Do Kids Ski Free at Lake Tahoe? Kid Lift Ticket Deals for 2026-27

Some Lake Tahoe ski resorts let young children ski free, but the age cutoffs and rules are different at every mountain. Palisades Tahoe has a free week for children 12 and under, Diamond Peak lets children 6 and under ski free all season, and Sierra-at-Tahoe lists free lift tickets for children 4 and under. Mt. Rose also has a low-cost Tyke ticket for children 5 and under.

That means the best family deal depends on your child’s age, your travel dates, and whether you need a lesson or rental package too. Here is the current 2026-27 picture, with official offers separated from general passholder discounts so you can plan with fewer surprises.

Which Lake Tahoe Resorts Let Kids Ski Free or at a Reduced Price?

The clearest 2026-27 offers come from Palisades Tahoe, Diamond Peak, Sierra-at-Tahoe, and Mt. Rose. Heavenly, Northstar California, and Kirkwood also provide free tickets for children 4 and under through their Vail Resorts ticket systems, while passholder benefits can reduce the price for older children.

Resort	Free or reduced-price offer	Age listed by the resort	Important details
Palisades Tahoe	Free lift tickets during Kids Ski Free Week	12 and under	January 25-31, 2027. The promotion also includes 20% off group lessons and rentals with code Kids2627.
Diamond Peak	Free lift ticket or season pass	6 and under	Available throughout the 2026-27 season. The child must be present, and proof of age may be required.
Sierra-at-Tahoe	Free lift ticket	4 and under	Children ages 5-12 have a separate child ticket category. Sierra lists 2026-27 child single-day rates of $70 non-peak and $79 peak.
Mt. Rose	Tyke ticket for $20	5 and under	Tyke tickets are available at the resort only. Children ages 6-15 use the child ticket category.
Heavenly	Free ticket for children 4 and under	4 and under	Pick up the ticket at the resort window. Confirm the current process before your trip.
Northstar California	Free ticket for children 4 and under	4 and under	Pick up the ticket at the resort window. Child ticket discounts may vary by product.
Kirkwood	Free ticket for children 4 and under	4 and under	Pick up the ticket at the resort window. Check the current ticket terms before buying.

Last checked: November 3, 2026. Prices, dates, availability, blackout periods, and redemption rules can change. The table uses the offers currently shown on official resort or pass pages, not last season’s promotions.

Which Resort Has the Best Kids Ski Free Deal?

For the biggest age range, Palisades Tahoe has the standout offer. During Kids Ski Free Week, children 12 and under can receive free lift tickets for seven days from January 25 through January 31, 2027. You need to select the specific Kids Ski Free age option when booking, rather than assuming a normal child ticket will become free at checkout.

The promotion is even more useful for families who need equipment and instruction. Palisades is also offering 20% off group lessons and 20% off rentals with promo code Kids2627. If your child is learning, add those savings to the lift-ticket offer before comparing the total cost of a family ski day.

For more details about what young beginners can expect, see our guide to skiing lessons for kids in Tahoe. Book early for holiday periods and popular lesson times, because free lift access does not guarantee that lessons or rentals will still be available.

Where can Young Children Ski Free All Season?

Diamond Peak is one of the simplest choices for families with children 6 and under. The resort says children in that age group always ski free during the 2026-27 season, and families can obtain either a free lift ticket or a free season pass. The child must be present, and the resort may ask for proof of age.

Sierra-at-Tahoe is another strong choice for very young skiers. Its 2026-27 lift-ticket table lists children 4 and under as free, while children ages 5-12 have a separate paid child category. Sierra’s season-pass page also lists a free Young Child pass for ages 4 and under.

Keep the parking details in mind when comparing the total cost. Sierra requires parking reservations on weekends and holiday periods, although the reservation is free for qualifying passholders and vehicles with four or more occupants. Child and Kiddie passes do not include parking reservations, so you may still need to plan the parking separately.

What are the Best Child Ticket Options at Mt. Rose?

Mt. Rose keeps the youngest ticket category straightforward. Children 5 and under qualify for the resort’s Tyke ticket, listed at $20 and available at the resort only. Children ages 6-15 fall into the regular child category, so check the current date-specific price before you commit to the mountain.

Mt. Rose also offers KidZ at Rose, a multi-week youth program for ages 4-12. The program includes a lift ticket for daily lessons and turns into a season pass after completion. Equipment is not included, and the program is designed for beginners through intermediate skiers rather than children who have never used the equipment at all.

For a family staying near Reno or the North Shore, this can be a useful alternative to a single expensive ski day. Just remember that the $20 Tyke ticket and the multi-week KidZ program are different products. One is a daily lift-ticket option, while the other is a scheduled youth program.

What do Children Pay at Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood?

Heavenly, Northstar California, and Kirkwood use the Vail Resorts ticket system. Their official ticket-page information states that children 4 and under can receive free tickets at the resort ticket window on the day they ski. Vail’s 2026-27 Epic Friend Ticket terms identify child lift tickets as ages 5-12 at most resorts, with a 25% discount for eligible friends of passholders.

That does not mean every child ticket costs the same at all three resorts. Date-based pricing, pass type, holiday restrictions, and the product selected can change the final amount. Before booking, check the specific resort ticket page and the pass terms for the days you plan to ski.

Heavenly is convenient for families staying in South Lake Tahoe or Stateline, while Northstar is appealing if you want a village setting with skating, dining, and other activities close to the slopes. Kirkwood is farther from the main lake towns and suits families who want a quieter, snow-focused mountain day. Your lodging and driving plans may matter just as much as the ticket discount.

Do Epic or Ikon Passes Help Families Save?

They can, but a pass is only a good deal if your family will ski enough days to use it. Epic Pass products cover Heavenly, Northstar California, and Kirkwood, while Ikon products provide access to Palisades Tahoe and other destinations, with the exact number of days depending on the product.

For Epic families, the 2026-27 Epic Friend Ticket benefit offers 50% off the window price for friends ages 13 and up and 25% off child lift tickets ages 5-12 at most resorts. Eligible products include the Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, Tahoe Local Pass, Tahoe Value Pass, and Kirkwood Pass. Epic Day Pass is not eligible for this benefit.

Do not confuse Epic SchoolKids with a Tahoe deal. The 2026-27 program provides free skiing for kindergarten through fifth-grade children in specific regional packs for Colorado, Utah, and Whistler Blackcomb. The current program page does not list Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, or another Tahoe resort.

Ikon Pass products may reduce the cost for children, but the exact child price depends on the pass product and eligibility. If you are comparing Palisades with an Epic resort, start with the Epic versus Ikon Lake Tahoe guide, then check the current pass comparison page before purchasing.

Are Ski School Packages Cheaper than Buying a Child Lift Ticket?

Sometimes. A lesson package can include the lift ticket, equipment, and instruction, which makes it easier to compare the full cost of a beginner’s ski day. However, packages are not automatically cheaper than a free or discounted child ticket, especially when your child already has equipment or does not need a lesson.

Diamond Peak’s Child Ski & Ride Center illustrates the difference. Its 2026-27 group lessons for children ages 4-6 include a lift ticket and equipment rentals, including helmets, but the resort was still finalizing lesson pricing when checked. Mt. Rose’s KidZ at Rose program includes lift access for daily lessons, but equipment is not included.

At Palisades Tahoe, the January Kids Ski Free Week combines free child lift tickets with 20% discounts on group lessons and rentals. That is one of the more useful all-in-one family promotions because you can reduce several parts of the ski-day budget at once.

How Can Families Save More on a Lake Tahoe Ski Trip?

The free child ticket is only one piece of the budget. To keep the whole trip manageable, compare the dates, lodging, transportation, parking, food, rentals, and lessons together.

• Travel midweek when possible, especially outside Christmas, New Year’s, Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, and Presidents’ Day periods.
• Check the age cutoff carefully. A child who turns a certain age during the season may be assigned to a different product under the resort’s age rules.
• Compare a lesson package with separate rentals and tickets. Included equipment may make a package worthwhile for beginners.
• Book rentals early, then check whether a promotion requires a code, a particular booking page, or a specific date.
• Stay close to the mountain or choose lodging with a kitchen. A cheaper room can cost more once you add fuel, parking, and long winter drives.
• Review blackout dates before buying a cheaper pass. A pass that cannot be used during your holiday trip may not save money.
• Build one or two ski days around free snow play, scenic drives, or other low-cost winter activities. Our guide to Lake Tahoe ski-trip budgets can help you estimate the rest of the trip.

What Other Winter Activities Can Kids Try in Lake Tahoe?

Of course, a family trip does not have to revolve around lift tickets. On a rest day, younger children may enjoy building snowmen, playing in a designated snow-play area, or taking a gentle snowshoe walk. Older kids may prefer a snowmobile tour, a scenic gondola ride, ice skating, or a beginner-friendly winter excursion.

These activities are also a helpful way to keep everyone entertained when one child is not ready for a full ski day. Before you book, check the minimum age, clothing requirements, weather policy, transportation details, and whether equipment is included. Winter conditions can change quickly around the lake, so leave some flexibility in your itinerary.

To compare available Lake Tahoe sightseeing tours, outdoor adventures, and family activities, browse the options below.

Conclusion

Families have several ways to reduce lift-ticket costs in Lake Tahoe for 2026-27. Palisades Tahoe offers the widest free-ticket age range during its January Kids Ski Free Week, Diamond Peak offers free skiing for children 6 and under, Sierra-at-Tahoe lists children 4 and under as free, and Mt. Rose offers $20 Tyke tickets for children 5 and under.

Heavenly, Northstar California, and Kirkwood also provide free tickets for children 4 and under, while Epic Friend Tickets can reduce the cost for eligible children ages 5-12. Before you book, check the current age rules, dates, parking requirements, lesson availability, and pass restrictions for the resort that fits your family best.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Lake Tahoe ski resort has the best kids ski free deal?

Palisades Tahoe has the broadest confirmed 2026-27 offer: children 12 and under ski free from January 25-31, 2027. Diamond Peak is especially attractive for families with children 6 and under because those children ski free throughout the season.

Do kids ski free at Lake Tahoe?

Some do, depending on the resort and age. For 2026-27, Diamond Peak lists free skiing for ages 6 and under, Sierra-at-Tahoe lists ages 4 and under as free, and Heavenly, Northstar California, and Kirkwood state that children 4 and under can receive free tickets at the window.

When is Palisades Tahoe Kids Ski Free Week?

Palisades Tahoe Kids Ski Free Week runs January 25-31, 2027. Children 12 and under can receive free lift tickets, and the promotion also offers 20% off group lessons and rentals with promo code Kids2627.

Do children ski free at Diamond Peak?

Yes. Diamond Peak says children ages 6 and under always ski free during the 2026-27 season. The child must be present, and proof of age may be required when collecting the free ticket or season pass.

What is the cheapest child lift ticket at Mt. Rose?

Mt. Rose lists a $20 Tyke ticket for children ages 5 and under. The ticket is available at the resort only. Children ages 6-15 use the resort’s regular child category, so check the current date-specific price before visiting.

Does Epic Pass include free skiing for kids in Tahoe?

Epic Pass products provide access to Heavenly, Northstar California, and Kirkwood according to the specific pass terms, but Epic SchoolKids is not a Tahoe free-skiing program. Eligible Epic Pass products do provide Epic Friend Tickets, including 25% off child lift tickets ages 5-12 at most resorts. Children still need the correct pass or ticket for the day they ski.

Official pages: Palisades Kids Ski Free, Diamond Peak Special Offers, Sierra-at-Tahoe Lift Tickets, Mt. Rose Lift Tickets, Epic Friend Tickets, and Epic SchoolKids.