The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in Lake Tahoe

First up, bear in mind if taking this route that you are crossing a ski area boundary, which can get you into trouble in the USA. as with all tree runs, ride as a group, wear a helmet and have a plan....

The trees to skiers left on Beaver are great on the top section, but don't go much further than 50 feet from the trail as you'll come to a natural gully with bushes that just collapses when you ride over it, making you get stuck! Just after Dogwood joins, there's some excellent trees with the same proviso; a natural gully stops it being practical to going further than 50 feet to skiers left....

From Mellisa Coray Peak, take the natural fall line in the north facing U-shaped bowl. There are a few cornices and minor cliffs on either side for the more adventurous. Fallow the area all the way to Emigrant Lake....

Juniper Hollow is off Solitude Chair. Take Freeway down until it makes a hard left and is heading back to the chair in a western direction. Traverse right from here a very short distance and then turn left and ski to the base of Solitude....

Take El Dorado chairline, and cut skiers right to check out the multiple routes available around some awesome tooth like rocks. There are all sorts of obstacles along the way, ranging from small to large, so make sure to scope your landings....

Emigrant Bowl is a nice wide, south-east facing slope. It sits underneath Emigrant peak and is not too busy as you have to traverse into it. It has a nice, short medium steep pitch and is pretty wide open....

A fun run at the former ski area boundary, this line is usually not too busy and is a nice option on powder days. From the top of Silverado or Solitude follow the ridge line alongside the Silverado chair line....

The trees around Pyramid are great fun, providing you stay safe; ride in pairs at least, with a helmet and a plan. Look out for tree stumps and undergrowth in early season; a foot of powder can obscure a lot....

There are multiple line choices in here; best explored by going progressively further each run. The main things to be aware of are early season snow, where obstacles can be obscured....

Pretty straight forward really; take clipper to the cut out to skiers left under chairline. In early season, there can be a stump you can jib right at the start, followed by a little rock to pop off, and then some medium ones (one of which has a log balanced on it you can jump off)....

Exit the wall of terror at any point, taking skiers left down towards the main trail. Don't go too far left, however as the trail is flat and you will end up walking....

To get to Christmas tree valley, you need to cut in through some denser trees on the outskirts of this tree run before you emerge into a fairly open valley of smaller Christmas trees....

Due north of Emigrant Lake. A wide medium sloped couloir will appear with big cliffs and trees on either side. Bottom of the line is about even with the bottom of Chair 3....

If you are after a few powder turns the 'day after' the storm, follow the bootpack beyond the patrol shack above Chair 4. Follow the bootpack to the top ridge and then descend back down into the bowl above the backside runs....

The access route for the lines around Thunder Mountain and Glove Rock, this line can be booted or skinned. If you choose to boot it, a good idea is to gain a little height en route to Glove Rock and then use this height to ski fast across the next section of the approach to Thunder Mountain, thereby leaving you with a relatively short final climb....

After a (hopefully) great run down into this bowl, you'll need to get out of it! This is the line to follow in order to do that, and it takes you to the top of the Lightning line....

The closure of the Covered Wagon lifts has made this approach slightly longer but it is still well worth the effort to reach these lines. The approach can be done on foot or skins and which option you choose will likely depend on what kit you have, and how deep the snow looks....

A classic of the area. A gentle tour through the forest to reach a summit ridge with great views. Most of the route stays in the forest, initially following the fire road and then heading more directly towards the ridge up to Silver Peak....

Sugar Bowl is one of the few Tahoe resorts that allows uphill travel, but a season pass is required as of the 2021/22 season. With a pass you can go uphill anytime from 6am-7pm, by utilizing a handful of designated routes....

Sugar Bowl is one of the few Tahoe resorts that allows uphill travel, but a season pass is required as of the 2021/22 season. With a pass you can go uphill anytime from 6am-7pm, by utilizing a handful of designated routes....