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Lake Tahoe Sledding Hills

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Sledding hills are plentiful in Lake Tahoe, after all, hills are plentiful. Some are steep, some not. Some are crowded, some empty. Each has its pros and cons. This guide can help you choose the one that's right for your child or for the child in you.

The Ski Resorts - I have yet to come across a resort that says you can sled on their hill. Except for when they charge you. The charges for sledding are typically very high (for a free sport) but at places like Heavenly's Adventure Peak, it's just part of their day of fun. There are other for profit sledding hills, like the toboggan runs of Hansen's Resort, in South Lake Tahoe. Another hill is at the Tahoe Paradise Golf Course. You can do better than this. The hill is fine, but expensive and it's a long walk with kids to where the sledding starts.
The next logical choice would be the sno-parks. These are areas in the mountains where the parking lots are plowed and restroom facilities are provided for the low price of $6/vehicle. Of the sno-parks in the Tahoe area, only Echo Summit and Donner Summit offer good sledding. They can be quite crowded, especially on weekends. At times you can't make it into the parking lot. They are convenient, however, located right off major highways. Spooner Summit at the junction of Hwy 28 and Hwy 50 you'll find Nevada's version of a snow park (it's free though). I have seen the Nevada Highway Patrol close this area because of parking concerns too. Also, it offers two choices; steep, and steep from not as far up.
So lets talk about the lesser known spots. These are the ones where you can find a good time on a busy day.

1. Heavenly California Lodge- This spot is located above the Heavenly parking lot just off Keller Road. You can park on the side of the road either above it or below it (handy after a big dump). This spot is very easy to get to and provides decent sledding. It is rather mellow, though. It gets a lot of sun so it may not always have snow.
2. Top of Ski Run Blvd. This is clearly marked No Sledding, No Snow Play, but there always seems to be people here. There is often a ski/snowboard jump placed above the sledding area too.
3. "F" Street and Margaret Avenue- This spot is so secret you'll need to look it up on a map. It's just off the main road but easy to get to and offers different choices for how steep you want to go. The problem here is the trees - they scare me. The kids like it though and there are rarely crowds.
4. Highway 50 at the Airport - Across the street from the airport there is a long stretch of land that makes great sledding hills. The parking situation can be messy and the signage is strictly enforced.
5. Hwy 88 west of Pickett's Junction.- Heading to Kirkwood, you'll find this spot after you turn on to 88 but before you cross the first bridge over the West Carson River.
6. Kingsbury Grade - Located half way up the grade you'll see this spot on an embankment behind some trees on the right side of the road. It's a small spot.
7. Top of Mount Rose Highway - You can't miss this spot in the open snowfields of Tahoe Meadows. There is lots of room here. This area has just about everything; snowmobiling, backcountry skiing, sledding and snow play, parking, and there is a ski resort right around the corner.
8. Kahle Park - The hills on the far side of the ball fields make for great sledding. Parking is free and plentiful and there is usually good afternoon sun. You can even send the kids off to play while you go work out in the drop in gym($6 for adults).