Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe and the Enchanted Forest

Since the carful of kids love the snow and we don't get much in Texas; we have to drive to it. This winter is shaping up to be a spectacular ski season out West. If you haven't loaded up the SUV and headed for the snow. Do it now.

The carful of kids will try any resort once but there are just a couple that become our family favorites. The ones that we return to year after year because we like the skiing, the facilities, the staff and the overall atmosphere. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe is one of those.

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

Mt. Rose (22222 Mt. Rose Highway) is usually the first ski resort to open every year thanks to its 8,260 base elevation, the highest base in Lake Tahoe. The summit is 9,700 feet with a vertical drop of 1,800 feet. Mt. Rose opened in 1964 and has 1,200 acres with two separate lodges and eight lifts.

As Good as it Gets--under a big, blue sky brighter than Lake Tahoe.

The Main Lodge, where the ski lessons, rentals and all the family-friendly green runs are located, is their original lodge. It has a large deck out back facing most of the runs with a cafeteria, coffee shop, bar and retail shop inside.

The Winters Creek Lodge is the newer facility that is a couple of miles down Hwy. 431. For those looking for double-black diamond runs and the Slide Bowl, this is the lodge for you. The Chutes, an expert only area is accessible through the Blazing Zephyr-6  and the Chuter lifts that originate here.

The carful of kids love the proximity of Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe since it's minutes from the condo where we stay. From Downtown Reno, Mt. Rose is 25 miles. From the Reno/Tahoe International Airport, it's 22 miles. It's even quicker to get to Incline Village in north Lake Tahoe at 11 miles.

What's New at Mt. Rose 

My 13-year-old is loving the runs in the Enchanted Forest like the Warlock.

My only complain about the Lake Tahoe skiing is the limited amount of green runs for families. So many resorts forget about the family skiers and the carful of kids we bring to ski. I get it, we aren't glamorous with our endless needs. We are slow and clog up the lift lines; sometimes our kids are whiny.

There is one resort in Lake Tahoe that is catering to the family-skier in a big way--Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. The carful of kids have skied here for years but this year we are blown away with what they have created.

The Carful of Kids on the Wizard lift on their way to the Enchanted Forest.

Mt. Rose moved their old Ponderosa Lift and renamed it the Wizard lift. They took a single run named the Enchanted Forest and expanded it into a whole new area especially for families.

The Enchanted Forest is a great area that offers green runs in a separate area that's not tacked on to the bottom of a blue or black run. The Wizard is not a pass-thorough lift taking you to the top of the mountain either. It's the gateway to magical Enchanted Forest that's perfect for kids and the parents that ski with them.

You have the option of skiing down runs like Magic Potion, Dragon's Tail or Spellbound. Even on the busiest of school holidays you feel alone in the world discovering an enchanted land that might be harboring a woodland sprite or dare we say, Harry?

Skiing with my 8-year-old in the Enchanted Forest keeps this Mom on her toes.

I love it. The carful of kids are crazy excited and don't leave the Enchanted Forest all day. Then they head there the next day. They would still be there if it wasn't for the ringing of the school bell.

Mt. Rose--Getting Kids on the Snow

Your kids not ready for independent skiing or snowboarding? Mt. Rose specializes in getting kids on the snow with their lesson packages.

This is a happy kid after a two-hour lesson at Mt. Rose.

The Mt. Rose Rosebuds are for skiers 4 to 10 and snowboarders 7 to 10 that includes a two-hour lesson, rental equipment plus a helmet and a beginner lift ticket. With the online discount, it's $94.

If your kids are a little older (11+), Mt. Rose has the first-timer package with a two-hour lesson, rental equipment with a helmet and a beginner lift ticket for $114 with the online discount. There is a next step package for skiers that have skied before that includes a lesson, rental equipment and a beginner lift ticket for $119 with the online discount.

Mt. Rose does a great job at keeping the littlest kids separated during lessons. 

For the littlest skiers, there is the Little Mule Magic Carpet Lift in the fenced off area just for ski school. For the older skiers and snow boarders, there is the Flying Jenny and the Snow Off area that is open to all.

I have had kids in the Rosebud program for years. The Flying Jenny (the Magic Carpet Lift) gets a Christmas card from me, I spend so much time on her with my kids.

What I like about Mt. Rose's Rosebud program:

• low kid-to-instructor ratio
• the indoor area to drop off your kids
• the instructors fit the kids with equipment for you

What's next for Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

According the Mt. Rose Marketing Director, Mike Pierce, they aren't done expanding. They have plans for a new lift and a skier bridge over the Mt. Rose Highway (Nevada Highway 431) to be completed in the next three years.

This new area would expand the green skiing at Mt. Rose even more. I don't know about your kids but my kids would put on head-to-toe white snow gear just to blend in so they would never have to leave.

Besides the new lift and runs, Mt. Rose also plans to renovate the Main Lodge and expand the Rosebud children's center. I hope they include a fire pit since they are one of the few ski resorts not to have one.

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe has been a favorite resort of the carful of kids for years for its value and I recommend it for your carful of kids for your next ski trip.

Know before you go:

• Arrive early for the best parking and fewer lines during school holidays and breaks.

• You can purchase tickets on consolidators, like Liftopia.com, for further discounts.

• Reservations are a must for ski school programs during the school breaks.

• You can get a discount by booking your lift tickets online through the ski resort’s website.

• I like to rent my equipment from ski shops and skip the line on the mountain. Most shops let you rent equipment the evening before and you can return it early in the morning after your trip.

• Don't forget the helmets, they are required for kids at lots of resorts.

• Mt. Rose does not offer daycare services or all-day ski lessons for kids.

You might be interested in:

What to Pack for a Family Ski Trip

How to Pick a Family-Friendly Ski Resort

Free Sledding in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe--A Winter Wonderland for Family Skiers

Skiing with your kids should be on your family bucket list.

Every time I look at a screen I see the same message--epic snow in the West. Thanks to El Nino, the skiing has never been better and the snow is still falling. The carful of kids have no choice but to load up the SUV and head for the hills.

If the snow is deep, there's only one place that the carful of kids want to go--Lake Tahoe. I love Lake Tahoe as a family ski destination and the snow is just part of it. 

Why I love Lake Tahoe

With fifteen different ski resorts close by, there is something for every skier. With trails and terrain that are the best in the West, Lake Tahoe has been a winter destination for over 100 years and the host of a Winter Olympic Games. 

Mt Rose Ski Resort is one of the fifteen resorts in the Lake Tahoe area, offering skiing for every level of skier.

Looking for an intimate ski hill that never feels crowded, Tahoe has it. A high-end, ski-in, ski-out resort your idea of fabulous ski trip, Tahoe has that too. Looking to expand your tricks in a terrain park, Tahoe has you covered. 

I love to ski while looking at beautiful scenery. You can't beat the lake for scenery and because of its depth--it never freezes. The kids just want to play in the deep, pristine snow that they never see in Texas.

Winter Activities

The scenery is for Mom, but what about the kids. There is a crazy amount of tubing. Most ski resorts have embraced it and added tubing or sledding areas to their resorts.

Granlibakken-Tahoe is one of the resorts that offers sledding along with skiing.

Is ice skating your winter sport of choice--Northstar, Heavenly and Squaw Valley ski resorts have outdoor rinks with rentals. You can skate for the day without skiing then take a break by their fire pits and roast some marshmallows.

There are snowmobile tours and horse-drawn sleigh rides if you want to enjoy some backcountry scenery.

Ice skating at Northstar Ski Resort is a great way to spend the day when not on the slopes. 

Are you an avid hiker, then strap on some snowshoes to explore the national forests that surround the Lake Tahoe basin. There are numerous cross-country ski trails as well.

If apres-ski is more your thing, you will love trying your luck at the gaming tables on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. You can find casinos in Incline Village, Stateline and Crystal Bay.

Getting to Lake Tahoe

The largest airport near Lake Tahoe is Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO). It is serviced by most carriers and is about 40 miles from Lake Tahoe depending on your destination. There is a small regional airport in South Lake Tahoe as well.

In every direction is a picture waiting to be captured.

There are shuttles to and from the resorts and the Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) bus that rings the lake. If you are staying more than a few days and skiing at more than one resort, I recommend renting an AWD SUV to get around.

Lake Tahoe is conveniently located between Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 50 for the West Coast residents driving in for a weekend trip. Check out local road conditions before heading out with the Nevada Department of Transportation.

Lodging in Lake Tahoe

There is something for every budget from camping to five-star. There are thousands of condos that rim the lake as well. 

At Sugar Pine Point State Park there is year-round camping available with a heated bathroom. Lake Tahoe is home to a couple of hostels as well. 

At the other end is the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe near Northstar Resort featuring ski-in, ski-out. The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe in Incline Village is on the lake and has a casino.

History of Lake Tahoe

The area around Lake Tahoe was inhabited by the Washoe Tribe, where Lake Tahoe got its name. During the 1840s, the area was discovered by a snow-shoeing mail carrier.

The railroad arrived and the area grew as a summer getaway for wealthy West Coast families, who built mansions at Emerald Bay and along the shore. The winter activities arrived after the nearby town of Truckee introduced them at the turn of the century.

Several senators unsuccessfully tried to get the area declared a national park in the 1910s. Though a large portion of the area is protected as a national forest today.

If you are looking for a winter wonderland for your family for your next ski trip, I urge you to check out Lake Tahoe. It has been a family favorite of mine for years.

Up Next: A great resort for families that never feels crowded.