Guided Backcountry Skiing in Lake Tahoe, CA

Top three reasons to backcountry ski in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is known for sunshine, forest and powder stashes
The area is home to a host of world-class backcountry terrain
Deep backcountry skiing for a range of skill levels

Sitting between the California and Nevada border in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, Lake Tahoe is home to a host of world-class backcountry terrain. The Sierra Nevadas see plenty of snow each year, making Tahoe backcountry skiing a huge draw for skiers looking to shred some powder from nearby Reno or San Francisco’s Bay Area. Resorts like Squaw Meadow-Alpine Valley and Sugar Bowl have opened their terrain to backcountry enthusiasts offering slackcountry skiing at its finest. Whether looking for out-of-bounds skiing just off the resort or deep backcountry skiing, the Tahoe area features it all. There’s a reason why we think it’s one of the best places for backcountry skiing in California!

Season

Mid-December through May

Duration

Book as many days as you want

Nearest city

San Francisco, CA, is 3.5 hours away by car

Skill level

Beginner to advanced

Most Popular Itineraries

Develop the basics of backcountry skiing, getting techniques from the experts while in the gorgeous Sierra Nevadas. You won’t have to worry about being left behind regardless of skill level. Plus, you’ll gain support on technique, routes and gear to ensure you’ll only have to focus on having fun.

Not sure if you should hire a guide? Listen to our ambassador Greg Hill debate the ultimate question: To be guided or not to be guided?

Interested in backcountry education? Maybe you’re ready to carve fresh lines on steeps all day? You get to tailor this Tahoe backcountry ski trip to your goals and skill level. Put yourself into your guide’s hands and customize your day in Lake Tahoe’s backcountry.

Depending on your objectives, full days may start earlier and end later, but in general, your day will look like this:

8:00 am: Meet your guide at the guide’s recommended location for introductions and going over the day’s plan
8:30 am: Head to the location of your backcountry ski tour
9:00 am – 4:00 pm: Gear up, go over safety considerations, and spend the day backcountry skiing on routes selected to best suit your group, stopping for lunch and breaks as needed
4:30 pm: Back to the cars for debriefing and high fives

Bag the high peak of your dreams in the Tahoe backcountry. Whether you want to head to a specific destination or shred some hero pow, your guide will create a day of skiing perfect for advanced skiers and riders.

Meet your guide

Alpenglow Expeditions

Founded in 2004 by IFMGA certified guide Adrian Ballinger, Alpenglow is an AMGA accredited business that leads expeditions across the mountain ranges of the globe in all disciplines including mountaineering, skiing, ski mountaineering, and rock climbing. They’re based in Olympic Valley just northwest of Tahoe City.

Reviews (4)

Excellent Intro to Backcountry Skiing and AIARE Level 1 Courses

Jennie L. about Alpenglow Expeditions on Trip Advisor

We recently participated in back to back weekends in the Intro to Backcountry and AIARE level 1 courses. As total beginners to backcountry skiing, we both feel much more prepared to plan and execute a basic backcountry ski trip! There were participants in the AIARE course who weren’t new to backcountry, and they all seemed to also get a lot of the course too. Both instructors we had were well informed, managed time well, read the group dynamic very well, and were enthusiastic instructors who clearly love the mountains and want to share that love. It was also FUN – learning is always better when there is fun involved. One thing I had heard about the AIARE course is the last day is a full day backcountry tour – due to a variety of factors, most especially a crusty snow pack and my own ability, this wasn’t the case for our class. This was a disappointment, but also a good reality check about thinking what is actually possible given the conditions and group skill level. The office in Squaw is welcoming, with some cool folks who clearly are pretty stoked about what they do. They hooked us up with some high quality rental gear too, and were patient with me when I went through about 3 different boot sizes and ski exchanges. Overhearing some of the level 2 AIARE course work only inspired me to want to sign up for that course next year too, after getting some more experience. We enthusiastically recommend Alpenglow and would definitely return for another course in the future.

Backcountry ski tour in Squaw Valley

Chelle S. about Alpenglow Expeditions on Trip Advisor

The conditions were not ideal and our guide did an amazing job making our day enjoyable, adventuresome, and beautiful. Zen had some interesting jobs for our tour. He rescued a ski, built a snow bridge over a creek, and broke a great skin trail. I would highly recommend a trip with Alpenglow.

Lake Tahoe Private Ski Tour

Talley about Alpenglow Expeditions on Trip Advisor

Of the 3 great expeditions I’ve done with Alpenglow and my trusted guide, Tim Dobbins, my Feb 2018 tour of Poulson’s Peak was the best. We skied in a storm, which I enjoy, when Squaw Valley Resort was closed. The powder was light, deep and amazing – a true winter wonderland. We milked as many turns as we could, touring about 5-6 miles in as many hours. The Blizzard Rustler 11s were a dream in the soft stuff. It’s no mystery why I’m a repeat customer!

Great Tahoe Backcountry Tour

Pete E. about Alpenglow Expeditions on Trip Advisor

I had a great backcountry ski tour with Alpenglow Expeditions at Squaw Valley this spring. Our guide, Logan, was awesome. I appreciated the focus on having a safe outing. He adapted to our ability levels right away, communication was clear, and we had a ton of fun. Also, we were able to access some cool terrain we would not have otherwise seen. Highly recommended.

Things to know

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Lake Tahoe, please refer to the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority website.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

What you get in this adventure:

An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
A full day of backcountry ski touring

What’s not included:

Technical backcountry ski touring equipment (can be rented)
Trip insurance
Avalanche safety gear (available to rent)
Lift tickets (if needed)

In order to enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to have a moderate level of fitness. You will be on your feet for a full day. While there is terrain for all skill levels in Lake Tahoe, you will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on blue level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.

For the enjoyment and safety of everyone involved, participants must be approved to participate in advanced backcountry skiing tours either through a previous trip with the guiding service or through recommendations.

Backcountry skiing isn’t just for pros looking for the ultimate thrill ride, it’s also beginner friendly, meaning anyone with blue level resort experience can have fun in the backcountry. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, heading out with a guide is your best bet. They’ll take care of the planning, introduce you to the basics, like skinning uphill, and teach you how to manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training to keep you safe.

All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:

Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel and probe can be rented from Tahoe Mountain Sports in Truckee
Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots and poles can be rented from the guiding service and Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe City
Splitboards can be rented from Tahoe Mountain Sports in Truckee

Ski rental locations are in Lake Tahoe and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.

For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:

Alpine touring skis, telemark skis or splitboard with skins (can be rented)
Touring boots and poles (can be rented)
Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented):
- Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
- Lightweight snow shovel
- Avalanche probe
- Harness for glacier travel

For personal items, we recommend bringing:

Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-tex recommended)
Ski pants (Gore-tex recommended)
Helmet
Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
Down jacket or vest
Gloves and hat
One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
Water bottle and 1L of water
Food you can eat on-the-go
Sunglasses or ski goggles
First-aid kit
Sunscreen
Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-45L bag)
Camera — optional

Groups and pricing:

For this adventure, the max client to guide ratio is 4:1.
The cost per person decreases as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to backcountry ski with friends and family.
Ski touring in Lake Tahoe can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:

Everybody over the age of 18 is welcome to book this backcountry skiing adventure.
Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.
If you plan to ski with anyone under the age of 18, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

To get to Lake Tahoe, most people fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service, such as the South Tahoe Airporter, the one-hour drive to the Lake Tahoe area.

Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet in Tahoe.

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