The Las Vegas ski and snowboard resort, located at Mount Charleston's Lee Canyon area, is less than an hour's drive from Las Vegas. The resort is suitable for all skiers from novice to expert, with a bias towards intermediate skiers. Private and group lessons are also available for beginners.

The ski resort offers beautiful mountain scenery and is a pleasant escape from the desert and the madness of the casinos. For day-trippers and those deciding to ski on a whim, there is everything you could possibly need, including equipment and ski clothing rentals.

Accommodation in Las Vegas city is plentiful on account of its popularity as a tourist destination, and the notoriety of its nightlife requires little elaboration. Nearby, the Mt Charleston Hotel has 63 rooms available, as well as a restaurant; while a little farther down the way, Mt Charleston Lodge and Resort offers log cabins and a restaurant. The ski resort itself has a bar, snack bar and outdoor deck dining.

The resort has a total of 16 hectares of skiable terrain, divided into 10 ski trails, three of which are set aside for night skiing and snowmaking. A half-pipe and terrain park provide thrills for snowboarders, while three lifts with a capacity for 2,500 people per hour provide access to the pistes.

With the city of Las Vegas less than an hour’s drive away, off-piste and après-ski activities are plentiful. Besides the thrill of the casinos, big venues on the Strip offer a plethora of live shows, including Treasure Island and Cirque du Soleil. For a daytrip to some more natural attractions, head for Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area 35kms west of Las Vegas, where visitors can view plant and animal life under 915-metre-high red rock formations.

The ski season at the resort runs from mid-November to April, weather permitting, and the most convenient way to reach the ski resort at Las Vegas is to fly to McCarran International Airport then travel by hire car for the 45-minute journey.