Sierra-At-Tahoe’s West Bowl to Be Closed for 2021-22 Season, Other Openings Delayed Through at Least 2022

A view up Sierra-at-Tahoe’s West Bowl in March 2020. The resort has announced that this fire-stricken area will be closed for the entire 2021-22 season.

UPDATE: Sierra has announced that it is unlikely the resort will open in 2021, with sights set on resuming operations for a shortened season in early 2022.

Background

In late August, a major wildfire passed through Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort, causing extensive damage to lifts, facilities, and some terrain. With its most recent update, the resort has given a sense of just how much damage was done. The resort has stated that the entire West Bowl area will be closed for the season, and that many glade areas, including Jack’s and Avalanche Bowls, will likely face the same fate.

Inspections continue along the resort’s other lifts and trails, but a potential resort opening date is still unknown. The resort will likely open with the Nob Hill, Short Stuff, El Dorado, and Easy Rider Express lifts. The Grandview Express lift’s haul rope was damaged by the fire, and as a result, its opening will be delayed by an uncertain amount of time.

Sierra-at-Tahoe’s trail map. The areas highlighted in red will be closed for the season.

As a result of these circumstances, Sierra is offering a number of compensation options for season passholders. The resort plans to issue updates on specific trails and lifts as they become available.

Our Take

With every new update, it’s more and more evident just how much the Caldor Fire ravaged Sierra-at-Tahoe. With all the areas that will be closed for the season, there’s no doubt that the Sierra-at-Tahoe experience will be severely hampered compared to previous winters. Moreover, the resort hasn’t ruled out season-wide closures for other mountain zones, meaning the outlook could become even more dire.

With the exception of the beginner Easy Rider lift, Sierra will start its season out with only fixed-grip lift service across all open areas of the resort. Access to Sierra’s tree footprint, which arguably makes up the most unique terrain at the resort, will be considerably restricted. At this point, those who plan to visit Sierra should reasonably expect to ski tree-defined trails only, although it’s possible the trees and bowls closer to Huckleberry may open at some point.

For more on Sierra-at-Tahoe and the regional resort landscape, check out our Sierra review and Lake Tahoe rankings.