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Heavenly Ski Resort
Rating Details »
58 reviews for Heavenly Ski Resort
(Still) Love it! After going a few times, I prefer the Nevada side, but I definitely don't hate the California side. There are a lot of runs to accommodate every skill level, as well as activities for the non-skiers/riders (inner tubing and plenty of snow to just play in). There are enough food options, and a bar (the only 'enclosed' food or beverage facility). Although if you can, bring your own food and water. It cost $4.11 for a bottle of Aquafina, and the food prices were spendy enough to encourage me to snack on my Luna bar.
It's easier to park on the CA side, then ride the orange line bus over to the gondola on the NV side. I believe you have to pay for parking at the Marriott (however, we did see people park at the Harrah's hotel/casino, which is a 5 minute walk away from the gondola).
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/25/2008
First timer to Heavenly. This is a massive mountain. We went during Easter weekend, so it was… Read more »
Like being surrounded by pricks who think they own the mountain?
Are you patient and can stand waiting in lines at crowded lifts while the lifties do next to nothing to keep jerks from jumping in line, and the people are too meek to say anything about aforementioned line-jumpers?
Heavenly caters to tourists in every aspect - prices, service, amenities (of course, these can be both good and bad things), and the tourists just let themselves get raped by this mountain.
The views are great. The terrain is pretty good if you're a skiier or like to skate/walk your snowboard. But dollar for dollar, you're better off going elsewhere.
Scratch that - stick with Heavenly and stop crowding the resorts actually worth going to, stop sitting in the middle of runs like a jerk, and stop attempting the park that your skill level clearly can't handle in a vain attempt to impress your too-done-up, Gucci sunglass-wearing "snow bunny" girlfriend. I'm going to get a sticker on my deck that says "I can ride better and harder than your boyfriend... and you should do the same to me" just to heckle gapers like you.
There are signs all over the mountain that state "Respect gets respect." Huh. Imagine people actually adhering to that.
Today, after my snowboard got away from me and raced down the mountain, I took a leisurely (one hour!) stroll back down to the logde and took the opportunity to look past freshly powdered towering trees over stunning views of the lake and do a little people watching. On my left there was a little girl doing the splitz, crying. On my right, a boarder shredded his way confidently smack into a tree. A person with a broken arm passed me on a mobile. It made me stop and think -- why do we subject ourselves to this insane masochism?
Heavenly is one of the biggest ski resorts in Tahoe, and this can be a double edged sword. It's exciting to think that you might one day be able to get to know and conquer such a monsterous mountain, but at the same time, it's overwhelming, and the runs tend to flatten out just when you get in your groove.
Still, the staff are super friendly, and make it feel like a smaller resort in a way. They showed lots of sympathy for me when I lost my board, and even gave me a ride on the snow mobile back to the gondola. Snow mobiles are amazing, by the way. It was like being on the back of a motorcyle, tearing through the snow.
Enough snowboarding. Mo' mobile! I need to lose my board more often.
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I'm snowboarder, not too agressive and likes to cruise. Heavenly has some great views, wide runs. But I do have to note, there are a lot of flat areas where even more advanced boarders have trouble making it through. If you're skilled enough to pick up enough speed to cruise through and weave through the other boarders who had to unstrap in the flat areas then good for you, but other beware.
I ususally stick to the Orion and Big Dipper runs since there aren't as many flat areas, are nice and wide, and the dipper express takes you to the top in fairly good time. When I'm in Tahoe I go to Heavenly mainly b/c it's in South Lake Tahoe and I don't want to drive any more north since I'm coming from So Cal, and b/c it's next to the casinos and my my friends like to gamble :)
As for the crowd, it's a popular resort, so depending on when you're there, the lines and runs can be crowded. But for the most part, I've found the crowd there pretty considerate about not cutting you off or stopping in the middle of the run.
Prices are steep, but that should be expected already.
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Heavenly is.. well.. heavenly. it's a pretty decent size resort and that's being a little modest seeing how it covers a HUGE portion of the mountain side. the snow conditions here are pretty similar to that of Squaw Valley about 80% of the time. you just don't know what you're missing till you board a mountain like Heavenly.
the trails.. well.. the trails are everywhere.. and they cut through the heavily wooded mountain forest like water trickling down a window during a light rain. the view here is just spectacular.. some spots of the mountain can get a little steep and you can pick up some good speed but for the most part.. being out on this mountain during ideal snow conditions can seriously be compared to snowboarding in a place that could just very well be heaven.
The location and views are amazing here. The rest of the resort, not so amazing. They really need to warn snowboarders about the catwalks. You can't traverse between the California and Nevada sides without taking them and they will kill your day. The trail to the Stagecoach Lodge is a real nut-buster for the boarders too. Only expert level boarders can navigate these catwalks without flat-spotting. Some signage at least would be appreciated. The skiers love to harass the slow moving boarders too. One dope laid his poles across the narrow track on the trail from Sky Express to the Nevada side while they admired the view.
Once you're wore out from the flat-spotting, you can enjoy a $9 beer at the Sky Deck. Yes, that's right, I said a $9 beer. After $80 on a lift ticket, you get gouged for a $9 beer. But, hey, you cold always try warming up with a shot. Oh wait, no you can't because they sell mixed drinks only.
If you're snowboarding, pick one side, I'd recommend the Nevada side, and stay on that side and bring lots of dough for the food and drinks.
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Fail! I hate this place. Period.
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Love the views.
Hate the skiers.
'nuff said.
Heavenly is a big-ass mountain, so huge it spans two states and I got lost trying to go from one side to the other because a) it's freaking huge, b) there was a snowstorm and I couldn't see where I was going. (Lesson learned: wear a ninja mask), and c) Heavenly has this design where in order to get to a lift you have to go on another lift. (uh, yeah, I basically spent the morning trying to go downhill only to end up on a lift carrying me all the way to the top of the mountain. FANTASTIC.)
Personally, I'm at the stage of practicing carving, which means I'm making S-shapes all over the place and sometimes snowboarding backwards longer than I should be....so, in that sense, Heavenly has some very good blue runs since they are long and wide.
But if you have to go from one side to the other, unless you love traversing and catching edges and getting lost in general, just take the Gondola or the shuttle bus.
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I used to hate Heavenly until this weekend...
The secret? Avoid the California side and the beautiful views of the lake. Go straight to the Nevada side by the Stagecoach Lodge and the Stagecoach Chair.
Decent close and convenient parking.
No crowds.
Fast chairs.
Excellent long runs.
More laters...
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I had the greatest weekend with friends at Heavenly.
Heavenly is a huge mountain. I was at Squaw last year and Heavenly just covers so much more mountain. There are a lot of flat areas though, which is hell for boarders, I'm sure. Even as a skier, the constant skating was a bit tiring. But that didn't take away from the great weekend.
Once you are up at the top of the mountain, you realize why the place is called Heavenly. The view is amazing. It's just breathtaking.
The runs are actually really fantastic. I think this is actually one of the harder mountains that I have encountered. There aren't as many green runs and more black runs. There are also a great number of doubles blacks that are just out of this world. They are just amazing. At the same time, my two friends that were skiing for the very first time in their lives, had a great time and had runs that they could go down.
Heavenly crosses Nevada and California. Both have a really different real. It's like two separate resorts merged as one. Although I spent most of my time on the Nevada side, my favourite run was on the California side. What I'm trying to say is that the mountain is incredibly diverse and has something for everyone.
If you buy discount tickets you can get them for $65 instead of the $75 or so they cost at the resort.
The one thing that I thought was bad about the resort was that, although everything funnels into it, there isn't much at the Gondola. They really need to put something there. There is the Umbrella Bar which is covered, but not heated. There isn't a heated area there at all. The only heated grills and rest areas that are heated are located towards the bottom of the mountain. I guess you just have to know that in order to find a place to eat or just warm up.
But I loved Heavenly. It was fantastic and I can't wait to go back.
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I had NEVER skiied before coming to Heavenly, and my lesson there was very effective! I started out falling over my own feet, siding backwards down bunny hills and getting knocked over by the ski lift - ouch!!
By the end of the 3 hour lesson, I knew how to turn, stop, balance myself, ski around obstacles, and most importantly, to smile and have fun while speeding down a frozen hill! I felt a big difference in my confidence. The lesson was very small and intimate, with tons of personal attention for each student, and the instructor had a lot of energy. By the end I had conquered the same ski lift that had knocked me over earlier, and had successfully navigated down a busy, icy slope.
I'm very glad I tried skiing for the first time - for anyone else who wants to start, I would definitely reccomend taking a lesson at Heavenly.
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UPDATED: 3/25/08
Having been to Heavenly a couple more times since my first post, I have added another star for their unbeatable amenities. They offer amazing condiments at their eateries, particularly the outdoor grill at the East Peak Lodge. I don't like the idea of paying $15 for lunch, so I normally bring a bagel and lunch meat to chomp on at lunch. But at Heavenly, I can totally supe up my bagel at their hot condiments bar that has pesto mushrooms, grilled bell peppers, sauerkraut, and grilled red onions! Their bathrooms are also well-equipped with all the tampons, maxi pads, hand lotion a girl could ever need.
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I am NOT a happy camper with Heavenly. I have been here 3 times already and have decided that it is totally not worth the price nor the energy spent for this resort.
I am a snowboarder and Heavenly is definitely not a boarder-friendly place. There is too much flat terrain here, and be sure that you'll be exhausting all of your energy trying to get through them, or by constantly taking your board off to walk through the damn snow to get out. As my cousin said, "this is far from heavenly...more like hell!"
Lift tickets are outrageously pricey (normally $78 for an all-day lift ticket, but you can get discounted tickets at Lucky for $66--what a deal...NOT!) and lodge food is mediocre and incredibly expensive (think: $15 for a bread bowl of chili and a bottle of Gatorade).
Pluses do include well-groomed runs, fast lifts, friendly service and close proximity to all the casinos and eateries on Lake Tahoe Blvd. However, I think I get a better bang for my buck elsewhere, like Homewood or North Star.
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I was totally in my element here. The bunny slope and patsy's run was perfect for my beginner ass.. Got it down by the end of the second day. The view from the Gunbarrel is breathtaking.. I highly recommend going up to check it out.
This place has something for everyone whether you are like my friend Nate who goes down the mongul slopes on his board, or myself and the girls who are just beginning.
Most folks here are English and Spanish speaking which made me feel right at home. The folks are super friendly.. which is a switch because most of the time people are A##holes when you almost crash into them or they go around you super fast.
66 dollars for a half day (12:30 TIL 4)
81 dollars for a full day
Parking wasn't too bad either.
Take the gondola ride... that view is super sick too.
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Poor rides for snowboarders.........
Too Crowded...........
Overpriced....
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We go to Heavenly each year for convenience more than anything else. As others have noted, it seems like everytime I go here I get stuck in a flat area where you pretty much have to take your board off and walk for a while. The views are great, yes. Some of the runs are long - but again, like I mentioned the super long runs tend to have flat areas. Price is about as steep as it gets. Heavenly is ok.
In the heart of South Lake Tahoe what more can you ask for?
Oh man, I have sooooooo much fun snowboarding. I cover every inch of my body so no one knows I'm Black... head down the slopes, start to get to talking to folks then take off my mask, goggles and gloves... Oh how I love to see the Europeans faces when they realize I'm a Negro... hahaha sorry... just had to share that.
The second time I've ever snowboarded in my life, Heavenly had a competition the week before. It was lovely, since the jumps and everything were still up. I'm a nut and couldn't wait to try it out... hopefully, not snapping my back in the process. I'm sitting at the top of the hill with other boarders who obviously been doing their thang-thang a lot longer than myself.
boarder 1 "how long have you been snowboarding?"
me, "2 years"
boarder 2" how often you come out?"
me, "this is actually my second time"
b1 "YOU ARE GOING TO TRY TO JUMP THAT? YOU ARE CRAZY"
b2 "get the emergency crew ready"
I'm up, start to head down the hill swaying side to side trying to get my speed right, lining up the ramp, making sure to get as much bounce as I can so I make it across the gap (it would suck if I didn't make it) OH NO! Too much bounce... not only did I clear the gap, I cleared the landing too.. mean while, GOD decided to exhale at the same time I was in the air which made it harder for me to land on my board so I decided to land on my A$$ instead. Luckily for me there was mad powder or I'd be doing commercials for The Christopher Reeves Foundation.
Next time I will stick it... as long as God holds his breath!
****
ps: The jump wasn't as crazy as going down the Black Diamond (moguls) at the end of my first day!!! NNNNEEEEEVVVEEEERR EEEVVVEEERRRR AGAIN!! I fell so much, my pants were filled with snow. I had to strip them off, at the bottom of the hill, just to get all the snow out!
Oh and I could hear everyone laughing on their way down the lift! Must have been a sight!!!
I can still hear the voices.... "Black People tsk tsk" I kid I kid
****
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I really like this place because it's huge and you don't feel claustrophobic. There are several levels of slopes and I like how you can ski down to Nevada or California side.
However, it's pretty annoying that the ski lifts are $78 for a full day and $42 rentals. That brings you to about $120 for a day of skiing. It's true that there is much more area to ski on so maybe at the end of the day you have skied on a lot more than say a cheaper place with less slopes but...still
next year, I must get the college pass for $270 before it sells out (sold out 2 weeks ago :( )
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I must be getting the snowboard itch if I'm recollecting my experiences at this resort. The locals will probaby recommend squaw or northstar as better resorts, but it really depends on what you wanna do and when.
I've been up here a couple of times with the former girlfriend and her zany group of friends for week long trips. The thing I always felt guilty for was that I always ditched them to go riding with my good buddy and former Nutonu snowboard teammate, Collin. Heavenly is his backyard. He used to live in the area and he also used to be a ski instructor.
It's all due to my bro, Collin, that I always have an awesome time riding with him. He rides hard and fast which means more runs for the both of us. He knows the mountains as good as the back of his hand. He can find powder staches even a full day or two after a major snow storm. And for this, I am soooo grateful for.
If you can buddy up with a seasoned local, Heavenly is a great place to ride when you know when and how to avoid the tourist runs.
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Despite the STOP THE BRUTAL GROOMING stickers I've been flying for years, sometimes the choice is between accepting nature's limitations or busting out heavy, diesel-powered equipment to create some skiable terrain. During the front-end of a corn cycle, you're not going to find much beyond death crust on all-natural terrain, and then it's time to cough up the money and let someone lay down the white carpet.
Heavenly does a great job of this. With lots of detachable, high-speed lifts, long engineered trails, and brutally efficient grooming, you can rack up lots of vertical at high speed atop the latest in advanced substitute snow. Skiing with a mixed group? Beginners and intermediates? People who expect amenities? This place can do it all--nothing exceptional, but everything done well. It looks like it would be an amazing place on a powder day, with acres of ignored tree skiing and a clientele that seems likely to color within the lines. I'd also love to have the opportunity to ski out-of-bounds on the NV side and down to the Carson Valley, something that can only be done a few times in a generation but seems like one of the great lift-assisted descents.
Actually, the famous, classic bump run under the old tram off Ski Run Blvd. needs to get some love. I'd been meaning to try it ever since I saw the amazing final slo-mo group ski scene in "Fistful of Moguls." You know, the one with Glen Plake, Wayne Wong, the Olympic Gold Medal kid, Suzy Chaffee, and a bunch of crazy locals tearing up the slope on a warm spring day. Shit, those bumps took me down. The comment by a passing nouveau-bumper about taking my "long skis" back to the East Coast was quite appropriate, I guess...
Heavenly sucks.
Ok, maybe not if you are learning to ski, and your husband or wife doesn't want to join you, they could hang out in a casino and spend all your money while you fall down. I can see that.
It's not for me though.
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I try to avoid this place as much as possible. It's uber expensive, seems to have tons and tons of moguls (no bueno if you are a snowboarder) and also has a lot of flat spots... so my advice is just bomb down the hill cuz you never know when you will hit a flat spot.
On the brightside they probably have the best man made snowmaking ability, so if you haven't been saying your daily prayers to the rain gods this might be the place to go.
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When i first moved to CA, all I heard about was skiing at Heavenly. So I was very excited to go last month. Before I knew it, only one word came to mind: O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D!!
The most obvious thing wrong with this place is there were WAY too many people on the mountain! Ok- so we went on a busy weekend, and we expected that. But really- the people didn't bother me as much as the rest of the stuff. Read on.....
- I spent way WAY too much time poling!
- The runs were either flat or all moguls.
- There were TOO MANY narrow cat tracks with beginner skiers and snowboarders out of control. (Ski Patrol was constantly towing injured people down the hill.)
- After all that lousy cat tracking, you usually only get a 5 second ride down (and they call that a "blue").
- Food was expensive and lousy. Food is cheaper in Sun Valley, where you get to eat in this gorgeous lodge and the food is quite decent.
- My husband's biggest complaint was that this place doesn't care to give the customer a great experience. It's just a cash cow.
Ok- so 2 stars for the view. Yea yea.
Am I being too harsh? Maybe I am just spoiled by spending the last 3 Christmases in Sun Valley, ID. Now THAT place is heavenly!
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Well, I sit here, using Kaiser's hotspot wi-fi in the ER with some swelling in my spine and a throbbing head. That said, Heavenly was OK, even without my monster wipe out on the Rail in the freestyle park.
A friend and I went there on a day trip and the parking was easy and the lines we found manageable. One thing I couldn't stand is the total lack of trail signage. When you're in a group with varying skills, signage is needed. And while the trails link up fairly well, its difficult to get to the needed lifts to get to the different areas.
The one thing it did have was freestyle parks that had their own lifts and were very long and were more like trails. My first few runs were good, but the last run, my back met the business end of the rail and here I sit waiting to get my back checked out. Such is life.
Overall, I guess I just expected more for this price. I guess that's what I get for heading to the resort overlooking the casinos. I should have headed to Northstar at Tahoe for a shorter drive, better snow, and a better time.
When it dumps fresh powder, Heavenly is great for snowboarders. Despite the reputation of being a skiiers' mountain with many flat parts, this resort has faster and newer lifts and a bigger terrain park than its counterparts in South Lake Tahoe. Moreover, you break even with the season pass by spending 2 days at Heavenly and 3 days in Colorado (e.g. Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Beaver Creek), which are free. This saves you $261. Plus, the $369 pass includes 4 buddy discount tickets ($40) that can be used on black out dates for you and your snow pals. Most importantly, Heavenly is located near casinos, food, movie theatres, and lodging options compared to the other secluded resorts.
The instructors are exceptional, but the resort isn't the best place to learn how to board given the congestion of people and uneven rolling terrain on the California side. I would recommend trying the Nevada side for less people, but it also tends to have more intermediate and advanced runs. Parking lots are available at both sides of the resort. The food isn't as good as North Star, but it has your solid fare of bread bowl soups, burgers, pizzas, and hot cocoa.
Discount tickets can be purchased at your local Savemart and Lucky supermarkets or REI (membership required).
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Loves it! Even having lived in the Tahoe area for more than ten years, I never get tired of seeing the AMAZING lake from the mountain. From the gondola, and from the larger lifts on the California side, you are treated to delightful views of Tahoe's majesty. (alright, I'm done being verbose now.)
As pretty as California is, however, I recommend the Nevada side any time on weekends and holidays or after 10 AM during the week. Heavenly is generally very crowded, so getting up there early is always a good idea. Around eleven o'clock the tourists and the less obsessed locals start trickling in, filling the lift lines and tearing up the slopes.
On the whole, I really enjoy skiing Heavenly. I hear it's not that fantastic for boarding, but... I don't board. The prices are absurd, but understandable in light of Heavenly's location. I suggest packing your own snacks to avoid paying $50 for a pizza and Coke.
Conclusion: Do it.
Awesome views to go along with a huge park! I liked this park in the a.m. rather than the p.m. Go early as there is powder and less people. I like the fact that you can use the park and you can say you were in Nevada as well as California. The trails to get to either side kind of suck though because they're flat. Bad for a snowboarder because you have to un-click and walk. Other than that, the lift to go back down has an amazing view! Nice when you're leaving...
This place is pretty ridiculous. Ridiculously difficult to manage a day full of runs that are actually down hill. I've never done so much ski skating in my life.
Plus it's way too huge.
Park, shuttle, lift, walk, lift, ski, lift - AH HA! We're finally on the run that we want. And then you basically have to walk back down (flat runs) that monster of a mountainside to the lodge if you don't want to deal with a black diamond at the end of the day.
But the bathrooms are really nice. Totally automatic. The cafeteria is decent too. The chili cheese fries gave me a baby heart attack.
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Note to self: Do not think you're bad ass and visit the Intermediate side after your fiance and his father warned you a thousand times to stay on the bunny slopes....
In the end, I got a cut on my arm, a bruised up right leg, and came home sore for three days. Happy Birthday to me.
Heavenly is pricey and is OK, too crowded for me too. =P If I ever go here again, this time I'll stay put on the bunny slopes.
Is there anything better for curing a hangover than hanging out at the top of Gunbarrel Express, at 10,000+ feet, after you've been out at the casino until 6am?
No.
Love the wide selection of runs.
Love the close proximity to bars and casinos.
Love the affordable accomodations.
Love the cheap prices for a season pass.
Tahoe, I miss you. I promise I will tumble and crash down your beautiful mountainside very soon.
Then, I will get wasted and puke in your casinos.
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UPDATED REVIEW - 2/26/2008
Well, after 2 years, I made it back to Heavenly and this time around, I was out and about on the Intermediate level runs.
First - I didn't recognize the resort b/c we started out on the California side at the California Base Lodge....BIG MISTAKE. I am a solid beginner/intermediate skier and my boyfriend is an intermediate/advanced snowboarder. We were totally bummed by the terrain.
The California side was not crowded at all and it was easy to make it through the rental shop within a few minutes, but later we understood why it wasn't crowded...the runs are flat!!!! The skiing wasn't bad and was actually pretty good for someone who is a beginner (not a true novice, though). Plus, the view of the Lake is AMAZING from the California side. *whistle* Yet, for a snowboarder, I can see how it would be a pain b/c of all the flat portions of the runs.
Also, as a note the boards that they lend out are "step in" bindings and my boyfriend was pretty frustrated that these were the only type of boards offered for rental. My skis were fine, but we ended up terminating our equipment rental one day ahead of schedule and going to a "mom & pop" rental shop down the road, which was MUCH cheaper.
The runs on the Nevada side were much more to our liking. They were steeper and longer, although the lines on the first day were longer, as well. Plus, the 20 minute Gondola ride was pure punishment.
All in all, it was nice to return to see what the resort is all about as a skier learning terrain, it was a good experience. Yet, we probably won't go back. It is quite expensive for lift tix and for food while held "captive" at the resort.
Original review - 1/13/2008
I guess that I will always remember Heavenly as my FIRST visit to a ski resort EVER. This is where I took my first GONDOLA ride and my first ski lesson about 2 years ago. The instruction was so/so because the place was PACKED with beginners and the ratio of students to instructors was insane. As a result, I had to take follow up instruction at another resort.
Heavenly did a great job adding the Gondola from South Lake Tahoe. It made getting up to mid-mountain really easy from our hotel. I did not find the intermediate trails to be challenging. It seemed to be a great resort for advanced skiers. I enjoyed the Apres scene in South Lake and recommend people stop for a drink at Fire and Ice to enjoy the fun atmosphere.
First place I snowboarded in Tahoe. Other experiences snowboarding: once (first time) on a slope of about 15deg in Chicago suburbs (don't think that counts...); and four Christmases at Jay Peak in Vermont.
The resort is huge. So many different lifts. I'm an intermediate snowboarded, so there are tons of blues for me to enjoy. The trees aren't too densely packed, so I can wander in there, also. While some of the lifts get crowded during mid-day (Dipper Express and Comet Express), the Stagecoach, North Bowl and Galaxy (especially this one!) have relatively quick lift lines. These last three, though, are not the speedy lifts.
I've been on three separate occasions: 1) some leftover powder, end of Jan.; 2) in a snowstorm; and 3) beginning of March without new snow. Riding in all the conditions was fine (and AWESOME during the snow storm!). In March, the trails were groomed well, so the ride was pretty smooth.
As others have noted, this place isn't too snowboard friendly, especially when transitioning between trails. Such long stretches of flaaaaaat. So prepare to unstrap and walk.
The food is expensive, but what can you expect. The Tri-tip sandwich is worth it, though. Just covered in barbecue sauce :-) At the East Coast Lodge, the 20oz beers are "only" $8.45.
My biggest gripe with this place, though, was the management during the snowstorm. They shut the gondola down around 2. We had just ridden up Olympic Express, and were told that we had to make it there in 2 minutes. Well, as I mentioned above, the trail from the Olympic Express to the Gondola, the Von Schmitt, is flat. No way we were going to make it. So we boarded down to the Stagecoach Lodge to catch the bus back to the base. Well, it seems as though, when you shut down the Gondola, you should start running more buses from the Lodges to the base, as that is how everyone needs to get down. It was mass chaos trying to get on the bus. We got on the second bus were the last two to get on. It is NOT fun to be 5'2, trying to balance your snowboard, and barely able to reach the hand bar, while the bus is doing switchbacks down the mountain. My arms had a really good workout.
We buy our tickets ahead of time at REI for only $66. Pretty good, and then we don't have to wait in the ticket line, also.
Oh, and if you want to park by the Gondola, the garage is $23 if you ski/ride a full day.
Im lazy. Im hungover. Im in need of convenience. I so dont want to drive anywhere. Hello Heavenly.
I have been skiing (and two failed snowboarding disasters) here for eons. It is pricey but it beats putting four twenties into that damn Wheel. The Wheel mocks me.
I soooo enjoy crawling out of bed, walking a block and hopping on the gondola. Everyone who works here is always nice (who wouldnt be working at a ski resort) even the guys in the rental area when I was attempting to find my inner Gretchen Bleiler and had no clue about the one board madness. I also love the fact it is not overrun with squealing junior highers from Sac. with season passes. ugh!
Which brings me to my Heavenly props section - In a failed attempt to keep up with my husband on his snowboard, I decided to take a 3 day lesson, rental, lift combo. It was around $300.00 - good deal for all of that. Day one was spent with about 8 others in class...Im picking it up. Day two and there were now about half of us and I was learning....We split and went home after that due to my gigantic blisters. I was still able to redeem day three at a later date. So a few weeks later and a great day learning to board at Sierra by myself, I was ready for day three. Day three started out with one other girl, the insturctor and me. She sucked - I mean to the point of what was she doing the first two days, snorting snow? So we ditched her and I ended up with a private lesson all day. I picked it up but was miserable, I missed my skis.
Heavenly is a skiers paradise. I suggest started at Stateline, if it is windy you will get stuck on the California side and miss out on the rest of the hill. Oh and Heavenly - can we work on the uber expensive BBQ rubber burgers? That could use some work. Also, to all of you newbie Heavenly visitors, I always suggest going in the middle of the week. .
They should put a sign out there....Tourist welcome. Real riders stay away....
Sorry Heavenly. You are overpriced, too crowded, small & over crowded with people who have no idea on the concept of slow traffic stay to the right.
The runs are narrow, lines are long and there is definitely too much neon on the hill. LOL. (I had to point out that old guy that wears a teal & pink zipup suit...it screams flamer.)
I chose to go elsewhere.
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Been to Heavenly a few times before. The snow here after a storm is the best. Having the highest elevation in the Tahoe area, the snow stays soft and powdery. The view from the California side is simply "Heavenly". Gotta tell you, it's breathtaking. But the best runs are on the Nevada side. Stick to that side for awesome riding.
Yes, it's expensive here, but it's a world class resort. The village, gondala, restaurants, and shops add a fancy touch. The only gripe I have is the Skyline trail that leads you from the California side to the Nevada side. It's flat and all the beginners I took with me had a hard time. That trail is also the only way to get back to the Gondala from the Cali side. Last I heard, they were going to fix that trail. The food here is also pretty good, the steak chili is delicious!
The main reason I come to Heavenly is because it's right in South Lake Tahoe. The only place in Tahoe with a nightlife and great restaurants.
How much do I love Heavenly? Ohh man...it was my first season pass ever for a resort and will always hold a special place in my heart. The runs here are made for those that enjoy the outdoors. I remember taking forever on some runs, risking life and limb on others, and needing a shot of greygoose to go down others.
the gondola ride is so worth the extra time up the mountain. That's what truly makes this place stand out as compared to other resorts. I enjoy this place simply because despite how crowded it gets, there simply is that much room left on the mountain not to crash into others or have them crash into you. At other resorts, I get this feeling boarders or new skiers are about to mow me down, but here there enough room for everyone.
I long for the days of $300 season passes, which is still too much for a teacher to pay, but man $400 a season pass means i'll have to pass.
I love this resort, the people that work here are nice. A few years ago this wasn't the case, I'm glad they turned it around.
This place is a little more advance, I find even the beginner trails can be challenging though I been snowboarding seriously for the last 5 years.
Snowboarders that complain this place is for skiers are people that can't snowboard too well. People that complain this resort has too many flats are people that can't snowboard. What resort doesn't have it's share of flats right?
The season pass is an excellent deal, since I take advantage of the 4 free days I get over at Vail and use up all of my 4 buddy passes.
This resort has the best kick ass views ever, no one can beat snowboarding and seeing the lake at the same time.
Mott's canyon is also a fantastic backcountry snowboarding if you can handle it.
I find the crowd that comes here are also more mature and polite, much better than Northstar.
I've never seen so many snowboarders actually walking and carrying their boards *on the mountain* before.
Before I came here, the only things I'd really heard about it were that (1) it's crowded, and (2) there's some flat spots. Well, it was definitely crowded and there were definitely flat spots. The mountain is essentially cut up into a number of sections, and getting between them on a snowboard typically involves pushing and getting annoyed. It's those times when you're traversing that the exhorbitant lift ticket prices really pop into your head.
But, once you get to where you're going, as far as I can tell, the story gets better. My buddies and I headed up the (very crowded) Sky Express and hoofed over to the Nevada side, whereupon we found a slow, antiquated chair servicing some really *excellent* steep tree runs. For variety I think Kirkwood or Sugarbowl beats this hill but the goods are there if you can get to them.
Of course, you have to get to them first. We visited the mountain on a snow day and a few hours in, the Gondola (the only way to get from the South Lake village to the lifts without hopping a bus) shut down due to wind, and we were basically stuck. You'd think a place of this size that gets such large crowds *and* charges so much for entry would have their act together when dealing with such situations (which are not uncommon), but instead 3pm found us standing in a line several hundred skiers and boarders deep, waiting for shuttles that arrived no quicker than 15 or 20 minutes apart to take us down the backroads to the village. There is *no* other way to get back down to town if the Gondola closes. (If you park at one of the lodges further up the mountain, you can get back to your car without a bus.)
If I were to rate Heavenly on the terrain alone, I'd give it four tentative stars. But when you put the whole package together, it's hard to justify any rating higher than "average."
...Or maybe, I'm just telling you this so you don't come and find my snow stash...
It's hard to believe that Heavenly has received so many negative reviews here. This is a world-class ski resort.
The main complaints seem to be:
1. Huge crowds
2. Long liftlines
3. Expensive lift tickets
All three go hand-in-hand with great places to ski and board. You can mitigate them, though.
1. Don't like big crowds? Ski midweek whenever possible. Avoid holiday weekends. If you can only ski on the weekend, go elsewhere. Sierra-at-Tahoe doesn't get as crowded. While smaller, Homewood over on the west shore ot Lake Tahoe has several chair lifts, varied terrain, great views of the lake and... dare I say it, smaller crowds.
2. Long liftlines are part of big crowds. Still, if there's a throng of humanity on the mountain, there are coping mechanisms.
A) Arrive early and be the first up the chair lift. You'll beat the sleep-ins and hung-overs. You'll get fresh tracks off the groomed runs. Heck, you'll feel good about yourself for being so smart.
B) Ski during lunch. Brown bag it and eat before or after the crowds are lined up for rubber burgers and colon-shredding chili.
C) Ski late. Buy an afternoon ticket and stay on the hill until the last run. Just don't get caught on the wrong side of the stateline. It's a long taxi drive from Ski Run Boulevard to the Kingsbury Grade and vice-versa.
3. Tickets cost too much? Again, you can get better deals midweek. Try a multiday ticket if you'll be at Heavenly for several days. Try their Smart Pass and buy it online. You can save money if you try.
As I said before, this is a world-class resort. There's terrain for everyone and two states to ski in. Enjoy it!
