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Lake Tahoe is already known as a crave-worthy spot for skiers and riders, thanks to its steady level of snowfall each winter, terrain that supports athletes of all levels, sunny days and dramatic mountains ringing a picturesque alpine lake. The winters last long here (the projected closing date for wintertime activities at one resort is May 25, 2026), and the slope-side views of Lake Tahoe make for an exhilarating day.
We love several resorts in the area, but have to hand it to the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe for being situated right on the mountain for ski-in, ski-out ease. This luxurious stay may make you hesitant to ever again stay somewhere you have to wrestle your gear onto a shuttle—a PITA when you just want to get your après-ski going—or drive back and forth to the mountain in traffic. Upon arrival, the Ritz valet parks your car and unloads your ski gear directly into the ski concierge’s area so you don’t have to think about it again.
When you’re ready to ski, you just open a door to the outside and get underway. The ski concierge literally puts your snowboard on the ground for you so that all you have to do is step in (and at the end of your day, you hand over care of your equipment to be stored until the next use). Skiers immediately start down a gentle slope and within a minute find themselves at the bottom of one of Northstar California’s chairlifts. Snowboarders paddle the flats for about 35 yards and then are also effortlessly aimed downhill. When fully open, Northstar offers 107 trails across more than 3,000 acres, and 19 lifts, two of which are enclosed gondolas.
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is a beautiful structure ringed by snow—the aerial drone view of it in winter is almost unbelievable and gives Overlook vibes (you know, minus the ghosts). Inside, an enormous stone fireplace creates a freeform gathering space called the Living Room Lodge where you can order food or get a drink from the bar with its chandelier made of local wildflowers encased in glass. There are four other restaurants on property, ranging from a low-key counter service Mexican spot with glowing Moderne lanterns, to the main restaurant Manzanita, serving upscaled California cuisine. At the outdoor eatery around a firepit, the faux fur blankets are honestly the warmest things I’ve ever draped around me on a winter night.
For extra luxury, your ski day can start with a glass of Veuve Cliquot and a caviar bump (the server spoons a dollop onto the back of your hand; after you let it warm for a few seconds, you lick it off). Supreme. The Veuve-Ritz partnership continues with a special Winter Cabana Chalet to end your day with bubbly, a roaring fire, a large-screen TV and access to the heated pool and hot tubs nearby.
While my family snowboarded, I cross-country skied with a friend instead, a happy victim of my own non-adrenaline seeking. A sherpa snowcat took us on a five-minute ride to the mid-mountain nordic center where the trails start, and where you can rent equipment if you didn’t bring your own. There are about 20 miles of cross-country trails, some of which include that postcard view of Lake Tahoe that you’ll be pausing to photograph while you pull a snack out of your backpack.
The next day, I rode the Highlands Gondola down to the Village at Northstar to go skating on their rink; no admission for either activity. It’s a beautiful glassed-in ride and, to be honest, I rode it a few times like a little kid. A blue run goes directly beneath it, and it’s fun to watch skiers schussing (I promised myself I’d get that verb into this story) down the slope.
My favorite part of the trip to the Ritz was jumping into the spa’s heated outdoor pool. I swam laps while watching folks on the chair lift and people coming down the slope a stone’s throw away. It’s definitely trippy to be doing a very summertime activity while the chair lift is full of people in hats and gloves. The spa offers the full slate of offerings (I had a facial that made me feel glowing and hydrated in the dry alpine air) and a water circuit that you progress through with steam room, sauna, rain shower and cold plunge—literally a bucket hanging from the ceiling filled with cold water that you pull a cord to release upon yourself; I feel like I’ve seen this setup in Looney Tunes before.
That evening, we all spent time in the Top Golf suite playing dodgeball with zombies on the big screen, a fairly traumatizing game since the zombies always seem to win.
At night, the turndown service includes housekeeping spraying one of four aromatherapy mists onto your pillow. You choose via a wooden menu where you place a wooden button into the hole next to your selection. I love that kind of thing, reminiscent of Hasbro’s Perfection or cribbage, very tactile and pleasing. We selected the Tree of Life, a “melange of forest woods and resins with uplifting citrus notes.” Of course, branded chocolates also wind up on the pillow along with the nice fragrance.
The Ritz treats dogs with all kinds of care too. We had originally intended to bring ours, and there was a Ritz-blue dog bed for her parked in front of the balcony slider and a little bag of treats. I also loved that throughout the hotel, you can see (and buy) signed prints by famous artists like Picasso and Chagall—I loved the Joan Miro just casually placed by the elevator bank. Such lavish attention to detail doesn't come cheap; a room at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe starts at $639 in the off season and can climb exponentially (rooms with mountain views cost more, too). A Northstar lift ticket starts at $189 for adults and $132 for kids ages 5 to 12.
Finally, for those who want a closer connection to the lake itself, the Ritz offers a rentable Lake Club for up to 40 guests. Since we were there in winter, we enjoyed cocktails and artisanal hot chocolate while admiring the views from the deck; in summer, guests can use complimentary kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to get out onto the water.
Because of all the thoughtful touches included in a stay at the Ritz, our three nights here felt as fortifying and full of natural beauty and the brisk, chilled sunshine of Tahoe as if we’d spent a week.
Time Out visited the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe and Northstar resort as part of a hosted stay. For information on our policies around editorial independence, reviews and recommendations, see our editorial guidelines.