Your guide to ski resorts

Ski Resorts

• Mt. Rose (www.mtrose.com)

• Getting There: I-80 east to Truckee, to Highway 267, to Highway 28, to Highway 431, 11 miles northeast of Incline Village. Drive time 4:30.

• Prices: Adult $44 online, $59 at window. 13-17 $24 online, $44 at window.

• Facilities: 5 chairs (2 quad, 3 triples).

• Reason to go: It's a long way to Nevada, but Reno and the casinos are only 25 minutes away.

• Diamond Peak (www.diamondpeak.com)

• Getting There: I-80 east or Highway 50 to Lake Tahoe, Highway 28 around lake to Incline Village, north on Country Club to Sky Way. Drive: 3:45.

• Prices: Adult $59 (half-day $47); 15-17 and 65-69 $49; interchangeable parents pass $59.

• Facilities: 3 quad chairs, 5 doubles.

• Reason to go: The lake views are gorgeous at the resort known years ago as Ski Incline.

• Boreal (www.borealski.com)

• Getting There: I-80 to Castle Peak exit on Donner summit. Drive: 2:45.

• Prices: Adult $52, 13-18 $42; 60-69 $43; night-time skiing and riding $26. Tubing $25 for 2 hours.

• Facilities: 2 quads, 3 triples, 4 doubles.

• Reason to go: Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. $15 lift tickets for college students on most Fridays.

• Soda Springs (www.skisodasprings.com)

• Getting There: I-80 to Norden/Soda Springs exit. Drive: 2:45.

• Prices: Adult $36; 17-under $25; full-day tubing $25 for all ages.

• Facilities: 1 triple, 1 double.

• Reason to go: It's billed "Tahoe's Best Snow Park For Kids," featuring Tube Town and Planet Kids.

• Donner Ski Ranch (www.donnerskiranch.com)

• Getting There:I-80 to Norden-Soda Springs exit, 3½ miles east on Old U.S. 40. Drive: 2:50.

• Prices: Adult $49 (half-day $39); 13-17 $42 ($32 half-day).

• Facilities: 1 triple, 6 doubles, 1 moving carpet.

• Reason to go: A friendly atmosphere at one of California's last family — run resorts. Ski or tube for free if you stay at Rustic Cottages Resorts.

• Tahoe Donner (www.skitahoedonner.com)

• Getting There: I-80 to Truckee-Donner exit, half-mile east on Donner Pass Road. Drive: 3:15.

• Prices: Adult $41 ($32 half-day); interchangeable parents pass $41.

• Facilities: 1 quad chair, 1 double, 1 surface lift.

• Reason to go: Tahoe Donner offers full-day ski lessons for kids for the first time.

• Northstar (www.northstarattahoe.com)

• Getting There: I-80 to Highway 267 exit, six miles. Drive: 3 hours.

• Prices:$89 at window, 13-18 $47, 13-18 $72. Cheaper prices available if purchased online 3 days in advance.

• Facilities: 20 lifts, 7 quads, 2 gondolas, 2 triples, 1 Six-Pack Express, 5 Magic Carpets.

• Reason to go: Classy full-service resort featuring the Village; more fun at nearby Truckee.

• Squaw Valley (www.squaw.com)

• Getting There: I-80 to Highway 89 exit (Truckee), five miles to Squaw Valley Road (look for Olympic flame). Drive: 3:25.

• Prices: Early-season $76 for adults if purchased 3 days in advance online.

• Facilities: 30 lifts, 1 tram, 1 funitel (28-person gondola), 4 Express Six-Packs, 3 Express Quads, 9 triples.

• Reason to go: Site of 1960 Winter Olympics; one of North America's premier resorts.

• Alpine Meadows (www.skialpine.com)

• Getting There: I-80 to Highway 89. Drive: 3:40.

• Prices: Adult $92-$96 depending on the week (half-day $68); 13-22 $76-$78 (half-day $71-$74); discounted tickets online.

• Facilities: 6-passenger, high-speed chair, 1 quad, 4 triples, 5 doubles, 1 surface.

• Reason to go: Merger with Squaw sets up skiing or riding at either resort with single lift-ticket purchase. Shell 2-for-1 at both resorts: Lift ticket voucher for $10 gas purchase.

• Sugar Bowl (www.sugarbowl.com)

• Getting There: I-80 to Norden/Soda Springs exit, two miles east on Old U.S. 40. Drive: 2:50.

• Prices: Adult $80 ($70 half-day); $70 for 13-22 ($65 half-day).

• Facilities: 5 quads (2 detachable), 4 doubles, 2 surface lifts, 1 gondola.

• Reason to go: Receives 500 inches of snowfall annually, the most of any North Lake Tahoe resort.

• Homewood (www.skihomewood.com)

• Getting There: I-80 to Tahoe City exit, six miles south of Tahoe City. Drive: 3:45.

• Prices: Adults $51 Sun-Fri and $58 Saturday; $42 for 13-18. $8 discount if purchased online.

• Facilities: 1 quad, 2 triples, 1 double, 4 surface.

• Reason to go: Convenient lift-ticket rates and out-of-this-world views of Lake Tahoe.

• Heavenly (www.skiheavenly.com)

• Getting There: Highway 50 to South Lake Tahoe. Drive: 3:15.

• Prices:Adult $83; 13-18 $59; 5-12 $41; Online advance purchases are discounted.

• Facilities: 29 lifts (18 in California, 11 in Nevada), 2 gondolas.

• Reason to go: Ski and ride in California and Nevada; more terrain variety than any Tahoe resort.

• Sierra-At-Tahoe (www.sierraattahoe.com)

• Getting There: Highway 50, 4 miles SW of South Lake Tahoe. Drive: 3 hours.

• Prices: Adult $79, 13-22 $72, 5-12 $21.

• Facilities: 1 triple, 5 double chairs.

• Reason to go: Great buy in 3Pak: 1 lift ticket for $54, but it's good for any 3 days.

• Kirkwood (www.kirkwood.com)

• Getting There: Highway 99 to Eight Mile Road east (north of Stockton) to Highway 88, 50 miles northeast of Jackson. Drive: 3:10.

• Prices:Adult $79-$82 depending on the week. Discount tickets online.

• Facilities: 1 express quad, 1 quad, 7 triples, 1 double, 2 surface lifts.

• Reason to go: Fun available at Kirkwood village; never a shortage of snow.

• Bear Valley (www.bearvalley.com)

• Getting There: Highway 4 east of Murphys. Drive: 2:15.

• Prices: Adult $62, $13-19 $49, 6-12 $19.

• Facilities: 1 quad, 2 triples, 7 doubles, 2 surface lifts.

• Reason to go: Cost-friendly lift tickets and expanded terrain available.

• Dodge Ridge (www.dodgeridge.com)

• Getting There: Highway 108 to Pinecrest exit. Drive: 1:45.

• Prices: Adult $64 (half-day $54); 13-19 $52 ($45 half-day); 6-12 $20 ($15 half-day).

• Facilities: 1 quad, 2 triples, 5 doubles, 5 surface lifts.

• Reason to go: Unlike most resorts, ticket prices are the same as 2011. New T-Bar at Second Summit.

• Badger Pass (www.yosemitepark.com)

• Getting There: Highway 120 to Yosemite National Park to Glacier Point Road, drive seven miles. Drive: 2:45.

• Prices: Adult $42 (half-day $32); 13-17 $37 (half-day $30); 7-12 $22 ($18 half-day).

• Facilities: 1 triple chair, 3 double chairs, 1 cable tow.

• Reason to go: Northern California's first ski resort is ideal for beginners and intermediates.

• Mammoth Mountain (www.mammothmountain.com)

• Getting There: I-395 to Mammoth Lakes.

• Prices: Adult $99 (2-day pass $198); discounts on MY MAMMOTH.

• Facilities: 10 quads, 7 triples, 10 doubles, 2 gondolas, 1 surface lift.

• Reason to go: It's billed as California's leading 4-season mountain resort — 3,500 acres of ski and snowboard terrain for all levels.

• China Peak (www.skichinapeak.com)

• Getting There: Highway 99 south to Highway 145 east of Madera to Auberry Road, east pasts Millerton Lake to Highway 168 north to Huntington Lake.

• Prices: Adult $65 (half-day $53); 13-17 $52 (half-day $44); 6-12 $24 (half-day $20; discounted tickets online.

• Facilities: 5 doubles, 3 surface.

• Reason to go: Numerous mid-week deals are available.