Palisades Tahoe, formerly Squaw Valley Ski Resort or just Squaw Valley. The tried-and-tested Squaw Valley versus Alpine Meadows debate is no more. Since 2011, they've been the same resort and the Ikon Pass works at both destinations. Perhaps it was a match made in ski heaven combining Squaw’s legendary, challenging terrain, such as The slot and North Bowl (off KT-22) and lively après-ski with Alpine’s less pretentious vine and wide-open back bowls, like Estelle and Beaver.
Either way, this resort is in the running for a true skier’s mountain, some shredders happily call it their favorite place on earth and will argue that you haven’t even begun to shred Tahoe until you’ve skied here.
If blue blood lineage applies to ski resorts too, Squaw Valley can definitely make claim to it with its Olympic heritage, hosting the Winter Games back in 1960. Together, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows boast world-class skiing, a total of 6,000 acres and 42 lifts. All on one ticket.
Did we mention a tiny bit of powder as well? The resort gets 450 inches on average and can get incredible powder days. And sometimes, it shuts down the lift system. That comes with the territory. But you’ll consistently find reliable, good snow in Squaw’s Tower 16, a steep pitch.
Expert skiers can literally pick and choose, from the long, steep verticals off KT-22 (no better place to be early in the morning to chase fresh powder) to the sharp terrain and variety of bowls off the Headwall chair, which involves hiking. Alpine’s high-speed quad Treeline Cirque takes skiers to the top of Sherwood Cliffs in five minutes. Ouch. The Summit Chair, at an elevation of 8,637 feet, offers features made and designed by Mother Nature, bowls and tree skiing in three different directions. In addition, the Alpine side features the Pacific Crest Bowls, which leads to several gnarly cliffs and chutes. The Promised Land, with its old-growth three, is one big natural playground.
The resort is also easily accessible. You’re three hours (finger crossed, there’s no crazy traffic) by car from the San Francisco Bay Area. The Reno-Tahoe airport is even closer, only one hour.
Another convenience of Squaw and Alpine being linked, is that the resort offers a free shuttle, which takes skiers from the front door to the hill. To access it, use the Mountaineer app. Locals have been known to also grab a ride back from Alpine’s out-of-bounds Munchkins area to the lifts.
Palisades Tahoe belong to Lake Tahoe.Either way, this resort is in the running for a true skier’s mountain, some shredders happily call it their favorite place on earth and will argue that you haven’t even begun to shred Tahoe until you’ve skied here.
If blue blood lineage applies to ski resorts too, Squaw Valley can definitely make claim to it with its Olympic heritage, hosting the Winter Games back in 1960. Together, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows boast world-class skiing, a total of 6,000 acres and 42 lifts. All on one ticket.
Did we mention a tiny bit of powder as well? The resort gets 450 inches on average and can get incredible powder days. And sometimes, it shuts down the lift system. That comes with the territory. But you’ll consistently find reliable, good snow in Squaw’s Tower 16, a steep pitch.
Expert skiers can literally pick and choose, from the long, steep verticals off KT-22 (no better place to be early in the morning to chase fresh powder) to the sharp terrain and variety of bowls off the Headwall chair, which involves hiking. Alpine’s high-speed quad Treeline Cirque takes skiers to the top of Sherwood Cliffs in five minutes. Ouch. The Summit Chair, at an elevation of 8,637 feet, offers features made and designed by Mother Nature, bowls and tree skiing in three different directions. In addition, the Alpine side features the Pacific Crest Bowls, which leads to several gnarly cliffs and chutes. The Promised Land, with its old-growth three, is one big natural playground.
The resort is also easily accessible. You’re three hours (finger crossed, there’s no crazy traffic) by car from the San Francisco Bay Area. The Reno-Tahoe airport is even closer, only one hour.
Another convenience of Squaw and Alpine being linked, is that the resort offers a free shuttle, which takes skiers from the front door to the hill. To access it, use the Mountaineer app. Locals have been known to also grab a ride back from Alpine’s out-of-bounds Munchkins area to the lifts.
Palisades Tahoe Snow forecast
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Friday0 ft65°F
10 mph -
Saturday0 ft64°F
11 mph -
Sunday0 ft56°F
11 mph
Facts about Palisades Tahoe
Number of slopes: | 245 |
25 | |
45 | |
0 | |
30 | |
Artificial snow: | 10 number of slopes |
Longest slope: | 26903 ft |
Lifts (Total: 34)
Gondola lift: | 2 |
Chair lifts: | 27 |
Platter lift: | 5 |
Lift capacity: | 49000 persons/hour |
Vertical drop
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Highest Point: 9049 ft |
Vertical drop: 2851 ft | |
Base Point: 6198 ft |
Areas
Snowparks: | 5 |
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Reviews for Palisades Tahoe
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Alpine Medows who now also go with Squaw Valley for a couple of years back fit both small and big offpist riders as piers. Take a ride to Lake Tahoe, ... Read more (57 words)
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+ Advanced skiing in steep slopes
+ Much and nice off-piste skiing
+ Only chairlifts (even beginner back at 200m !!)
+ Beautiful nature with big re... Read more (65 words)
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easily the best place in lake tahoe! It is if there is heavy snow. otherwise it will be fast and very busy. The pipe and the park are incredibly large... Read more (52 words)
Nearby ski resorts
Northstar California | 8.1 miles |
Homewood Mountain Resort | 8.7 miles |
Sugar Bowl Resort | 9.3 miles |
Donner Ski Ranch | 9.9 miles |
Tahoe Donner | 11.2 miles |
Boreal Mountain Resort | 11.2 miles |
Soda Springs | 11.8 miles |
Diamond Peak | 16.8 miles |
Airports near Palisades Tahoe
Reno-Tahoe International Airport Driving time: 57 minutes (49 miles) Distance: 33 miles |