Lake Tahoe's Big Ski Resorts Compared: Palisades Tahoe (Olympic Valley), Heavenly, Northstar & Kirkwood

Nowhere else in North America sits a denser ring of acclaimed ski resorts, blessed with both 10 to 13 metres of annual Sierra snowfall AND 300 days of California sunshine, where you ski in mild 2°C bluebird sunshine looking straight down at a massive cobalt-blue alpine lake. Because Tahoe's resorts are split cleanly between the Ikon Pass and the Epic Pass, here is how the Big Six compare (and remember: you can ride the Palisades Aerial Tram, Heavenly Gondola and Northstar Gondola in summer too).

1. On the North & West Shores: 'Palisades Tahoe' (Ikon) & 'Northstar California' (Epic)

1. #1 For Pure Terrain Scale, Olympic History & Spring Skiing, 'Palisades Tahoe': located 15 minutes north of Tahoe City on Highway 89. Host of the historic 1960 Winter Olympics, the resort recently completed the game-changing 2.4-mile Base-to-Base Gondola, connecting the legendary steeps and European-style pedestrian village of Palisades directly with the wide-open bowls and lake views of Alpine Meadows to create the third-largest ski resort in North America.
   • For Non-Skiers & Summer Visitors: ride the 110-passenger Aerial Tram 600 vertical metres up the granite cliffs to High Camp, home to the free 1960 Olympic Museum, roller skating and panoramic sundecks.
2. #2 Best for Families, Luxury Groomers & Ice Skating, 'Northstar California': sheltered from high winds by Mount Pluto with immaculate corduroygroomers through the trees, a five-star Ritz-Carlton on mid-mountain, a 9,000-square-foot free outdoor ice-skating rink ringed by fire pits and cabanas in the Village, and a daily before dawn 'Tost' free champagne toast on the snow.

2. On the South Shore & East Rim: 'Heavenly' (Epic), 'Kirkwood' (Epic), 'Diamond Peak' & 'Homewood / Mt. Rose'

• #3 Best Lake Views & Nightlife, 'Heavenly Mountain Resort': spans two states with the highest elevation and most jaw-dropping lake panoramas in Tahoe.
• #4 For Deepest Powder, 'Kirkwood': sits on the high Carson Pass crest catching the lightest, deepest snow in the Sierra.
• #5 Best Affordable Value With Million-Dollar Lake Views., 'Diamond Peak' (Incline Village) & 'Sierra-at-Tahoe': owned by the community of Incline Village, Diamond Peak's Crystal Ridge run has a view of Lake Tahoe that rivals Heavenly at half the lift-ticket price.