With an average cumulative annual snowfall of 480 inches, the North Shore of Lake Tahoe is a playground for the winter enthusiast.

Incline Village/Crystal Bay residents have a variety of options when it comes to winter recreation, including downhill skiing, snowshoeing, Nordic and back country skiing and snowmobiling.

If Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, residents can seek indoor entertainment at the Incline Village Recreation Center, which offers adult league basketball, soccer and volleyball, and an Olympic-size swimming pool, sauna and weight room.

Diamond Peak, Incline’s hometown ski resort, boasts some of the best views found at any resort in the basin and a family atmosphere that can’t be beat.

“The views from the mountains above Incline Village can’t be matched,” said Diamond Peak mountain operations manager Mike Bandelin, a 22-year employee of the resort.

Diamond Peak offers affordable passes, complete mountain amenities and a ski school with group and private lessons, rentals and special group and family packages.

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, just 20 minutes from Incline Village, has some of the steepest terrain in the Tahoe basin. The Chutes, a large bowl with entry points as steep as 55 degrees, offers skiers and snowboarders a big mountain experience just minutes from town.

A 20-minute trip north on highway 431 provides Incline Village residents access to Tahoe’s highest elevation backcountry skiing area.

Tahoe Meadows, as it is familiarly known, is the perfect launching point for those seeking off-piste adventure.

Rose Knob Peak, Tamarack Peak and the west side of Slide Mountain are all within an hour’s hike of the parking area and can provide fresh tracks until the sun goes down.

“There are great mountains all around this town,” said backcountry rider Ed Youmans, who uses a spilt board to find untracked bliss. “There are tons of accessible terrain and the weather is always good.

Southbound on highway 28 leads Incline residents to the Spooner Lake Cross Country center, a public Nordic ski area with miles of groomed trails and access into the Nevada State Park back country.

Residents can strap on a pair of snowshoes and explore miles of trails located in Tahoe Meadows. Offering relatively flat to moderate terrain, the Tahoe Meadows area is the perfect location for snowshoeing adventures.

The area can get a bit crowded after a storm, so it’s wise to arrive early.

When it comes to motorized winter fun, Tahoe Meadows is home to one of the North Shore’s best hill-climbing zones.

The bowls below Tamarack Peak can test even the best riders, and on a powder day they’ll keep a smile on a rider’s face even after the sleds have been put in the trailer.

On the other side of the state line, Brockway Summit offers access to endless terrain in the Martis Peak, Mt. Watson and Mt. Pluto areas.

Although the winter months in the basin are known for bluebird days, it can get nasty when the wind and snow pick up.

When it's time to head indoors, the Incline Village Recreation Center offers a variety of activities to keep residents in shape.

Winter basketball leagues, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a full weight room are just a few of the options when it’s cold and wet outside.