Heavenly Ski Area

The Lake Tahoe region is home to a whole bouquet of ski resorts, each with its own unique terrain and charm. James Niehues captured the magic of Heavenly Mountain in 2003 when he painted this trail map for the resort. While South Lake Tahoe resorts are sometimes overlooked in favor of Palisades and Alpine Meadows on the North end of the lake, anyone who’s visited Heavenly knows it’s a hidden gem. With nearly four thousand vertical feet of skiable terrain and an average of 360” of snowfall a year, Heavenly holds its own in any battle of the ski hills. And beyond the terrain, Heavenly has the lifts and infrastructure to make any skier fall in love. 30 lifts, including everything from magic carpets to a gondola help skiers move around the mountain, and the base area is located right on the lake.

If you’ve skied Heavenly you’ll recognize the beautiful views Niehues captured in his original painting, both of the peaks surrounding the resort, including Milky Way Bowl, as well as the stunning emerald waters of South Lake Tahoe. Heavenly is truly a gem, set between the lake and the mountains, and this Heavenly Mountain ski map captures it in all of its beauty.

Location: El Dorado-Toiyabe National Forests El Dorado County, California / Douglas County, Nevada

Nearest city: South Lake Tahoe, California

Coordinates 38.9353°N 119.9400°W

Vertical: 3,812 ft (1,162 m)

Top elevation: 10,067 ft (3,068 m)

Base elevation: 6,255 ft (1,907 m)

Skiable area: 4,800 acres (1,900 ha)

Runs: 97 total, 20% beginner , 45% intermediate , 35% advanced

Longest run: 5.5 mi (8.9 km) (Olympic downhill)

Lift system: 30 total: 1 high speed gondola, 1 aerial tram, 2 high speed six passenger chairs, 7 high speed quads, 1 fixed grip quad, 6 triples, 2 doubles, 6 surface, 4 magic carpets

Lift capacity: 52,000 passengers/hr

Terrain parks: 3 Groove Park, Ante Up Park, High Roller Park

Snowfall: 360 in (910 cm)

Snowmaking: Yes

Night skiing: No