Diamond Peak: Where Steeps and Glades Shine

Brought to you by Diamond Peak

Diamond Peak, Lake Tahoe’s only community-owned ski area, where steeps and glades shine. 

Nestled on the northern shore of Lake Tahoe, Diamond Peak Ski Resort is a hidden gem that offers world-class tree skiing and fun steep groomers. 

This unassuming, community-owned resort stays under the radar, but its location, northern-facing slopes, and commitment to forest management are the perfect combination for deep snow and fresh tracks in its gladed areas. Diamond Peak accumulates over 300 inches of snow a season, and the north-facing slopes hold snow for days, leaving an abundance of pow stashes hidden throughout its expansive glades after each storm cycle.

• Related: Diamond Peak, NV, Report: Closing in on All-Time Snowfall Record

Diamond Peak features over 655 skiable acres and 1,840 of skiable vertical, meaning there’s more than enough terrain to keep all levels of skiers and riders happy for a full day of powder stash hunting. Pair that with its north-facing slopes, and you’ll find it’s easy to discover great snow conditions, whether you find yourself in the trees, or ripping up a steep groomer off the Crystal Ridge. 

Steeps & Stashes & Groomers For All

Primarily known as a family-friendly option in the Lake Tahoe ski resort scene, Diamond Peak certainly delivers on that promise. Interchangeable parent lift tickets make skiing with little kids in tow accessible, and affordable lesson programs are available for all ages. Plus, the layout of the resort makes it super easy for families to meet up in the base area for lunch or to regroup after a run from anywhere on the mountain.

There’s terrain for everyone to enjoy at Diamond Peak, with 28 named runs, 13 named glade zones, six lifts, three terrain parks, and a separate learning zone for kids enrolled in Child Ski & Ride Center learning programs. No matter where you find yourself on the mountain, you’ll experience jaw-dropping views of Lake Tahoe below, and chairlifts are just steps from the parking lot. 

Much of the laid-back, forgiving terrain is located on the lower half of the mountain, but what truly sets Diamond Peak apart is its seemingly endless series of steep glades and groomers. These are all accessible via the Crystal Express Quad on the upper half of the mountain.

Over 75% of Diamond Peak’s skiable terrain is gladed tree skiing zones, and when there is fresh snow, these regions become a powder lover’s dream. This is where skiers and riders go to disappear into a personal playground filled with face shots, quick tree turns, and bottomless powder. And with the northern exposure keeping the sun at bay, the snow quality stays good for days after a storm. 

The Crystal Express Quad rises 1,475 vertical feet from mid-mountain to the 8,540-foot summit of Diamond Peak, and for those less interested in powder, multiple steep groomers descend off the Crystal Ridge. Put your edges to use, arc some turns and leave behind some gnarly trenches on the steeps of Lightning or Diamond Back runs, or opt for the mellower intermediate runs of The Great Flume or Crystal Ridge (which both offer panoramic Lake Tahoe views the whole way down). Many skiers opt to collect as much vert as possible by lapping the Crystal Express all day, as there’s more than enough variety to keep you going from open to close.

At Diamond Peak, even on the busiest days, you’ll never spend more time standing in lines than skiing them. Lap after lap, you can pretend the mountain is yours. Hop in and out of glades between ripping up a groomer. The options are endless.