Heavenly: piste guide - Telegraph There is a clear division between the California side of the mountain (above South Lake Tahoe) and the Nevada side. If lift closures leave you on the wrong side, it's not a big deal - the bus rides don't take long. The gondola from South Lake Tahoe goes to one end of the California side. There is no skiing back to the town. At the other end of this side, the steep lower slopes are served by the Aerial Tramway (cable car) and Gunbarrel fast chair from California Lodge. The much more extensive upper slopes are served by four fast chairs, one going up to the Skyline trail to the Nevada side. The Nevada side is more fragmented, but the central focus is East Peak Lodge. Above it is an excellent intermediate area, served by two fast quad chairs, with a downhill extension served by the Galaxy chair. From the fast Dipper chair back up, you can access the open terrain of Milky Way Bowl, leading to the seriously steep chutes of Mott and Killebrew Canyons, served by the Mott Canyon chair. Below East Peak Lodge are runs down to Nevada's two bases, Stagecoach and Boulder - the latter often quiet because its chairs are slow. Heavenly piste map California does it better Most people can spend practically all their time on fast chairs. The Mott Canyon chair is slow, but that's a niche market. The main weaknesses are the slow chairs up from Boulder Lodge. Gondola up and down The gondola can have queues to go up and particularly to go down - and because of this you'll see signs advising you to get back to the gondola ridiculously early. Pay no attention - have a beer or two at the top while waiting for the queue to dissipate. Or forget the gondola and head for one of the other bases, and jump on a shuttle. A couple of recent visitors have found queues for the slow Groove chair and the Sky Express at the end of the day when people are returning to base. Another reported crowds around the lifts from East Peak Lodge on the Nevada side. Some lifts, including the gondola, also seem prone to closure because of wind. Most reporters have had few other problems, often commenting on uncrowded slopes. Splendid for all abilities Heavenly has something for everyone - all sensibly located on the California slopes. The Progression Park, at Adventure Peak near the top of the gondola, is the smallest of Heavenly's parks and part of the new kids" adventure zone; it has small rails, gentle jumps and boxes designed to help youngsters explore. The Groove Park, at the top of the lifts up from California Lodge, has beginner/intermediate features such as small jumps and boxes for riders wanting to move to the next level. Intermediates should head to Player's Park off the Canyon chair; this is a great progression area, with three lines, a collection of intermediate rails, boxes, wall rides, recycled features, jibs and bonks. High Roller Park, near the top of the Canyon chair, serves expert riders; there is a large double-jump line - with jumps exceeding 20m in length - as well as large boxes, rails, wall rides and recycled features that often elevate 1m-3m off the snow. Ante Up Park under the Tamarack chair is intended for advanced and intermediates; all its features use recycled materials. For experts Some specific challenges The black runs under the California base lifts - including the Face and Gunbarrel (often used for mogul competitions) - are seriously steep. We've seen lots of people struggling on the top-to-bottom icy bumps. Many of the single diamonds higher up are at the easy end of the range. Ellie's, at the top of the mountain, may offer continuous moguls too, but was groomed and a great fast cruise when we last skied it. Skiways Glades and the Pinnacles, to skier's right of that, offer friendly, widely spaced trees. Lower down, a trusted reader raves about Maggie's Canyon. On the Nevada side there are some excellent single-diamond glade areas too - notably to skier's left of the slow North Bowl chair. And there is some really steep stuff. Milky Way Bowl provides a gentle single-diamond introduction to the double-diamond terrain beyond it: the chutes in the otherwise densely wooded Mott and Killebrew Canyons are seriously steep and narrow. They are accessed through roped gateways, and are not to be underestimated. The Mott Canyon chair is slow, but you may not mind. Good natural snow is needed for the Canyons to be enjoyable (or open). For intermediates Lots to do The California side offers a progression from the relaxed cruising of the long Ridge Run, starting right at the top of the mountain, to more challenging blues dropping off the ridge towards Sky Deck. More confident intermediates will want to spend time on the Nevada side, where there is more variety of terrain, more carving space and some great longer cruises down to the lift bases. But really strong intermediates looking for challenges need to be prepared to step up to the tree runs - maybe starting with Powderbowl Woods or The Pines - or to the blacks, which are often mogulled. For beginners An excellent place to learn There are excellent beginner areas at the top of the gondola, at California Lodge and at Boulder Lodge. On the California side there are gentle green runs to progress to at the top of the cable car. Package deals of tuition and lift ticket are worth looking into. Perfect playground - nearly Heavenly has several terrain parks, and the resort's naturally varied terrain makes a perfect playground for advanced freeriders. Intermediates will have fun too, especially if there's powder in the trees. And there are good areas for beginners. But beware: there are many flat spots where you'll have to scoot. Boardinghouse at Heavenly Village is the local snowboard-only shop. For cross-country A separate world The serious stuff is around the lake - notably at the Spooner Lake: over 80km of prepared trails.