The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, Northstar, Truckee, California, USA

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is a grand timber-and-stone lodge set mid-mountain at Northstar California, one of the most family-friendly ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada. With ski-in, ski-out access, a large spa, heated outdoor pools and a fire pit where guests toast s'mores every evening, it brings classic five-star service to the slopes, a short drive from the north shore of Lake Tahoe.

Location: Northstar, Truckee, California, USA

The resort sits partway up the mountain at Northstar, near Truckee, California, at around 2,000 metres, in the forested Sierra Nevada north of Lake Tahoe. A gondola links the mid-mountain area with the Village at Northstar below, with its shops, restaurants and ice rink. The lake's north shore is around 20 minutes away by car, and Reno-Tahoe International Airport about 45 minutes.

The historic railway town of Truckee, with its Old West main street, is a short drive, and the other great ski resorts of the area, including Palisades Tahoe, are within easy reach.

The Tahoe region has some of the highest concentrations of ski resorts in North America, with more than a dozen downhill areas around the lake, and its proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento makes it one of the most visited mountain destinations in the West, in both winter and summer.

Rooms and suites at The Ritz-Carlton

The hotel has around 170 rooms and suites, designed in a warm, rustic-luxe mountain style with timber, stone and rich fabrics. Many rooms have fireplaces and balconies with views of the slopes or the forest, and suites offer separate living areas, ideal for families.

There are also private residences for larger groups. Request a slope-view room to watch the skiers glide past.

The design, with soaring ceilings, a vast stone fireplace and timber beams in the main lodge, recalls the great American mountain lodges, while rooms combine that rustic character with modern comforts, including deep bathtubs, plush bedding and plenty of space to store ski gear.

Facilities at The Ritz-Carlton

The spa, at around 17,000 square feet, offers treatments themed around wood and water, along with saunas and steam rooms, and the heated outdoor pools and hot tubs, steaming beside the slopes, are a highlight after a day of skiing. There is also a children's pool and a fitness centre.

Manzanita, the signature restaurant, serves seasonal California cuisine and is regarded as one of the finest restaurants in Tahoe, and there are casual dining options and a lounge with a fireplace. Each evening, guests gather around the fire pit for s'mores, a much-loved tradition. In winter, ski valet and ski-in, ski-out access make the slopes effortless; in summer, the mountain offers hiking, mountain biking and golf nearby.

Children are especially well catered for, with a kids' club and activities, and the hotel's location on Northstar's gentle, well-groomed slopes makes it ideal for families learning to ski together.

The mountain moment

The defining moment is the end of a ski day at Northstar: gliding back to the lodge in the late-afternoon light, then settling by the fire pit with a s'more and a hot chocolate as the sun sets over the forested Sierra.

On a clear day, ski to the top of Mount Pluto, Northstar's summit, for views across the forests to the deep blue of Lake Tahoe in the distance.

Why The Ritz-Carlton is one of the best mountain hotels

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe earns its place because it offers five-star comfort and ski-in, ski-out convenience in one of the most popular ski regions in the United States. It is a large, polished resort rather than a characterful lodge, and it is expensive. But for families and skiers who want space, service and an excellent spa, it is one of the top choices in Tahoe.

Its mid-mountain position gives it a sense of being on the mountain rather than in a resort village, while the gondola keeps the Village at Northstar within easy reach. Families especially value the children's programmes, the gentle terrain at Northstar and the ease of getting everyone onto the slopes.

When to go to The Ritz-Carlton

Northstar's ski season usually runs from late November to April, with the best snow typically from January to March and sunny spring skiing in March and April. Holiday weeks are busiest. Summer, from June to September, brings hiking, mountain biking, golf and easy trips to Lake Tahoe's beaches. Autumn is quiet and colourful, and often good value.