If you are someone who tracks snowfall and ski season updates each year, it might have felt like a Christmas miracle when snow finally arrived in the Sierra.
An unusually warm and dry autumn delayed the opening of many lifts and trails, but last week’s storms brought a foot or more of snow to most ski resorts. That’s good news both for skiers and those who prefer to see the snowy landscape from a cozy interior—and the Lake Tahoe region has plenty of new things to draw you this winter.
Montesa, the new dining venue at Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe(Courtesy of @ritzcarltonlaketahoe)
What’s New in Truckee + North Lake Tahoe
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
Just a few minutes from Truckee, nestled mid-mountain at Northstar California Resort, is a fantasy-like Ritz-Carlton property many compare to Hogwarts. The hotel just completed a huge, intentional transformation, updating rooms into luxe pockets of comfort, and adding two Topgolf Swing Suites and pool cabanas, which become Veuve Clicquot Cabana Chalets in the wintertime. They also did some dining concept overhauls, including the classy Manzanita restaurant and panoramic Living Room Lodge, which feels like a giant cozy den. Montesa, a brand-new dining venue they launched in December, has a menu featuring tacos on homemade heirloom corn tortillas, great guacamole, and some standout cocktails in partnership with female-owned, carbon-neutral, B Corp Mijenta Tequila.
The location at Northstar is unbeatable, featuring slopeside ski-in, ski-out access and mountain concierge services. It’s just an easy little gondola ride down to Northstar Village for ice skating or shopping. When you return to the hotel, head down to the womb-like 17-treatment-room spa, updated with modern features like the cold-plunge shower, eucalyptus steam room, and private adults-only heated pool. Wrap up the night with a fireside s’mores feast, complete with a heavily laden tray of housemade chocolate graham crackers, chocolate bars of every variety, gourmet marshmallows, and a choose-your-own-adventure custom Old Fashioned. // 13031 Ritz-Carlton Highlands Court (Truckee), ritzcarlton.com/laketahoe
The great room at one of the Guesthouse Lake Tahoe homes(Mikael Lundblad)
Guesthouse Lake Tahoe
Another new Truckee option is going big with a full, 4,000-square-foot house under the Guesthouse brand, a collection of members-only rentals. This new build designed by Halfdan Pedersen and the Michael Hsu Office of Architecture is a fully furnished four-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath private home that comes with a private chef (James Beard Award semifinalist chef Quinten Frye), house captain, personal driver, and all-access ski passes—if you can tear yourself away from the luxurious wraparound fireplace and loft, that is. The house is walking distance to downtown Truckee and, coming in 2026, they’ll be opening the new Guesthouse Pantry bakery and cafe next door in the Titus House. // (Truckee), guesthousecompany.com
Martis Valley Lodge
Back down the road in Truckee you will find another transformation in the form of a former Hampton Inn & Suites. This new boutique hotel (opened July 2025) is part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, following a complete multi-million-dollar renovation. Read more about it here. // 11951 State Hwy 267 (Truckee), martisvalleylodge.com
Desolation Hotels has two new locations, one in South Lake and the other in Hope Valley.(Courtesy of @desolationhotelhv)
What’s New in South Lake Tahoe + Hope Valley
Desolation Hotels
The first luxury Desolation Hotels micro-resort opened in South Lake Tahoe in 2022, established by a family with longstanding appreciation for the Sierra Nevada region who were driven to preserve and celebrate its natural beauty and adventures. Inspired by John Muir, the Desolation properties feature “wildernests” that serve as plush yet simple basecamps for exploring. The solar-powered Tahoe hotel, designed by design firms Monarch Architecture and Studioette, blends Japanese-inspired elements with Scandinavian design, in a walkable location near the lake. // 933 Poplar Street (South Lake Tahoe), desolationhotel.com/tahoe
In 2023, Desolation Hotels added a second location, resurrecting the former, beloved 165-acre Sorensen’s Resort in Hope Valley. The ownership change was thoughtful and made sure to keep many of the sustainability and community tenets intact while preserving the resort’s rustic charm and rural sensibilities along with a smattering of new modern touches. A tree is planted for every night you stay at a Desolation Hotel in either location in partnership with the local Sugar Pine Foundation. // 14255 CA-88 (Hope Valley), desolationhotel.com/hope-valley
Smoke Door Lake Tahoe Saryo(Courtesy of Smoke Door Lake Tahoe Saryo)
Smoke Door Lake Tahoe Saryo
Smoke Door, a destination-worthy place for a great meal, debuted a Japanese-inspired, wood-fired concept to South Lake Tahoe in 2023. Matt Tinder has since been appointed culinary director by owner/chef Tyler Burges (the two worked together at Michelin-starred The Restaurant at Meadowood). If the name sounds familiar, you may remember that he later led bread and pastry programs at Saison and Coi, before opening his own Saboteur Bakery in Washington. // 9980 N. Lake Boulevard (Kings Beach), smokedoor-tahoe.com
Tahoe Blue Event Center
Smack in the heart of South Shore, this new indoor arena and event center features a calendar filled with sporting events, conventions, and more. Since opening in late 2023, the modern, technologically advanced venue is also home to the Tahoe Knight Monsters ice hockey league. // 75 U.S. 50 Stateline (Nevada), tahoeblueeventcenter.com
(Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe)
Updates from South Lake’s Favorite Ski Resorts
Heavenly is celebrating its 70th anniversary season with special celebrations and a nostalgic look back at the resort’s history. // 1001 Heavenly Village Way (South Lake Tahoe), skiheavenly.com
Sierra-At-Tahoe has reshaped some terrain for expansive bowl skiing and added two new trails in West Bowl. The resort is also now part of Ikon Pass. // 111 Sierra-At-Tahoe-Rd. (Twin Bridges), sierraattahoe.com
Kirkwood has switched to a reservations-based parking program, helping to decrease the chaos at peak times, as well as at fun events like Women’s Weekend, Proud to Be Me Week, Banked Slalom, and Slush Cup. // 1501 Kirkwood Meadows Dr. (Kirkwood), kirkwood.com
Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) has a new partnership with Alpenglow Expeditions, offering a lift-accessible AIARE rescue course along with their robust lineup of guided mountain adventures. If you are a die-hard ski bum, this could be a sign to step up your game. // 1960 Olympic Vly Rd. (Olympic Valley), palisadestahoe.com
