Kidz-n-Tow at Tahoe Donner

By Beverlee Roberts

Editor’s Note:
Families around the Truckee and Tahoe area have been taking their kids to Tahoe Donner for years. What’s the secret? We asked a Truckee local, Beverlee Roberts, to report on her day at Tahoe Donner. So with three kids in tow, we got the inside scoop on what Tahoe Donner has to offer.

The inside scoop:

My family and I have been going to Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski resort for years, and the following are the reasons why:

If you live or are staying on the east side of Truckee, taking 89 to Alder Creek Road and going in the back way to Tahoe Donner is the hot ticket on holidays and busy weekends. No stop lights, no traffic, no hassles! Like anything, if you get an early start, there will be ample parking with a 15-30 step walk to the shuttle bus. With a four year old in ski boots in tow – believe me you need to minimize the steps. The shuttle picks you right up by your car and deposits you at the ticket booth -- plus they have an attendant who helps get the skis in the rack. Every little thing counts with kidz-n-tow!

Tahoe Donner is relatively inexpensive compared to all the other resorts in the area. Let’s face it – miles of terrain, thousands of feet of vertical and several mid-mountain lodges are not a necessity for beginning to intermediate skiers. A lift ticket price that is reasonable is imperative. Other resorts may have reasonable ½ day prices, but that’s naptime, right!!! Everything is a juggling act. My daughter functions best from 10-2pm.

There are convenient restrooms and lockers located right past the ticket booths – maybe 15-30 more steps. Usually a potty run is imminent at that time and I always need a locker to stow the extra gloves, socks, hats and snacks. Don’t forget a few quarters!

The next part is the toughest. There is an uphill climb to the ski lift from the ticket booths. At that point, we verbally count the steps as game, sometimes we even crawl. They do let you sneak in the line at the top rather than going all the way around, though. Like I said, every little thing counts!

Now for the fun part, we are in our skis and approaching the lift. The attendants are always very helpful in getting us on the chair. The chair is not too fast or too slow, it’s just right. It is also not too high off of the ground. When your younger children start riding the lift by themselves, this little difference can ease a worrisome parent’s mind. Exiting the chairlift is simple, a real steep exit can cause havoc. Tahoe Donner also has a small rope tow that looks fun, I personally start my children right on the chair.

While I am working with my four year old, my two older sons can take the advanced quad chair that meets back at the same place as the beginner chair. This way they can check in every couple of runs. The quad chair moves people fast and there is never a line! It takes you to the top of the mountain with several choices to get back down. There is the main bowl, the trees, a backside and the terrain park. These runs are either blue or black diamond runs. They are challenging enough, especially in powder. My boys are snowboarders so they hangout in the terrain park – which appears to change weekly.

Tahoe Donner has a nice big deck outside where you can rest and eat. Food prices are fairly inexpensive and they offer everything from pancakes to French fries. A small bar is attached to the eating areas and there’s another restroom!

By 2:00pm the lift lines on Snow Bird, the beginner lift, tend to get long, but if you’ve advanced to the top of the mountain by that time, you are in luck. When we are ready to go home we can ski right down to within 10 steps of the shuttle bus that runs constantly and takes us back to our car. Once again, we’ve had another enjoyable day at Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort.

More info on Tahoe Donner’s family programs here.