Two Major Tahoe Ski Resorts Delay Opening Due to Thin Snowpack

Two of Lake Tahoe’s largest ski resorts are hitting pause on their 2025 season kickoff as early-season snow continues to fall short of expectations.

Heavenly and Northstar were slated to open on Friday, but officials announced that thin snow coverage has pushed back those plans. Resort teams spent the summer and fall prepping for winter, but with Mother Nature running “fashionably late,” conditions simply aren’t ready for skiing or snowboarding.

Neither resort has released a new opening date, but both are offering plenty for visitors to do while crews wait for colder weather.

At Heavenly, the Gondola is open for scenic rides, and the Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster at the summit is running for guests looking for a thrill without skis.

Northstar is focusing on Village activities, with the ice rink opening at 3 p.m. and live music on the Village Stage from 4 to 7 p.m. this weekend. Shops and restaurants in the Village are fully open as well, giving visitors a festive winter atmosphere even without the snowpack.

Resort officials say snowmaking teams are firing up machines whenever temperatures allow, working around the clock to build a base.

Both Heavenly and Northstar plan to update the public as soon as conditions improve. For now, Tahoe skiers and riders will have to hang tight, with hopes that the next round of storms brings the snow the resorts need to get the lifts spinning.