Winter guide

People often say we have the best of both worlds in Reno—biggest-little-city living in the basin, some of the best skiing in the country in the mountains. Winter is the time when these worlds collide.

For our annual Winter Guide, we tell you just how “green” the resorts are going now that more folks are waking up to climate change. We hope you laugh at and gain inspiration from the story of a middle-aged bunny-sloper. We show you cheaper ways to enjoy the winter, good gear for the mountains, an underappreciated winter wonderland spot, how to avoid avalanches and even how to build a proper fire at day’s end. Don’t forget to check out our comprehensive winter calendar for all the indoor and outdoor events for the next three months.

And that balminess that sometimes fills the winter air and feels like spring? Don’t worry, it just means the snow is on its way.

Graybeard of the slopes
A middle-aged bunny-sloper greets humiliation at the top of a mountain and all the way down.

Gear up
RN&R’s top gear picks to get you up and down the mountain.

How green is my slope?
Ski resorts and environmentalists lock arms to face a grim eco-future.

Blaze a trail through beauty
If you think Lassen National Volcanic Park is beautiful in summer, you should see it in winter.

Good, cheap fun
Ski lift tickets got you down? Playing in the snow doesn’t have to be expensive. Try these cheaper alternatives to playing outside in the winter.

Winter
Avoid an avalanche, bad weather on Donner Pass and a cold fireplace with these tips.

Ski resort directory