Heavenly Summer Gondola With Kids: An Epic Pass Adventure Every Family Should Try
The best homeschool lessons usually happen when no one realizes they’re learning.
The gondola doors closed, the floor disappeared beneath us, and before we even made it out of the station Jayce started dancing.
“This is a ride!” he yelled.
For him and Brielle, it wasn’t transportation to the top of Heavenly Mountain.
It was an amusement park attraction.
Meanwhile, Devin had his face pressed against the glass trying to spot landmarks below.
Then came the question that changed the entire morning.
“Why is the water different colors?”
Looking down at Lake Tahoe, the kids noticed something we’d driven past hundreds of times but had never really stopped to think about. Light blue near the shore. Deep sapphire in the middle. Tiny rocks visible in some places and disappearing in others.
For the next fifteen minutes, we talked about water depth, sunlight, and why Lake Tahoe is one of the clearest lakes in the world.
No worksheets.
No classroom.
Just curiosity.
That’s exactly why we love adventures like this.
Family Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best for: Families with toddlers and young kids
Adventure Level: Easy
Time Needed: 2–4 hours
Would we do it again?
Absolutely. In fact, we already have.
With our Epic Passes we’ll be back several more times before ski season starts.
The Gondola Ride
The ride to the observation deck takes about fifteen minutes, but our kids wished it lasted longer.
They waved at boats, pointed out buildings, danced in the cabin, and asked question after question while South Lake Tahoe slowly became smaller beneath us.
Watching them realize just how big and beautiful their hometown really is was worth the trip all by itself.
The Chairlift Challenge
The gondola was exciting.
The chairlift was different.
As soon as we left the station Jayce and Devin started asking the questions every parent expects.
“What if we fall?”
“Are we really this high?”
Instead of rushing past those feelings, we stopped and talked about the safety bar, how chairlifts work, and why people ride them every single day.
A few minutes later they were pointing at mountains instead of looking down.
It might not seem like a big moment.
But watching your kids do something that felt scary and realize they were capable of it is one of those parenting moments you never forget.
To this day it’s the highest they’ve ever been.
And they were incredibly proud of themselves.
Hiking to Martin’s Peak
From the summit it’s only about a ten-minute walk to Martin’s Peak.
The trail is short enough for little legs but exciting enough that every granite boulder becomes something to climb.
Brielle immediately started collecting flowers and digging in the dirt, completely content to explore at her own pace.
She reminds me so much of myself as a little girl.
Always curious.
Always willing to try something new.
Bryce naturally took the lead, encouraging the kids over rocks and helping everyone find their footing.
Watching him adventure with our kids is one of my favorite parts of every trip.
Bring the Hiking Backpacks
We packed our hiking carriers even though we weren’t sure we’d need them.
Whenever we’re exploring a new trail with little kids, we’d rather have them and never use them than wish we’d brought them.
It also gave us the confidence to wander farther and let the kids explore without worrying about whether little legs would make it back.
We’ll definitely be bringing them again as we continue exploring more of Heavenly’s summer trails.
Why We Keep Saying Yes
People ask us why we homeschool.
The answer isn’t really a curriculum.
It’s mornings like this.
A gondola becomes a science lesson.
A chairlift becomes an opportunity to practice courage.
A rock scramble becomes confidence.
And somewhere between dancing gondola rides and five shades of blue water, three little kids learn that the world is worth exploring.
Because we’re not trying to raise fearless kids.
We’re trying to raise curious ones.
The kind of kids who ask questions, climb rocks, notice wildflowers, and decide that something a little scary might actually be pretty amazing.
That’s what Raising Trail Blazers is all about.
Adventure is our curriculum.
Practical Tips
• If you already have an Epic Pass, don’t forget summer gondola access is included.
• Bring layers—it feels much cooler at the summit.
• Pack snacks and water.
• Check the Heavenly app for open summer trails before you go.
• We recommend allowing at least 2–4 hours to explore.
• If you’re hiking with toddlers, consider bringing a carrier even if you don’t think you’ll need it.
Our Favorite Moment
At the end of the day, I don’t think our kids will remember how long the gondola ride was.
They’ll remember dancing as it left the station.
They’ll remember asking why the lake was five different shades of blue.
They’ll remember being brave enough to ride a chairlift higher than they’ve ever been before.
And somehow, I think that’s exactly what childhood is supposed to feel like.
About Raising Trail Blazers
We’re Bryce, Shelbi, Devin, Jayce, Brielle (and occasionally Nyx the adventure cat), documenting what it’s really like to raise adventurous kids in South Lake Tahoe.
No perfect itineraries. No luxury budgets.
Just real family adventures, homeschool moments, rooftop camping, mountain trails, and the belief that the best lessons usually happen when no one realizes they’re learning.
Follow along as we raise the next generation of trail blazers. 🌲
We share the behind-the-scenes moments, stories, and adventures that never make it into the blog over on Instagram.
Keep the Adventure Going
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