Current Weather:
Partly Cloudy
weather 28°

Base Depth:
73-96"

24hr Snowfall:
5-8"

Surface:
Powder

Homewood

5145 Westlake Blvd., Homewood, 96141
Phone: 530-525-2992 Snow Report: 530-525-2900 (snow report)
Homewood Website

by Ann Marie Brown

Tahoe’s West Shore is where the mountain rim of the Tahoe basin drops most abruptly to the lake. Along this steep escarpment, strong Pacific storms dump powder in the east-facing bowls—an average of 40 feet each winter.

Only one Tahoe resort sits directly on the West Shore, and it’s long been a local favorite. Homewood, five miles south of Tahoe City, has only 1,260 skiable acres, but there’s plenty of awesome tree skiing for powderhounds and drop-dead gorgeous lake views for everyone else. From the top of Madden Triple Chair, Lake Tahoe appears like a vast blue sea. Skiers and riders alike pause to mutter the word “Sweet,” then pull out their cameras and snap a few memories.

Powder is king here; Homewood sees an average snowfall of 482 inches, even though its summit elevation is only 7,880 feet. If it’s a bluebird powder day, you’ll have to rise before dawn to beat the locals to fresh tracks.

Very little of the resort is visible from the highway (only one run), so first-timers are always surprised at how much varied terrain is available. The resort offers 60 trails, including a longest run of two miles with a 1,650-foot drop. Trails are serviced by eight lifts, including a high-speed quad installed in 2007 that whisks skiers to the resort’s north side in just four minutes.

There’s little in the way of amenities at Homewood—no lodging or shops, and only a handful of on-mountain restaurants. This is a skier’s mountain, not a ski resort. Most of the chairlifts travel at a mellow pace, so if you are impatient (or if it’s freezing cold), you may not be happy here. But for Homewood lovers, the resort’s laid-back vibe is part of its charm. And due to its unique location on the West Shore, Homewood is one of the few Tahoe resorts that is almost never subject to wind hold. There hasn't been a wind-related lift closure here in more than a decade.

Children's snowsports programs are a big draw. Homewood’s South Lodge is home to the Snow Rangers Academy for kids ages 4 to 12. Starting in 2009-2010, Homewood will offer GPS tracking for kids enrolled in ski and ride camps. Parents can track their child’s location on the mountain in real time.

Homewood was recently purchased by the same folks who own Alpine Meadows, and over the next 5-10 years there will be big changes at the resort. A planned village complex of lodging and restaurants is in the works, intended to change Homewood from a commuter’s ski resort to one where people will stay and play for a few days, in the same style as Squaw and Northstar. But for now, Homewood is still an old-school, intimate resort, and plenty of skiers like it that way just fine.

*resort photo courtesy of Homewood Mountain Resort

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Current Weather:
Partly Cloudy
weather 28°

Forecast:
No data available
°

SKI CONDITIONS

Latest Report: 20100310T05:22:00
24hr Snowfall:
5-8"		 Last Snowfall:
Mar 09 - 4 8"		 Surface:
Powder
Base Depth:
73-96"		 Trails Open:
60		 Total Trails:
60
Percent Trails Open:
100%		 Lifts Open:
icon 5		 Total Lifts:
icon 7
Terrain Type:
Beginner:
9		 Intermediate:
26		 Advanced:
25		 Expert:
N/A
Elevation:
weather Peak Elevation:
7880 ft 2402 m Vertical:
1650 ft 503 m Base Elevation:
6230 ft 1899 m		 Total Acres:
1240 Total Miles:
N/A
Longest Run:
Rainbow Ridge to Homeward Bound
2 miles		 Easiest Run:
Homeward Bound		 Steepest Run:
'55' Chutes (anywhere along Quail Face really)
Best Bumps:
The Face		 Best Trail Name:
Hobbit Land		  
 

Breathtaking Views!

Submitted by Iluvhomewood on January 28, 2010.

What a gem of a mountain. I love it! My favorite part of this place is shredding through the powder in the glades and finding an opening...take a seat and bask in the breathtaking views of the lake....ahhhh!

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Air Travel

Homewood and Lake Tahoe are conveniently located to four major international airports...Reno-Tahoe International (RNO) is the closest, followed by Sacramento International (SMF), Oakland International (OAK) and then San Francisco International (SFO).  Follow the driving directions below to get to Northstar from any of the four.

Driving Directions

From Sacramento:

East on Interstate 80 approximately 100 miles to Truckee. Take the "Hwy. 89 Lake Tahoe" exit (it's immediately after the Donner Lake exit), turn right onto Highway 89 and travel 13 miles to Tahoe City. At Tahoe City, turn right at the "Stoplight Y" onto Highway 89 for another 6 miles to Homewood Mountain Resort on your right. Watch for parking signs.

From Reno:

West on Interstate 80 approximately 35 miles, take the "Hwy. 89 Lake Tahoe" exit, turn right onto Highway 89 (follow the round-about signs) and travel 13 miles to Tahoe City. At Tahoe City, turn right at the "Stoplight Y" onto Highway 89 for another 6 miles to Homewood Mountain Resort on your right. Watch for parking signs.

From South Lake Tahoe:

Follow Highway 89 North along the lake to Homewood Mountain Resort. In the winter call 1.800.427.ROAD to make sure it's open.

Shuttle Service (Sat & Sun only)

Homewood offers door-to-door shuttle service on the West Shore between 8am and 5pm.  You have to make reservations a day prior before 5:30pm by calling 530-525-2922.  Scheduled pickups for Granlibakken and Sunnyside are as follows:

  Morning (AM) Return (PM)
Granlibakken to Homewood 8:30  9:30 Call for Return
Sunnyside Resort to Homewood 8:45  9:45 Call for Return

Bus Service (TART)

The Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) system began service on the north shore of Lake Tahoe in 1975. The system is currently operated by Placer County and operates from 6:10 A.M. to 6:30 P.M., seven days a week. The service operates on State Routes 28 and 89 along the northern and western shores of Lake Tahoe, from Incline Village, Nevada on the northeast to Sugar Pine Point State Park in El Dorado County on the southwest, and to Truckee via State Route 89. Service is generally provided on hourly headways with a base fare of $1.50. For more information or schedules, contact TART at 530-581-6365, or from out of the area call 1.800.736.6365