Mt. Rose Starts Tahoe Season, but Other Resorts Face Delays

And just like that, the Lake Tahoe ski season is underway.

Often credited as the first ski resort to kick off winter in the area, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, Nevada, opened for skiing and riding this morning, Friday, November 21, 2025.

“Every year, one of our goals is to be the first Tahoe area resort to open, and to offer one of the longest ski and ride seasons in the region,” said Mike Pierce, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe marketing and sales director.

Pierce attributed the opening to Mt. Rose’s base elevation of 8,260—the highest of ski resorts around Lake Tahoe—and recent storms. 

For opening day, the mountain is running the Lakeview Express from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with access to the intermediate level Kit Carson Traverse, Kit Carson Bowl, and Ponderosa trails. 

No beginner terrain is open yet, but Mt. Rose expects to add some to its options soon as snowmaking continues. Terrain park features in the Pondo Park are slated to open tomorrow, November 22. 

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The opening comes amid a moment of uncertainty for Lake Tahoe. Mt. Rose initially hoped to open in early November, the same window that it did last season. But the area’s seen warm weather and low snowfall for much of this month, prompting Mt. Rose to change its schedule.

And this week, two ski resorts around the lake—Heavenly and Northstar—announced that they wouldn’t be open on Friday as planned.

“We're still in need of more coverage at Mid Mountain,” Northstar wrote in a social media post. “Our incredible snowmaking team is making snow whenever conditions allow, and we’ll share more on opening day plans as soon as possible!”

Still, aside from Mt. Rose leading the charge, there are signs of winter. Heavenly and Northstar’s webcams show snow-covered slopes. Palisades Tahoe, which received several inches of snow at its upper mountain areas this week, plans to open on November 26, weather and conditions permitting.

Further south, Mammoth Mountain started the California ski season earlier this week on November 20.