by: Elizabeth Sedway, TahoeKidsGuide.com
Sledding or tubing down a hillside is a delightful way for virtually everyone in the family to enjoy a day in the snow at Lake Tahoe. Each venue listed here, with the exception of Tahoe Meadows, is machine-groomed specifically for tubing and/or sledding. Sledding venues are listed here from least expensive to most expensive. It's important to contact the venue you plan to visit before you go; some venues might not be operating at any given time.
Tahoe Meadows at Mount Rose: This sledding and tubing hill is not privately owned or
maintained. Dress warm and bring your own sled. Visitors park along the sides of Mount Rose Highway, and climb up the snow bank to the sledding hill. Of course, it's also free and open anytime. That's the upside. The downsides: parking is dangerous. If you go with young children, use extreme caution. Another downside is that there are no nearby restrooms.
North Tahoe Park: Sledding at North Tahoe Park is, without a doubt, the best kept sledding secret at Lake Tahoe. Take good directions with you; it's nestled in a remote area of the park. Once you get there, you'll find ample parking on paved lots, public restrooms, staff to over-seeing the sledding area and machine-groomed sledding hills. For $5 per person you can sled all day. They even provide you with a sled. There is no food service, so you might want to pack a lunch. Another great thing about this venue is that the crowds are likely to be small.
Granlibakken: (click here for most recent information): Sledding is just one of the activities you'll find at Granlibakken. It is a full-service ski resort, ideal for beginners. All the amenities of a resort can be found here, including parking, restrooms and food service. For $9 per person, you can ski all day on this staffed and machine-groomed sledding hill. They provide the sled.
Hansen's Resort: Hansen's Resort is a hotel, right next door to Heavenly Mountain Resort, that also has a tubing run. If you 
stay at the hotel, the tubing is free. If you're not a hotel guest, you pay by the hour: Adults $10, Children (ages 11 and older): $5, and Children under 4 years old are free with a paying adult. They provide the tube or sled. The run is approximately 400 ft long. There is a walkway up the side of the run to come back up. Runs are groomed daily, with high "walls" made of snow and a small hill below to stop you. Restrooms and a somewhat small parking lot are nearby.
Northstar-at-Tahoe: Northstar limits the number of tickets they sell for the tubing run. 
Make your reservations in advance!!! Gondola ride to the tubing venue is included. Allow time to park your car and ride the shuttle to Northstar Village, where you will catch the Gondola to the tubing venue. This venue has abundant amenities. One nice feature is a rope-tow that pulls you, as you are seated in you sledding tube, back up to the top of the mountain. Restrooms are nearby. The price for one hour: Adults: $20 for the first hour, $12 for each additional hour. During the Peak Season and holidays, expect to pay $22 per hour for the first hour and $14 per hour for each hour thereafter.
Squaw Valley Tubing: The snow tubing park is located at the Papoose Discovery Center. Two tubing lanes are maintained providing tubers a variety of thrill levels. This venue has abundant amenities. For one hour of tubing (tube provided) it's $14. There is a rope-tow to carry you back up to the top of the tubing run.
Heavenly Mountain Resort: Gondola ride to the tubing venue is an additional charge. Gondola Prices: 
Adults: $30; Teens: $26; Child: $20. Children under 4 are free. The price for the tubing run is an additional $30 per hour. Tube riders must be at least 40 inches tall to ride. This venue has abundant amenities. There is a rope-tow to carry you to the top of the tubing run.
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Comments
We'll be visiting the tubing hill at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Check for an article on December 21st with the details of what we saw and learned there.
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