With snow-covered trees, beautiful mountain scenery and a lake that never freezes, Lake Tahoe has been a favorite for years. The Lake Tahoe Basin offers about a dozen mountain resorts. Skiing can be expensive with lessons, rental gear and lift tickets, especially so for families. Since Granlibakken Tahoe is an intimate ski resort and sledding hill, it’s less expensive. It offers two rope tows (no kids off the ground) and a sledding hill, all within a few feet. Here is why Granlibakken Tahoe works for families.
Granlibakken Tahoe Ski Resort for Families
Granlibakken-Tahoe is one of the smallest, lowest and least inexpensive ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area. This makes it an excellent option for families with several children. Especially when you have kids with different abilities since older kids usually advance more quickly than younger ones.
It’s a small resort.
Let’s face it: each kid has their own needs. Since I’m taking three kids skiing alone, I can’t lose a kid at a mega-huge resort. What’s worse than herding cats? Kids on skis. Or, in my case, two kids on skis and one on a board.
The 13-year-old is annoyed by her family and wants some freedom. The 11-year-old board boy doesn’t know his limits. We need gentle terrain so we don’t end up in the ER later. The 8-year-old is timid and would play on his iPad all day if I let him.
What’s a Mom to do? Surrender and stay home?
Nope. I can keep them all happy at Granlibakken and still have time for Mom to ski. Amazing.
Since their resort is one of the smallest, I could watch all my kids at the same time. Even when they’re doing different things. And it took me no time to round them up for a break, and they couldn’t tell me they didn’t see me.
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It’s a low resort.
Granlibakken’s elevation is 6,350 feet. It’s one of the lowest resorts in Lake Tahoe. A must for people who have problems at higher elevations, especially kids.
It’s also an ideal area to get your ski or board legs under you if you’ve taken a break. Though remember to let your body adjust for the first few days to prevent headaches and nausea.
My 11-year-old gets sick over 9,000 feet, so I need a resort at a lower elevation. We can’t ski in some states since all resorts are too high, like Colorado.
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It’s an inexpensive resort.
The best feature of Granlibakken-Tahoe is its affordability.
| 2024-2025 Granlibakken Tahoe Ski Resort Prices | Adult | Kids (under 12) |
| Sled Hill Pass for 1 1/2 Hours*
Night Sledding on Select Nights *Online Reservations Required |
$25/$35 Weekends & Holidays
$35 |
$25/$35 Weekends & Holidays
$35 |
| Ski Lift | $40/$45 Weekends & Holidays | $30/$35 Weekends & Holidays |
| Private Lessons with Snow Schoolers
1 Hour with Lift Ticket Half Day with Lift Ticket Full Day with Lift Ticket |
Start at $88 with demand pricing Start at $265 with demand pricing $415 with demand pricing |
|
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Our Day at Granlibakken-Tahoe
We ski over school breaks. You know what that means–crowds. Not at Granlibakken, I didn’t see any crazy lines, and it didn’t feel crowded.
After a late start, we pulled into the resort at 10 a.m. This would’ve been a disaster at another resort. I was able to park close to the entrance and had one family in front of us in the rental line.
In the rental shop, the guys sized up the kids and got them in great gear, fast. When I slipped on my ski boots, I was amazed–virtually brand new and very comfy.
We walked out on the deck behind the rental shop and found an empty table. I put down our stuff and sprayed the kids’ faces with sunscreen.
I’m not finished getting the youngest suited up when the 13-year-old is gone. I looked around and spotted her in the lift line. With her bright scarf, I can spot her anywhere in the ski or sled area.
The next to bail was my boy and his board. I checked out the terrain; it’s relativity tame. He wandered over to the lift line behind his sister.
Now the 8-year-old is suited up, and we skied about 20 feet, and he went down. And then he’s out. I can’t get him to continue.
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I think, this is it, we’ll have to leave. Then he agrees to play in the snow making a snowman, just feet from the rest of my kids on the beginner lift.
Day saved. I wouldn’t have been comfortable doing this at any other resort.
Free Sledding at Spooner Summit
The Lifts at Granlibakken
Granlibakken has a rope tow instead of a magic carpet for their beginner hill. This is the first time my kids used one.
Once the norm at ski resorts across the country, they disappeared due to the popularity of the Magic Carpet lift. The rope tow requires a little more coordination for younger skiers who must ski up the hill while being pulled by the tow.
The 11 and 13-year-olds didn’t have a problem. They followed the directions of the lift operator, and up they went. I didn’t have a problem either.
If your children are under 6 years old, this might be a problem. Some Moms put their smaller kids between their legs and scoot them up the hill while holding the rope tow handle.
After multiple runs down the beginner hill, we are feeling good. It’s all coming back. Time we move up the mountain to the longer run.
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Granlibakken utilizes a platter lift for the steeper side of their ski hill. It requires you to pull a pole with a round disc down and place it between your legs. Then, you are pulled up the hill by the disc about the size of a dinner plate.
The lift operator patiently explains this to my 11-year-old board boy and myself. The first time is a bit tricky but my son has no problems. For a Mom who has birthed three kids, I really worked those thigh muscles. If I didn’t squeeze tight, I thought I would slide right down the hill backward.
I didn’t.
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Granlibakken’s Ski Hut
We were ready for a break, and Granlibakken had that covered. We headed inside of their heated Ski Hut Snack Bar.
I loved it. It’s a log cabin with Old Tahoe vibes. That’s the Tahoe that you see in the posters on the walls at most resorts. With a mixture of vintage wooden snowshoes and old skis, get a feeling of the Nordic skiing heritage with equal parts of laid laid-back West Coast vibe.
Inside, we found a wood stove with a rack to warm your gloves and lots of tables. It serves kid-friendly items on the menu, like soups and hot cocoa. We grabbed a snack and headed to an outdoor table since the weather was nice. With a bluebird sky and endless sun, the conditions in Lake Tahoe could not be better. Hard to believe it’s not above freezing.
The Sledding Hill at Granlibakken Tahoe Ski Resort
After our snack, the carful of kids move on to the sledding hill. Since it’s right next to the ski hill, I can watch the kids and work on my skiing simultaneously. It had been a few years, and I wanted to get my ski legs under me.
For less money than most resorts, you get a saucer and access to the sled hill for an hour and a half. I didn’t find a Magic Carpet lift on the sled hill, but my kids didn’t need one. It’s a manageable climb for most kids.
My kids loved it. It’s fast. The staff at Granlibakken-Tahoe keeps the sledding area safe since the previous sledders walk off before the next sledders can slide down.
We slide down it again and again. As a double Mom bonus, kids three and under are free.
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Granlibakken-Tahoe History
Back in 1928, Granlibakken-Tahoe opened for skiing and sledding in Lake Tahoe. A local hotel stayed open year-round so visitors could enjoy the Sierra snow.
Borrowing its name from Norwegian, it translates to a hill sheltered by trees. And to this day, the vintage Tahoe charm radiates from this resort, secluded in the pines, minutes from Tahoe City.
Granlibakken-Tahoe offers lodging, ranging from lodge rooms to three-bedroom townhomes. Nestled on 74 acres surrounded by fir trees, it’s not uncommon to see wildlife walking through its property.
Conveniently located near Tahoe City, Granlibakken-Tahoe seems secluded from the hum of tourists. And some guests even walk to Tahoe City for its restaurants and shopping.
Besides downhill skiing and snowboarding, they have snowshoe and cross-country ski trails as well. The rental shop at Granlibakken has equipment for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing, along with helmets. And helmets for skiing and snowboarding are required for kids under 18 across the Lake Tahoe region.
In addition to the snow sports, they feature a year-round heated outdoor pool and hot tub. Partnering with North Tahoe Adventures, Granlibakken features an aerial adventure park that’s open year-round. With several different courses, it’s open to kids ages five and older.
Granlibakken-Tahoe is located half a mile from Tahoe City at 725 Granlibakken Road, Tahoe City. This resort is great for families with novice skiers or skiers who have taken a break for a few years.
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My family was hosted by Grandlibakken-Tahoe.
Know Before You Go:
- Granlibakken caters to families.
- The skiing at Granlibakken is best for novice skiers and snowboarders.
- Granlibakken is a good resort to start your ski vacation if it has been a few years since your last ski trip.
- Granlibakken does not teach kids under four or feature a separate ski school area.
