City: Incline Village, NV

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (775) 832-1177

Address: 1210 Ski Way Drive

Description: Base elevation: 6,700 feetTop elevation: 8,540 feet Vertical drop: 1,840Number of runs: 30Capacity: 7,700 skiers per hourTerrain: 18 percent beginner, 46 percent intermediate, 36 percent advancedSkiable acres: 655Longest run: 2.5 milesNumber of lifts: 6Average snowfall: 300 inchesLift tickets: $49Terrain park: Snowbomb Terrain ParkSnowphone: (775) 831-3211Getting there: To reach Diamond Peak from Reno/Sparks, take Nevada Highway 431 to Incline Village, turn left onto Country Club Drive, and then look for Ski Way Drive, and follow it to the top. From Incline Village take Nevada Highway 28 to Country Club Drive, and then turn onto Ski Way Drive and continue to the top. For information on free local ski shuttles, call (775) 832-1177 or check www.laketahoetransit.com or www.diamondpeak.com. The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino also provides free transportation for its guests. Not very many communities own and manage their very own ski resorts, but Incline Village isn’t your average town. Operated by the Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID), the governing body of the town, Diamond Peak Ski Resort emphasizes family fun. The resort offers a variety of passes that make family skiing a little more affordable, such as teen tickets and interchangeable parent passes. Skiers between ages 6 and 12 and 60 and 79 can ski for only $17. Residents of Incline Village are also eligible for special discounts. You don’t have to worry about keeping track of your children at Diamond Peak; all of the runs funnel into one base area, making it a very secure environment for families. Along with its intimate atmosphere and short lift lines, Diamond Peak offers some of the most spectacular views of any ski resort in the area. For a stunning panorama of Lake Tahoe, ride the Crystal Quad chair to the top and take a leisurely run down the ridge. With an unobstructed all-around view, it will seem as though the lake engulfs you as you cruise to the base. For lunch with a view, nothing beats a big juicy hamburger at the Snowflake Lodge, perched high above the lake at the top of the Lakeview Quad chair. If lunch at the base is more to your taste, you’ll find a newly renovated base lodge with expanded deck areas that enhance lake and mountain views, along with an updated menu and decor. Because many of the upper runs here are exposed to the wind and sun, conditions may be icy, especially if no snow has fallen recently. Also, the parking lot at Diamond Peak fills up fast on weekends, so try to arrive early. At the end of your ski day, I highly recommend an après-ski drink at the Big Water Grille, which is just across the lower end of the resort parking lot. The sunset view of Lake Tahoe from this tasteful bar/restaurant is absolutely stunning (see the review in the Restaurants chapter).