Those are our commandments for the outdoors no matter the season or sport. Ways you can prepare this winter include:
 

• Get a pass. You can support your local mountain while getting a pretty sweet deal for the season - the earlier you buy, the more you save!
• Lease your gear and apparel. Especially if you’ve got growing kids or want to try-before-you-buy, renting is an awesome option for gearing up for the season. If you think you’ll rent more than a couple times, season leases save you money, help you avoid unnecessary trips to the store and lines at the resort, on top of giving you the flexibility to head up whenever you feel like it - you’ll be glad you’re ready on those powder days. Check out our snow rentals!
• Keep an eye on the weather. If a storm is coming in and conditions could look dicey, avoid the drive, whether that means heading out earlier or rescheduling altogether - your safety comes first. Before you head out, don’t forget to make sure you have everything you need with our handy checklist!
• Make a contingency plan. Some resorts will require a reservation in advance and will not have lift tickets available at the counter. If you don’t have a reservation for the day (and it’s required), there’s plenty of great places in Tahoe for sledding, snowshoeing, or even building a snowman.
• Plan for parking - or take our bus! Anyone that's visited a ski resort in the last few years knows that parking is an issue. Palisades is rolling out a paid parking system, and other resorts might, too. We highly recommend our Tahoe Ski Bus to save you the drive and the parking woes, but we might be a little prejudiced. 

PREPARE YOUR CAR TOO

If you do need to drive yourself, know that winter weather is never predictable - it's important to be safe and prepared. Besides tire chains, Caltrans recommends you stock your car with the items below:
 

• Snow brush & ice scraper - keep your windows clear of snow so you can see it all
• Shovel - a lifesaver for when your car gets snowed-in
• Blankets & extra clothing - stay comfortable with warm blankets and your favorite hoodie
• Gloves - especially helpful for when you're installing chains
• Water & snacks - great to have if you're snowed-in, even better to have if you're not
• Flashlight - don't forget the batteries!
• First aid kit - always a necessity, whether you're snow-bound or not

Go to the next article:  Sports Basement's Snow Trip Essentials