Diamond Peak

When summer changes to winter, Lake Tahoe's control over outdoor fun slips as places like the Diamond Peak ski resort begin to operate. Located near the California and Nevada border, this ski area sits in the Incline Village in Washoe county, Nevada.

The community is the closest around Lake Tahoe to the Reno/Tahoe International Airport, with shuttle service and car rentals available to travelers. Interstate 80, US Route 395, and Nevada Highways 28 and 267 will get drivers to their destination. Local "bros" from Reno, Carson City, or South Lake Tahoe travel less than 30-miles to get here.

Diamond in the Rough

The Diamond Peak ski resort has a summit elevation of 8,540 feet and a base elevation sitting at 6,700 feet. Its vertical drop of 1,840 feet is organized from top to bottom with progressive fun in mind.

Over 650 acres of skiable terrain consists of open spaces, groomed slopes, and tree skiing. It has 30 runs with names, and the resort works with visitors to create new ones for unnamed features as they develop. The ski resort offers park rats a chance to experience a venue as it grows.

Plankers have lots of trail options to select from at the Diamond Peak ski resort. Easier runs like the Schoolyard and Lodge Pole are rated green for newbies. Just under ten trails are rated blue for more experienced skiers and snowboarders, while over a dozen trails list as black diamonds for sipping and shredding.

The Diamond Peak ski resort's terrain breaks down to roughly 18-percent beginner, 46-percent intermediate, and 36-percent advanced. It has a run around 1.2 miles in length, but visitors want to avoid just bombing down a trail. There are snowcats and snow-making equipment around the venue, so exercising caution is advisable.

Nature's Bounty and More

Diamond Peak might not receive as much snow as some ski resorts in Nevada (it still accumulates an impressive 325 inches on average each year) but makes up for Mother Nature's reservations with an extensive snowmaking system.

The Diamond Peak ski resort became the first venue in the Lake Tahoe region to use snowmaking systems in 1966. About 75-percent of the ski area's terrain receives coverage by the system that includes the latest snowgun technology and half a dozen fans. SNOWsat helps to monitor snow depth, and several grooming machines keep the terrain enjoyable.

Staff at Diamond Peak base out of the Lodge and Skier Services buildings, where guests will find most of the resort's amenities (services are also available at Snowflake Lodge and the summit). That includes food, drinks, equipment repairs, first aid stations, and other necessities. Plankers visiting the Peak will be the first to tell you that Incline Village offers lodging, shopping, and entertainment year-round.

The ski area in Diamond Peak usually operates from mid-December to the middle of April. Recent seasons have produced action on the Village Terrain Park, with terrain that develops as the season progresses. Access to in-bounds skiing is through half a dozen lifts that can handle just under 9,000 guests an hour.