Heavenly rises high above the southern shore of Lake Tahoe, in the United States, straddling the line between California and Nevada in the Sierra Nevada. It's been drawing skiers up this ridge since 1955, when it opened with little more than rope tows and a couple of chairlifts. The story goes, its founders named it on the spot: one look at Lake Tahoe from the summit, spread out below like a sheet of blue glass and ringed by snowy peaks, and there was only one word to describe it. That view still stops people mid-run today. Below the mountain sits South Lake Tahoe, a proper town that keeps going long after the lifts close, with its own restaurants and nightlife, and, just over the state line, a cluster of Nevada casinos to explore.

The skiing here is on a proper scale. There's around 1,900 hectares of terrain to explore, spread across 97 runs. The summit sits at 3,060m, with a vertical drop of just under 1,070m down to the base. Four separate base areas span both sides of the state line, so there's always a different corner of the mountain to discover. Just starting out? There are dedicated learning zones to get you going. Looking to cover some ground? You'll find long, satisfying cruisers on both the California and Nevada sides. And if you're chasing something steeper, head for the chutes and wide-open bowls, including a run down Gunbarrel that's built a reputation few bump runs in North America can match. The snow adds up too, around 9 metres of it most winters, and with the season stretching from late November into April, you've got plenty of time to go looking for it.

South Lake Tahoe sits at the foot of Heavenly’s gondola, and being right above a proper town changes the whole shape of a ski holiday here. You'll be within easy walking distance of restaurants, bars, and shops, and Stateline, just across the border, adds a cluster of casinos if an evening at the tables appeals to you. On the mountain itself, there's plenty to do without skis on. Adventure Peak, at the top of the gondola, has snow tubing and sledding, and there are cross-country trails and snowshoe routes to explore, while down in Heavenly Village there's an ice rink for a change of pace. However you split your days here, between the mountain and the town, there's always something worth doing.

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