Hate Posers? Ski Like a Local at Lake Tahoe’s Diamond Peak

Ever wondered where the local families ski in Lake Tahoe? A couple of weeks ago I spent a glorious day at Diamond Peak Ski Resort on Lake Tahoe’s north shore in Incline Village. After a near perfect run, I relaxed on the deck under a blue bird sky and watched the lake twinkle in the afternoon sun. As neighbors greeted each other and chatted, I realized Diamond Peak offered families convenience and value allowing for more days on the slopes.

Diamond Peak Ski Resort, a Gem at Lake Tahoe

On my first trip to Tahoe twenty years ago, I pulled on my first pair of ski boots at Diamond Peak Ski Resort. After a couple of days on the snow, I was hooked for a lifetime.

I loved it all—skiing through an evergreen glade with peeks of the pristine alpine lake below. The mellow mountain vibe that kept a smile on my face for the entire weekend. Air so fresh it tickled my nose. Quaint mountain towns that rimmed the lake that begged me to explore.

A lot has changed in my life since that first Tahoe weekend. Now I bring a trio of kids, 9, 12 and 14-years-old, on my Tahoe getaways. So I need to be mindful of my budget and I appreciate a convenient ski resort that offers value so we can ski more days.

Lift Tickets at Diamond Peak Ski Resort

Half-day lift tickets and family packages are available. Diamond Peak offers discounts for the active military, first responders and adaptive skiers.

What I loved about Diamond Peak Ski Resort

• The sense of community at Diamond Peak can’t be beat. It’s a locals’ hangout.
• Convenient for families staying in Incline Village. No traffic.
• Manageable size of Diamond Peak and all the runs end at the Base Lodge.

What I wanted at Diamond Peak Ski Resort:

• More green runs. It has 3 runs for kids just starting out.
• More close-in parking. I had to take an open air shuttle down the mountain.

The Mountain Statistics:

Diamond Peak Ski School

This resort is the go-to ski school for Lake Tahoe kids. It offers half-day or full-day programs along with six-week programs that span the entire season.

Diamond Peak Ski School has an efficient drop-off procedure. After checking in at their desk, the staff handles the rest. It’s a relief to have someone else fit the kiddos with their equipment, especially ski boots.

After outfitting the kids with their equipment, the ski instructors pull the skis in a toboggan. Then the kids walk to the practice area, centrally located next to the ski services building or the School Yard green run.

The ski school has a surface lift and the School House lift is very close to the ground, about 10 to 15 feet off the ground depending on the snow base. The ideal situation for little kids advancing to ski lifts.

For full-day ski programs, Diamond Peak serves up kids’ favorites for lunch, like mac-and-cheese and pizza. Dietary restrictions can be met.

Terrain Parks at Diamond Peak:

I’ve got two boys, 9 and 12, so I’ve learned about terrain parks over the last few seasons. They’re not as crazy as I originally thought.

I will admit, when my daredevil son told me he wanted to check out a terrain park a couple of years ago, I envisioned something I’d seen on the Olympics. Don’t worry. Think of terrain parks like snow playgrounds.

During my visit, my kids started with the terrain features at the bottom of the Logdepole run. Then moved up to the Popular Progression Park. Even my 14-year-old daughter skied with her little brothers in the terrain parks. (Don’t tell her friends.)

As a mom, be sure and check out the terrain park signs to see if your kids are in the right playground. Most resorts install several terrain parks with differing levels of difficulty. Take it easy, start small and keep an eye out for the more advanced teens.

Parent Perks at Diamond Peak Ski Resort:

I’ll take any perk. Diamond Peak offers an interchangeable parents pass for $74 ($79 during holidays) so parents can share a single lift ticket. This allows one parent to watch the little ones while the other shreds the mountain.

Diamond Peak features family packages for two adults and two kids. And don’t forget kids under 6 ski FREE.

Dining While on the Mountain

Diamond Peak offers a couple of lodges, their Base Lodge and Snowflake Lodge at top of the Lakeview Quad lift. The Base Lodge features a food court where I got my kids a couple of hotdogs, though vegetarian options are available.

With two locations, Wild Bill’s BBQ hits the spot for the older crowd. During busy days, grab some Wild Bill’s on the Base Lodge Deck, the place to relax under a blue bird sky. Venture up to the Snowflake Lodge for more BBQ.

The Loft Bar serves up the classics for après ski unwinding. Staying open a couple hours after the lifts close, it’s the place to toast a perfect run.

How to get to Diamond Peak Ski Resort:

Diamond Peak Ski Resort is located in Incline Village at 1210 Ski Way, on the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. Just 35 miles south of the Reno-Tahoe International Airport when using the Mt. Rose Highway (NV Hwy 431)

If flying into Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) to visit Lake Tahoe, several airport shuttles drop off in Incline Village at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, located at 111 Country Club Dr. Diamond Peak Ski Resort runs a Free ski shuttle bus from the Hyatt as well as several other locations throughout Incline Village.

Tips from a TravelingMom:

• Reservations are recommended during holiday breaks and long weekends. Ski School sells out.
• Helmets are recommended but not required at Diamond Peak and not included in the ski lesson package. Rent a helmet for $10 additional.
• Arrive early to ski school to allow for smooth transition.
• Group snowboarding lessons begin at 7-years-old or at 3 with a private instructor.
• Before heading out check out road conditions at NVroads.com for tire chain requirements, especially Mt. Rose Highway (NV Hwy 431). I use Nevada’s website for the Lake Tahoe region since it’s easier to use on a mobile device than California’s website.