At Sierra, we’re dedicated to keeping the essence of play alive through skiing, riding, and snow play, especially this winter season. The importance and benefits of recreating outside are numerous, and Sierra-at-Tahoe will continue to operate under state-approved guidance, to offer an important outlet for our Sierra family and greater outdoor community.
Operating under the guidelines outlined for outdoor recreation, This winter clearly won’t be “business as usual” skiing/riding activities are encouraged and it will be critically important for every guest to arrive at the resort with an understanding of the current policies and procedure in place. It’s through working together and following these guidelines that we can not only open for a day or a week but the whole season to come at the place Where Play Reigns Free.
Know Before You Go: Similar to how frequently you check the weather forecast in the winter, before traveling to Sierra this season, check in here to ensure you’re familiar with current policies and procedures, as they are subject to change.
Creating and sustaining an environment of safety and wellness is a two-way street. Our commitment is to do everything we in our power to set up a safe environment for our guests and employee recreate at. It is your responsibility, as part of the Sierra family to do your part to protect yourself and our community, by following these guidelines. We’re excited for the storms to come and the lifts to spin, and we know you are too.
Do Your Part to Play Today
Before we jump to the high-fives (now elbow-fives) and good times, there are some important operating guidelines we have to share with you.
Please follow the below COVID-19 guidelines. Thank you.

What To Expect This Winter
We have modified many of our operations informed by the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the State of California, and the El Dorado County Health Department. As new information becomes available, we will continue to adapt so that you can enjoy time recharging in the mountains.
We are all in this together and guests have various levels of sensitivity to the health impacts of COVID-19. Please respect others' views and be a conscientious part of our community.
Tickets + Passes
Currently, we do not plan to require daily reservations for season passes but we strongly encourage guests to purchase lift tickets in advance through our Sierra online store. Online tickets are priced lower if you purchase them in advance and it provides contactless pickup at our Online Lift Ticket pickup boxes in the base area.
More Details About Our Activities
⛷️ Ski Well, Be Well 🏂
This plan was developed in alignment with NSAA’s Ski Well, Be Well guidelines. The National Ski Areas Association supports a thoughtful return to outdoor winter recreation. An advisory group of ski industry leaders developed the Ski Well, Be Well operational best practices based on scientific guidelines from experts.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may have questions as you prepare to travel again, and we want to help! We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions and answers. We'll add more as necessary, so check back frequently prior to your visit.
Will you require reservations to access the resort this season?
No, we are not requiring reservations at this time.
How far in advance will day tickets need to be purchased?
At this time, we are not planning on placing any limits on how far in advance tickets will need to be purchased.
Will I be able to purchase a ticket on the day I want to ski or snowboard?
Yes, as of now, day-of tickets will be available through our online store and our ticket windows will be open for day of walk-up purchases. Purchasing early through our online store remains the best bet for savings and faster to the fun.
When is Opening Day?
Our goal is to start the season as soon as snow coverage allows us to open enough lifts and terrain so that everyone can spread out and maintain physical distancing.
How will you maintain social distancing in chairlift lines?
Luckily, the length of skis and snowboards lend themselves to naturally creating distance between people in chairlift lines, and we know most people now have a pretty good sense of social distance. We will be continuously reminding guests to maintain 6 feet of distance. You can expect to see changes to lift mazes to help achieve this. Face coverings will also be mandatory in lift lines and while loading, riding and unloading all lifts.
Will chairlifts be loaded differently? Will I have to ride the chair lift with people I don’t know?
Guests will be asked to self-group with people who are within their party. Guests can ask to ride alone. Lift attendants will not actively work to fill chairs and will not require guests to ride a chairlift with people they do not know.
To learn more, you can read all the details here.
Will the base area lodge be open?
We plan to have our base area lodge open, but guests should expect limited capacities per current state and local rules.
We expect and encourage guests to be prepared to be based out of their vehicles as a lodge this season, for booting up, warming up, and refueling.
Guests should expect to spend minimal time indoors during their visit.
Will dining facilities be open?
We plan to operate our dining facilities, but guests should expect to see an organized traffic flow and limited capacities per current state and local rules, regulated by resort staff. Menus will be simplified, with fresh-made grab and go items and hot food ordered to go.
Will sit-down restaurants be open?
Indoor seating will not be available at this time. Outdoor dining and to-go options will be available with expanded outdoor seating, weather permitting.
How will restrooms operate?
Face coverings will be required inside restrooms. We will ask guests to limit their time in the restroom to less than 15 minutes.
What about when the weather is bad? Where can I go indoors?
We plan to have indoor facilities open so guests can warm up. We will be asking guests to limit time spent inside. This season will be more about skiing and riding, less about being in the lodge.
To learn more about your dining experience this season, you can read all the details here.
Parking is on a first come-first serve basis. To learn more about parking at Sierra, click here to see all details.
How will ski + snowboard rentals work this year?
To learn more about Ski Rentals, click here to see all details.
To learn more about Snowboard Rentals, click here to see all details.
Will Sierra offer demo rentals this winter?
Our High-Performance Demo center inside the Sierra Mountain Sports retail shop will be open this winter with our standard rental products. You can read all the details here.
Will Ski & Snowboard School lessons be available this season?
A variety of Adult + Kid’s Ski & Snowboard lessons will be available this season. To learn more about Ski and Ride School, click here to see all details.
Will Daycare be available this season?
Daycare will not be available this season. There is no plan to reopen the daycare this season at this time. We will look to reopen daycare next season.
Will tubing and snow play be available this season?
Yes, Blizzard Mountain will be open this season offering tubing + snow play. You can read all the details here.
Will Sierra Mountain Sports be open this season?
Our Sierra Mountain Sports retail shop will be open this winter for your shopping desires. You can read all the details here.
Will the Sierra In-Town Store operate this season?
Our Sierra In-Town Store will be open this winter for your shopping desires. You can read all the details here.
Will you be hosting any of the usual events you have?
Sierra will be focusing on events that allow for social distancing for the 2020/21 season. Sierra is working hard to bring back some fan-favorite events, so stay tuned to the events calendar for the latest updates on what is going on at the resort and what you need to know for each event.
We love to see what you're up to around Sierra. Get featured on our channels and this page by simply taggin your pics with @sierra_at_tahoe and #WherePlayReignsFree.
Ski/Ride any three days this season for only $85/day, no blackouts + enjoy the freedom of choosing to ride on your schedule while saving some serious cash!
Before we jump to the high-fives (now elbow-fives) and good times, there are some important operating guidelines we have to share with you. Please check back every time you plan to visit.