How have I never reviewed this place? It's our home resort and we love going here so much. If you…read moreare mostly about the skiing, and then relaxing, this is the place for you. It has plenty of intermediate and advanced slopes, off-piste runs, long blues and wide bowls. I don't do them as much but my husband enjoys the powder and tree runs, and there are a couple terrain parks. For beginners it's mixed: there a two base areas, one that is better suited for absolute beginners (Timber Creek) that has a lodge, magic carpet, and 2 beginner lifts. The other base area (Kirkwood Village) is better for more advanced beginners and intermediates, but does have one beginner lift (Snowkirk). Just make sure there's enough snow that everything is running (e.g. maybe not right now as spring conditions mean snow is melting fast and things are closing.) There's a resort shuttle that runs around the valley between base areas and various accommodations. Who is Kirkwood NOT good for: nightlife enthusiasts, fashionistas, foodies who can't cook or didn't bring their own food. There is NO shopping (just one general store with high prices limited hours), limited dining options (mostly during the day), and not much nightlife (two bars during the day and one at night.) There are some dining options 10-20 minute drives away, including one very good restaurant with a view (Caples Lake Resort) but be prepared for crowds on busy nights. Generally we stay in our condo and cook (and bring all our own food due to lack of grocery shopping.) If you are prepared and are staying near/on the mountain (can't get closer than The Mountain Club! literally ski in/ski out), it's a great place to ski and stay. If you are looking for more shopping/nightlife/dining out, go fight the crowds in Tahoe. We love it here and recommend it fully!

My husband and I have boarded at Kirkwood many times over the years and always had a great…read moreexperience so now that our kids are older (13,9,7) we wanted to bring them with us to try snowboarding for the first time. My 13 year old daughter and 14 year old nephew went on the bunny hill with my husband and brother to learn and it was the perfect terrain for their level. I signed my 7 & 9 year old up for the ski school and their teacher was JEAN who was just AMAZING. She was so patient and kid and taught the kids skills and essentials to they easily mastered their first lesson and beyond exceeded my expectations! Customer service wise Kirkwood staff were all awesome. I wrongly thought they had tubing because or google but found out when I got there that was NOT true. They were able to squeeze my 2 little ones into lessons that afternoon from 1:15-3:45 and that included all the gear they needed, a lunch, access to the lifts, and that ran me $630 total for 2 kids. My adult and teen tickets I bought for my husband and brother and 2 older kids were over the phone and their customer service was also amazing. We were not able to make it on our reserved day and they let us change to the next day, no hassle. We just had to go in person to the ticket booth and tell them and they changed them for us. Parking situation. You have to reserve parking before had. We pre-paid $20 for the orange lot and we were able to park right by the entrance, and we got there around 11:30am. Right now the cabin/lounge area near those lifts is under construction but there is a free shuttle that comes every 15-minutes to drive you just 2 minutes up the road to the other location that has more ski lifts and lots of places to eat. Once here I got some hot chocolate and chicken chili nachos at THE WALL, and both of them were BOMB and I love going places to eat so I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food, and for only $18 the portions were huge and me & my sister shared and still couldn't finish. We wanted to go back and try more things but everything was closed by 4:00pm, so eat early or you have to drive a ways after do.

My family and I visited in late-February and this was my first time ever skiing and my first visit…read moreto Lake Tahoe, and overall I had a great experience at Sierra at Tahoe. Full disclaimer: as a complete beginner, I stayed on the Easy Rider lift and learning hill both days, so I can't speak to the more advanced runs. But as a place to learn, it felt like a great starting point. The scenery is beautiful, the mountain has a relaxed vibe, and most of the staff I interacted with were friendly and helpful. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is an incident at the lift. While I was waiting at the red line to load the chair, a skier sat down in the chair when he wasn't supposed to. The lift attendants didn't catch it in time, and when the chair came around I ended up sitting directly on top of him while trying to load. My skis got stuck and it created a pretty awkward situation. The lift was eventually stopped, but it felt like it took longer than it should have for the operators to notice. Thankfully no one was hurt, but it did seem like the lift attendants could have been paying closer attention during loading. Aside from that, it was a really fun first skiing experience and the resort itself is beautiful. I'd definitely come back next season and hopefully try more of the mountain beyond the beginner area.

If you're a beginner, I strongly recommend choosing a different ski resort. The overall environment…read morehere felt unwelcoming, and every staff member we interacted with was dismissive and openly hostile. When we asked simple questions about which slopes would be best for beginners, we were met with rude attitudes from the staff. At one point, we sat on a bench in front of the shop while taking a break. A staff member approached us and told us it was "policy" that guests were not allowed to sit there unless we were paying customers of the establishment. When my friend calmly asked where that policy was stated, the employee became aggressive, cursing at us, and said how he could have us banned from the resort if he wanted to. He even told my friend to "go back to where he came from," which was deeply inappropriate and unacceptable. My friend had never been on a ski lift and was nervous. As the lift approached, she hesitated and missed it. The employee started yelling at her and said she was "holding up the line" for everyone else. This lift was supposed to take us to their "bunny slope" so I was appalled by his reaction since many people in line were likely first time/beginner skiers as well. What should have been an enjoyable day turned into an extremely stressful experience. This resort failed us in every way when it came to customer service and I have no intention of returning.

We rode the chairlift up to the top amazing views. A very…read morefun experience. We had lunch out on the observation deck. Does it get any more beautiful? The tickets are very pricey.

2 of 2 Yelp Reviews…read more We were Heavenly customers before Vail Resorts bought them in March of 2002. Our season pass also applies to Northstar, acquired in October 2010, and Kirkwood, acquired in April 2012. I am very happy with all the acquisitions; I feel I am getting a better value from my season pass. But now that I am a loyal Mt Rose customer, it gets harder and harder to come to the Vail/Epic resorts... Quality/Quantity - My favorite lifts and runs are at Heavenly Ski Resort. And more specifically, at the Stagecoach lift!! Long lift, long run, less people. Too bad the season is over and the NV side is closed. And due to the poor season and lack of snow, we needed to shuttle from the Sky/Canyon lift to the Gondola chairs (Dipper and Comet lifts)?!?! Lastly, the Tamarack lift opened half an hour late, not until 9:30am! Today was my worst day at Heavenly EVER!! Two seasons ago, I broke my vertical record with my daughter!! And on a Sunday! Ambiance - See above. Public paid parking lots. But today, my wife dropped me off and went to the lake house to relax. Well to check on the property. Open 7 days a week from 9am to 4pm. Service - Plenty of employees today, thank you. Price - I have a season pass. But due to the poor season and me being too lazy to drive an hour to ski, I have only used it once. This was one expensive day! I will probably not renew my pass for next season... Sadly. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your successes with your 42 resorts in 3 countries. Look forward to skiing as many of your properties as possible.

We had a gala of time over 3 days. First day was Snow tubing…read more(they were not open for sledding)... while it was crowded being the 2nd day after the first snowfall of hte season, it was fine. The kicker was that they gave a 50% off Learn to Ski package (cross-country skiing) which saved us several $$$ the next few days. Not only did cross-country skiing was fun (first time for us), the instructors were very patient and effective. The 2nd day I went (on a Monday morning), my group lesson became Private lesson as I was the only on in the class. Even more savings :-) The Warming Hut cafe is a great touch after doing some trails. The food was great here. The tracks for cross-country skiing was kept up. Our entire group (multiple kids and adults) had a great time. Weather was good as well as a bonus.

It was a toss up between BV or Leland's...after reading the reviews for Leland's, I opted for BV…read more It was my kids first time in the snow and I didn't want them to have a horrible crowded first experience. We had to leave early because I wanted to be there close to opening time if 9am, we got there around 10am and there were plenty of parking spots and tubes for the kids to ride. For 6 people, 4 tube rentals for 2hrs it cost me $160. At Leland's I would've paid $240. It was a pleasant experience. The staff was very friendly and seemed genuinely happy doing their job. We had so much fun, the kids were whooped after the two hrs. At first I don't think that two hrs would be enough, but it was perfect. It's an honor system for the amount of time you use the tubes, don't be the one who tries to use them all day. There are a lot of people coming into the park at all times of the mid morning. 2 1/2hes is more than plenty to wear the little ones out. We will definitely be back and would recommend Bear Valley Adventure Co to anyone who has kids.

I've been to the Village for tubing and snow play, this was my first time at the resort because my…read morekids were taking snowboarding lessons. The cost for lessons is comparable to other places, and somewhat of a good deal as it also includes a lift ticket. The lesson itself was less than two hours, so I wish they had a half-day lesson for this age group (13+). That being said, after the first lesson my kids were able to get on a lift for the easiest run and practice on their own. The process for parking, checking in, and rentals was STRESSFUL. Get there early!! The resort itself is kind of MEH. We came during one of the holiday dates (literally when else do folks come as we all have work and school) and it was over-crowded and kind of gross. Food was tragic, and over-priced. Leave food in your car and go eat in your car, it's that bad. I'd come again for my kids, but would arrive as early as possible with a big breakfast.

You can tell that Bear Valley is a ski area that time has left behind. It's not on any major ski…read morepass systems, and the day lodge is dated and run down. Flashiness is not their thing - The entrance to the lodge from parking looked like the back door to a grade school, so for a minute we were worried we had gone the wrong way. It didn't help that the info on the website was so poor we knew nothing about the lodge - like if they had food (they did), or lockers, or a store, etc. (Turns out they do have lockers but they no longer work). The only "modern" touch since my last visit (15 years ago) was the addition of RFID lift tickets (used on the main lifts at the bottom). The vibe here during our Friday visit was: small town; locals and families. There had been 6 inches of overnight snow (with more still falling), so several groups had come up for the day from nearby towns in the Central Valley. There was also a lift ticket deal that day ($30 off when you buy two), but it was not advertised on the website, nor at the ticket area (just some unexplained jargon on a sign near rentals). My friend N and I were on different morning routines so we bought our tickets at separate times and missed out on the deal. We only found out later - Very annoying. Apparently we had to be "in the know" to take advantage. On the plus side, each adult lift ticket was pretty inexpensive for the Sierras ($135 in Spring 2024). The food situation here was the worst I've ever seen at any ski area, anywhere. We had intentionally returned very late to the day lodge to miss the main lunch crowd (Note: It's the only place with food on the mountain). But there was still an incredibly long, slow line to order. The offerings were meager (mostly fried-up frozen food), and they were under-staffed by a sullen crew who were cooking most items to order, one burger and chicken sandwich at a time. Just stupid. When we saw this, my friend and I opted for a yogurt, a bag of chips, and a bag of cookies to tide us over. I also had a snack bar in my pocket - But god forbid that they find me with outside food; there were signs everywhere stating this was verboten. (Note: If I'm ever at BV again, my future self will be putting a sandwich in my pack and eating it off-piste in some secret alcove). Other oddness. All lodging, including a ski lodge/hotel, is on the opposite side of the mountain and only available by shuttle. A few ski runs went down that way, but there were no lifts to get back. Turned out we were staying in that lodging area, but we didn't know exactly where the runs terminated; the map was too vague. Again, it appears you have to be in the know. In short, I found Bear Valley to be a below-average (a.k.a. 2-star) ski area. But it turns out they're in luck, because the snow on that day was so fluffy and fun that - despite all the negatives - I had one of the best ski days I've had in awhile. So I'll level-up for that.

I have always skied at Northstar or Heavenly, but I really like this hidden gem. Parking can be…read moretricky if you arrive late but they do offer paid parking that is closer if space is available. Lift operators and mountain hosts were friendly and helpful (slowing lifts down, helping people up, providing info). It got pretty warm during the day, so it got slushy at the bottom. Hazards, slow zones, and closed areas are clearly marked and I feel this is especially important for beginners.

Great place for beginners and those who want to come for a day trip or short trip from the Bay…read moreArea! Two of our kids in our group took their first snowboarding lessons and actually had the best time learning! After lunch they took a few more practice runs on the beginner slope and then were willing to go up the clementine ski lift to try the green slopes!! Shout out to the friendly teachers and staff promoting kids learning! The lodge is small but nice and cozy for those not participating. It was a wonderful day and a great first experience for the kids. We will be back!

Note to self - NO more pictures, hitting the Yelp limit. LOL…read more Quality/Quantity - Still my favorite local ski resort. And this year, snow tubing, too bad I was not able to coordinate with my nephew and niece this year... Local community, very few people on the mountain on weekdays. Plenty of parking which are very close to the lifts (weekdays). And even weekends are not too bad, especially compared to my Epic pass - Northstar, Heavenly, and Kirkwood. Good job grooming. Good terrain variety. Ambiance - Higher elevation = More and better snow. Base elevation = 8260'. 1200 acres, 1800 vertical feet. 20% Beginner Green 30% Intermediate Blue 40% Advanced Black 10% Expert Double Black Longest Run: 2.5 miles Total Trails: 60+ Timbers Bar - Spending more and more time here, lol. See pictures. 431 Sports gift & apparel shop. Service - Self service. Most people are friendly and manage the chairs. Many types of lessons/clinics; see their website or my pictures. Price - Season pass renewal = $425. Current season pass promotion = Double down; see their website. Normal Season Pass costs approximately $895 each. Off Peak = $675. Discounts with season pass for food, bar, gift shop, repair shop, etc. They also have many promotions. Ticket + rental package discounts. Half day tickets for both the morning or afternoon. 4 daily specials; see their website for specifics. Buddy tickets = $40 off for adults, $20 off for children. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since the 1930s.

I had a great time skiing at Mt. Rose. There's a variety of terrain from beginner to advance, high…read morespeed lifts, and easy access to lodging. The mountain offers everything from mom runs, to terrain parks, to the more challenging runs for expert skiers. It wasn't crowded during our visit and there are two high-speed 6-person lifts, so the lines were short. We stayed at the Hyatt Place in Reno, that's only about 25 minutes away, and has a great free breakfast. The roads were clear, so it was any easy drive to the slopes from our hotel. It's a great family resort, with a lot to offer.

This place was amazing the cream foam matcha was so good and the Dubai cookie is a must try.read more

It was so much fun. And the owner it's such a sweetheart 5 we stayed for an hr and it's more than…read moreenough to have fun.

It was impossible finding the prices of the summer activities without the bundle that includes the…read moregondola ride. We have the Epic pass so we didn't need to purchase the bundle that includes the gondola ride since it's free for us. I've uploaded the cost of that so hopefully it'll help others looking for it. It's $50 for 1 activity, and $90 for 3. The main activity we wanted to do was the mountain coaster. But $50 for 1 ride is insane. And $89 for just the gondola ride is even crazier. I'd never pay for that but thankfully my epic pass allows us to ride it for free in the summer too. We purchased the 3 activity pass which was $90 per person. We did the mountain coaster twice and the zip lining once. My friend warned me that the zip lining was just okay, but I didn't listen and wanted to experience it anyway. And I can confirm, it was meh and not worth it. Especially when majority of the time is spent putting on the equipment and then riding the ski lift up, then walking up stairs with 20lbs of gear in the summer heat and high elevation is no fun. The zip line part itself was very short and felt slow. The views weren't great either. I regret this and wish we just stuck to using all 3 passes on the mountain coaster since that's a very unique experience. The coaster was so fun, you only get to go once though. I wish I could go on it 20 more times! We considered the tubing, you get to go down the hill 3 times, but we still chose the coaster. The gondola ride in the summer can get really hot and stuffy inside. Felt like a sauna with no air. The glass were all scratched up so it was hard seeing the view outside. The ride was about 15 or so mins. The first stop is the observation deck and some hiking trails. The second stop is where the activities are.

1 of 2 Yelp Reviews…read more We were Heavenly customers before Vail Resorts bought them in March of 2002. Our season pass also applies to Northstar, acquired in October 2010, and Kirkwood, acquired in April 2012. I am very happy with all the acquisitions; I feel I am getting a better value from my season pass. But now that I am a loyal Mt Rose customer, it gets harder and harder to come to the Vail/Epic resorts... Quality/Quantity - My favorite lifts and runs are at Heavenly Ski Resort. And more specifically, at the Stagecoach lift!! Long lift, long run, less people. Too bad the season is over and the NV side is closed. And due to the poor season and lack of snow, we needed to shuttle from the Sky/Canyon lift to the Gondola chairs (Dipper and Comet lifts)?!?! Lastly, the Tamarack lift opened half an hour late, not until 9:30am! Today was my worst day at Heavenly EVER!! Two seasons ago, I broke my vertical record with my daughter!! And on a Sunday! Ambiance - See above. Public paid parking lots. But today, my wife dropped me off and went to the lake house to relax. Well to check on the property. Open 7 days a week from 9am to 4pm. Service - Plenty of employees today, thank you. Price - I have a season pass. But due to the poor season and me being too lazy to drive an hour to ski, I have only used it once. This was one expensive day! I will probably not renew my pass for next season... Sadly. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your successes with your 42 resorts in 3 countries. Look forward to skiing as many of your properties as possible.