Gondola Sightseeing & Adventure Peak

Gondola Sightseeing & Adventure Peak is at 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Eight-passenger gondola cabins transport riders on a 15-minute ride 2.4 miles up Heavenly Mountain, offering spectacular views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierras. The first stop is the observation deck (the gondola doesn't stop here on the way back down, so be sure to disembark on the way up). Wrapped around a granite outcropping at an elevation of 9,123 feet, the deck has Adirondack chairs for taking in the amazing vistas, and you also can look through binoculars. On the ride down passengers experience a dizzying 3,500-foot vertical drop.

At the top of the gondola is Adventure Peak, with three ropes courses; the 3,300-foot-long Blue Streak Zipline, a 1,000-foot-long, four-line zipline; tubing hill; climbing zones; and a children’s play structure. There are hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels as well as Tamarack Lodge, offering a full-service bar as well as cafeteria-style dining and an ice cream sundae bar.

Wear sunscreen; water is provided at gondola stations to aid in acclimating to the high-altitude environment.

Note: Parking in the lot behind Heavenly Village is $25 per day and there is no validation; those who park in the shopping center lot across the street will be towed. The least expensive option is to walk from your hotel.

Picnicking is permitted. Food is available. Time: Allow 2 hours minimum.