Two more Tahoe ski resorts – Sugar Bowl, Soda Springs – opened Friday (Nov. 27) for the 2020-21 season.
Sugar Bowl has received 32 inches of natural snow this month and its snowmaking efforts combined to offer some solid early-season terrain for skiers and snowboarders anxious to get in their first day on the slopes. The resort was sold out for opening day and Saturday (Nov. 28).
“This was a terrific opening day. The weather was beautiful, and it was great to see all our planning for the season take shape,” Sugar Bowl spokesperson Jon Slaughter said. “Guests were very understanding of our new policies and more than willing to oblige in exchange for a few runs on the mountain.
Soda Springs also offered a good amount of snow for its opening-day efforts.
There are now nine Tahoe ski resorts open for the 2020-21 season.
SEE COMPLETE LIST OF TAHOE SKI RESORT OPENINGS BELOW.
SUGAR BOWL: The resort, located off Interstate 80 on Donner Summit, had five lifts operating for its opener – Nob Hill, Mt. Lincoln Express, Christmas Tree Express, Jerome Hill Express and the Flume surface lift. Sugar Bowl offered top-to-bottom skiing and snowboarding from the 8,383-foot summit of Mt. Lincoln.
Lift hours at Sugar Bowl are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Following opening day, the plan is to operate daily going forward.
Sugar Bowl will have no walk-up, day-of purchases for lift tickets, rentals or lessons this season. Lift tickets must be purchased online at least one day in advance, while rentals and lessons must be reserved at least three days in advance.
The resort will still have a very small quantity of lift tickets available for those who purchase rentals or a private lesson at least three days in advance or until space fills (whatever occurs first).
Lift tickets, rentals and lessons remain available for Sunday (Nov. 29) and beyond – through December 18. Sugar Bowl has not yet released tickets for the period beyond Dec. 18, but plans to do so during the first week of December.
For additional information, email [email protected] or call 530 426-9000.
SODA SPRINGS: The family-friendly resort had the Planet Kids conveyor lift and the Lions Head double chairlift – accessing beginner terrain – running for opening day.
The small carpet at Planet Kids provided tubing access for children age 7-under, and skiing and snowboarding. Additionally, one tubing carousel and a snowplay volcano were open.
The jeep sleigh was available for shuttle rides – one group at a time. Note that the Crystal Bowl triple chairlift was closed
Due to Covid-10 safety measures, Tube Town, the snack shack and the Woodward Start Park are all closed
Starting next week, Soda Springs will be open Thursday through Mondays – closed Tuesday and Wednesday. That schedule will continue until the Christmas holidays. Planet Kids and the Lions Head chair open at 9:30 a.m. on weekend days and 10 a.m. on weekdays.
For more information, email [email protected] or call 530 426-1010.
TAHOE SKI RESORT OPENINGS
- Heavenly: opened November 20
- Northstar: opened November 20
- Mt. Rose: opened November 20
- Boreal: opened November 23
- Squaw Valley: opened November 24
- Alpine Meadows: opened November 24
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: opened November 25
- Sugar Bowl: opened November 27
- Soda Springs: opened November 27
- Kirkwood: December 4
- Diamond Peak: December 10
- Homewood: December 11
- Tahoe Donner: December 11
- Granlibakken: December 18