Heavenly

Heavenly Mountain Resort is the only ski area in North America that straddles two states — California and Nevada — with the summit ridgeline running along the border above South Lake Tahoe. Across 4,800 acres, 28 lifts, and 360 inches of average annual snowfall, Heavenly is one of the largest resorts in the country. But the defining feature isn't size — it's the view. Dropping off the Skyline Trail or taking the ridge runs along East Peak delivers panoramic shots of Lake Tahoe that are hard to find on any other ski mountain.

Heavenly opened in 1955 as a small local area and grew steadily through the following decades. The Heavenly Village gondola, which launches from the middle of South Lake Tahoe's downtown, was added in 2000 and transformed access to the mountain — you can walk from a hotel room to a gondola cabin without ever touching a car. Vail Resorts acquired Heavenly in 2002, and it has been a cornerstone of the Epic Pass ever since.

The skiing splits into distinct characters on each side of the state line. The California side tends toward steeper, more sheltered tree runs, while the Nevada side — particularly the Mott and Killebrew Canyon areas — opens up into wide, exposed terrain that catches more sun and offers advanced runs through the canyon walls. For intermediates, the long groomers off Canyon Express and Dipper Express are some of the best cruising in the Tahoe region. With a base elevation of 6,540 feet and a peak of 10,067 feet, Heavenly delivers one of the bigger verticals in the area and a ski experience shaped equally by terrain and by the lake spread out below it. Mtns Co carries Heavenly gear for anyone who wants their turns with a view.