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When Do Tahoe Ski Resorts Open? 2026-27 Opening Days

Most Tahoe resorts open in November or early December. Here's the 2026-27 schedule for the 10 resorts we cover, what early season means on the hill, and what to check before you drive.

Last reviewed Nov 7, 2026 · Independent, not affiliated with any resort

Treat opening dates as targets. Each resort opens when it's confident the snowpack and crew are ready, and a warm stretch or a late storm can move a date by days or weeks either way. Our guide to when the Tahoe ski season starts and ends covers the closing weeks too.

We last checked these dates on each resort's own site on November 7, 2026.

2026-27 opening day schedule

Open now: Mt. Rose (since Nov 6). Next: Heavenly and Northstar, Nov 20.

  • Mt. Rose opened on Friday, November 6, 2026. It was the first of the 10 Tahoe resorts we cover to open this season.
  • Heavenly has announced Friday, November 20, 2026 as opening day. If the date holds, its first weekend is Fri Nov 20 to Sun Nov 22.
  • Northstar has announced Friday, November 20, 2026 as opening day. If the date holds, its first weekend is Fri Nov 20 to Sun Nov 22.
  • Palisades Tahoe has announced Wednesday, November 25, 2026 as opening day. If the date holds, its first weekend is Fri Nov 27 to Sun Nov 29.
  • Sugar Bowl is targeting Friday, November 27, 2026 for opening day. It calls that a target, so it can move with the snow.
  • Diamond Peak projects Thursday, December 3, 2026 for opening day. Its site adds "conditions permitting," so treat it as a rough date.
  • Kirkwood has announced Friday, December 4, 2026 as opening day. If the date holds, its first weekend is Fri Dec 4 to Sun Dec 6.
  • Homewood has announced Friday, December 11, 2026 as opening day. Its site adds "weather permitting."
  • Boreal hasn't posted an opening date on its own site yet. ABC7 and Visit Reno Tahoe list November 27, but that isn't Boreal's own word.
  • Sierra-at-Tahoe hasn't posted an opening date on its own site yet. Check its site before you plan a trip around it.
The dates still ahead depend on snow and can move. Check the resort's conditions page before you drive.

Places to stay for opening weekends

Each search below has the dates filled in for the first weekend a mountain is due to be open, in the closest area with a real choice of places to stay. Each row gives the drive. Opening days can move, so pick a rate you can cancel, and set your group size on the booking site.

Fri, Nov 20 to Sun, Nov 22

Fri, Nov 27 to Sun, Nov 29

Fri, Dec 4 to Sun, Dec 6

Fri, Dec 11 to Sun, Dec 13

Drive times are from the middle of each area with no traffic.

What early season looks like

"Open" in November usually means a handful of lifts and groomed runs, built on whatever natural and machine-made snow the resort has so far.

Steep chutes, trees, and anything that needs a real base stay closed for now. Expect a smaller mountain than the trail map shows. That's normal for opening week.

Thanksgiving weekend blackouts on Epic's cheaper passes

If you have an Epic Local, Tahoe Local, or Tahoe Value pass, Heavenly and Northstar are blacked out on November 27 and 28, 2026, the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. An Epic Day Pass bought without the extra-cost peak dates is blacked out those days too. Epic lists Kirkwood for those dates as well, but it isn't due to open until December 4. Opening weekend at Heavenly and Northstar, November 20 to 22, isn't blacked out. Tahoe Value is also out every Saturday of the season at Northstar and Kirkwood. If you're planning a Thanksgiving trip to Heavenly or Northstar, check your pass type first.

Going up for Thanksgiving? Places to stay Wed Nov 25–Sun Nov 29

Parking reservations start later

Parking reservations kick in later than opening day. Northstar and Heavenly don't require them until December 12, 2026, and Palisades Tahoe starts December 5. Before then you can just show up, though you should still check each resort's site for parking fees.

The parking guide linked below has the full rules and a link to each resort's reservation page.

For how opening week skis, plus the pass and chain questions that come up, read Skiing Tahoe's Opening Weeks (2026-27): What's Actually Open and What to Expect.

Opening day questions

When does Heavenly open in 2026?

Heavenly has announced November 20, 2026 as its opening day for 2026-27. Like every resort date, it depends on snow and conditions and can still move.

Which Tahoe resort opened first in 2026-27?

Mt. Rose. It opened on November 6, 2026. The next date on the schedule is November 20, for Heavenly and Northstar. Its base is the highest of the 10 resorts we cover, which helps early snow stick.

Is it worth skiing Tahoe on opening weekend?

If you live close and just want to get on snow, sure. If you're traveling, expect a few groomed runs, maybe a terrain park, and not much else. Go in knowing that and it can still be worth the trip.

Do I need a parking reservation on opening weekend?

Not at the resorts that open first. Northstar and Heavenly don't require parking reservations until December 12, and Palisades Tahoe starts December 5. Check each resort's site for parking fees before then.

The numbers on this page come from the same verified data as the rest of Peak Call, so they always match our resort and parking pages.

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