Palisades Tahoe ski resort
Ikon Pass
$289/day

North America

Palisades Tahoe

California, United States

For 2026-27, Palisades Tahoe is on the Ikon Pass (unlimited). Lifts run from 6,200 ft (1,890 m) to 9,050 ft (2,758 m), a vertical drop of 2,850 ft (869 m) across 6,000 acres, with about 400 inches of snow a year.

Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) combines two mountains - Palisades and Alpine Meadows - into 6,000 acres linked by a base-to-base gondola, making it the largest ski area in California. Host of the 1960 Winter Olympics and home mountain of American extreme skiing, it's famous for KT-22's steeps, huge Sierra storm totals, and spring skiing that regularly runs into late May.

Lift Ticket
$289/day
Vertical Drop
2,850 ft
Skiable Area
6,000 acres
Annual Snowfall
400"
Best For
Steeps & Olympic Heritage
Nearest airport
Reno (RNO) 1 hr

Ski passes at Palisades Tahoe, 2026-27

Ikon PassAccess: UnlimitedFull Ikon Pass = unlimited days at both Palisades and Alpine with no blackouts. Ikon Base Pass = unlimited with blackout dates (Dec 26-30 2026, Jan 16-17 and Feb 13-14 2027); Ikon Session Pass (2-4 days) is also valid with the same blackouts. No reservations required.

Not on the Epic Pass, Mountain Collective or Indy Pass this season.

Owned by Alterra Mountain Company, it has been an Ikon flagship since the pass launched in 2018-19; before that Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows was a Mountain Collective founding member. The resort was renamed from Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows to Palisades Tahoe in September 2021.

Palisades no longer sells a standalone unlimited season pass - the Ikon Pass / Ikon Base Pass serve that role. Its own 2026-27 products are the Palisades Tahoe Midweek Pass (Mon-Fri, from $759, 50% off weekend and blackout-day tickets) and 2- or 4-day Ticket Packs from $349.

Lift ticket prices

Peak walk-up adult day ticket, 2026-27: $289. Dynamically priced and sold online only in advance at lower rates; OnTheSnow lists $269 weekday / $289 weekend adult, and holiday dates can run higher.

Terrain Breakdown

Beginner 25% Intermediate 43% Advanced 32%

Palisades Tahoe elevation, altitude and mountain stats

Base Elevation
6,200 ft (1,890 m)
Summit Elevation
9,050 ft (2,758 m)
Vertical Drop
2,850 ft (869 m)
Skiable Area
6,000 acres
Lifts
39
Runs
288
Annual Snowfall
400" (1,016 cm)
Season
Late November – Late May
Passes
Ikon Pass
Night Skiing
No
Terrain Parks
Yes
Nearest Town
Olympic Valley, CA

Peaks and base areas

Peak: Granite Chief (Palisades)Official peak list; the resort quotes 9,050 ft as the Palisades top elevation.9,006 ft (2,745 m)
Peak: Palisades Peak8,885 ft (2,708 m)
Peak: Emigrant8,774 ft (2,674 m)
Peak: KT-22The famous steep chair8,070 ft (2,460 m)
Peak: Ward Peak (Alpine)Top of the Alpine side8,637 ft (2,633 m)
Base: The Village at Palisades (Olympic Valley)6,200 ft (1,890 m)
Base: Alpine base6,835 ft (2,083 m)

Getting to Palisades Tahoe: airports and drive times

The closest airport to Palisades Tahoe is Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), 49 mi (79 km) away and about 1 hr by car.

AirportDriveDistance
Reno (RNO)1 hr49 mi (79 km)
Sacramento (SMF)2 hr117 mi (189 km)
San Francisco (SFO)3 hr 30 min207 mi (334 km)
Bishop (BIH)3 hr 55 min215 mi (346 km)

Typical driving time with no traffic and open roads, rounded to five minutes. Chain controls, storms and resort-weekend traffic add to it. Routed over OpenStreetMap road data.

Palisades Tahoe in 3D

Runs and lifts as mapped on OpenStreetMap, over terrain from elevation data (heights exaggerated slightly). Drag to look around; two fingers on a phone.

EasierMore difficultMost difficultOff-piste routeUnratedLift

Highlights

6,000 acres across Palisades and Alpine Meadows on one ticketKT-22 - often called the best chairlift in America for its steep terrain1960 Winter Olympics host and birthplace of US extreme skiingBase-to-base gondola links both mountains via the KT-22 saddle400 inches of Sierra snowfall with 300 days of sunshineAlterra's flagship - unlimited on the full Ikon Pass

Pros

  • ✓Legendary steep terrain off KT-22, Granite Chief, and the Palisades
  • ✓Two distinct mountains double the variety on storm or sunny days
  • ✓Massive snow years and a season that stretches toward Memorial Day
  • ✓Strong intermediate cruising at Alpine Meadows away from the scene

Cons

  • ✗Heavy 'Sierra cement' snow when storms come in warm
  • ✗Brutal weekend crowds and I-80 traffic from the Bay Area
  • ✗Frequent wind holds on upper mountain lifts during storms
  • ✗Modest 2,850 ft vertical for a resort of its stature

Quick answers

Is Palisades Tahoe on the Ikon Pass?

Yes. For the 2026-27 season the Ikon Pass includes unlimited days at Palisades Tahoe. Full Ikon Pass = unlimited days at both Palisades and Alpine with no blackouts. Ikon Base Pass = unlimited with blackout dates (Dec 26-30 2026, Jan 16-17 and Feb 13-14 2027); Ikon Session Pass (2-4 days) is also valid with the same blackouts. No reservations required.

What is the elevation of Palisades Tahoe?

Palisades Tahoe sits at an altitude of 6,200 ft (1,890 m) at the base and 9,050 ft (2,758 m) above sea level at the top of the lifts, for 2,850 ft (869 m) of vertical drop. Named peaks and lift tops: Granite Chief (Palisades) at 9,006 ft (2,745 m), Palisades Peak at 8,885 ft (2,708 m), Emigrant at 8,774 ft (2,674 m), KT-22 at 8,070 ft (2,460 m) and Ward Peak (Alpine) at 8,637 ft (2,633 m).

How big is Palisades Tahoe?

Palisades Tahoe has 6,000 acres, 39 lifts and 288 runs.

How much snow does Palisades Tahoe get?

About 400 inches (1,016 cm) a year on average, as reported by the resort.

How much is a lift ticket at Palisades Tahoe?

A walk-up adult day ticket peaks at $289 for the 2026-27 season. Dynamically priced and sold online only in advance at lower rates; OnTheSnow lists $269 weekday / $289 weekend adult, and holiday dates can run higher.

When does Palisades Tahoe open for the season?

Typically: opening Late November (OnTheSnow estimates Nov 25, 2026; not officially announced), closing Typically late May, sometimes later in big years. Dates move with snowfall, so check the resort before booking.

What's the difference between Palisades and Alpine?

Palisades (the old Squaw Valley side) has 3,600 acres, 2,850 ft of vertical, 26 lifts and the steeps of KT-22 and Granite Chief; Alpine (old Alpine Meadows) has 2,400 acres, 1,802 ft of vertical and 13 lifts, with a quieter, more locals feel. One ticket or Ikon Pass covers both, and the Base-to-Base Gondola links them.

Is Palisades Tahoe the same as Squaw Valley?

Yes. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows renamed itself Palisades Tahoe in September 2021; the Olympic Valley location, the 1960 Olympics venue and the lifts are the same.

Is Palisades Tahoe on the Epic Pass?

No. Palisades is owned by Alterra and is unlimited on the full Ikon Pass; Epic Pass holders in Tahoe get Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood instead.

What is the closest airport to Palisades Tahoe?

The closest airport to Palisades Tahoe is Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), 49 mi (79 km) away and about 1 hr by car.

Skier Insightssummarized from skier trip reports and forum reviews

Palisades Tahoe carries the swagger of American freeskiing's birthplace, and the terrain backs it up — KT-22 alone would justify the reputation, a single chairlift serving more legitimate expert lines than many entire resorts. Community sentiment splits along a predictable seam: skiers rave about the mountain and grumble about everything around it, from Bay Area crowds to wind holds to the price of a base-village beer. The 2021 renaming and Alterra's investment era (base-to-base gondola, lift upgrades) modernized the place without dulling its edge.

The practical experience depends enormously on timing. Midweek powder days are among the best in the country: KT, Granite Chief, and Silverado cycling through storm snow, Alpine Meadows' bowls open across the gondola, nobody in line. Weekends invert the equation — I-80 traffic, morning parking reservations, and a KT queue that can hit an hour force strategy: arrive before 8, start at Alpine, use the gondola to chase open lifts. Wind is the other governor; the upper mountain holds regularly during storms, and reading the lift-status page before leaving Truckee is a learned local reflex. Snow runs heavier than the Rockies — Sierra cement is real — but the volume compensates, and the maritime base means spring corn seasons that run into May.

It's best as an Ikon home mountain for strong Tahoe-based or Bay Area skiers who can pick their days, and as a destination for experts who want KT on their resume. Beginners and intermediates get a better experience on the Alpine side or at Northstar. Costs are Tahoe-premium: lodging in Olympic Valley is steep, Truckee is the value-and-charm play, and day tickets past $289 make the Ikon Pass the only rational entry. Against Heavenly or Northstar it's not really a comparison — this is the serious skier's Tahoe mountain, crowds and all.

What skiers like

  • +KT-22 remains the most concentrated expert pod in American skiing — chutes, cliff bands, and fingers in every direction straight off one chair, which is why locals call it the mothership
  • +Two genuinely different mountains on one ticket: when the Palisades side turns into a scene, Alpine Meadows skis quieter with its own bowls and sun-soaked Sherwood side
  • +Big Sierra winters are measured in feet — 500-700 inch seasons happen, building the deepest base in the country and burying everything rideable
  • +Spring skiing stretches toward Memorial Day in good years, with Shirley Canyon corn laps and a party atmosphere nobody else in Tahoe matches
  • +Unlimited access on the full Ikon Pass — as Alterra's flagship, it's the natural West Coast home mountain for Ikon holders
  • +The base-to-base gondola actually changed trip logistics: storm-day flexibility between valleys without moving the car
  • +Granite Chief and Silverado hold soft snow and smaller crowds days after KT is tracked out
  • +The freeski history is ambient — this is the birthplace of American extreme skiing, and you still see pros filming lines above the KT chair

Common complaints

  • −Bay Area weekend migration is the defining problem — I-80 stacks up Friday night and Saturday morning, and the mountain absorbs thousands of day-trippers
  • −Wind holds are notorious: the upper mountain shuts regularly in storms, sometimes leaving only lower lifts spinning on what should be the best days
  • −Warm Pacific storms deliver Sierra cement — heavy, wet snow that punishes soft boots and skinny skis, a different sport from Utah blower
  • −KT-22's line on a powder Saturday runs 45-60 minutes; the terrain is world-class, the queue culture around it less so
  • −Weekend and holiday parking requires morning reservations now — showing up at 9am without one can mean being turned away
  • −Rain to the 6,200-foot base is a real risk in warm storms, especially early and late season
  • −The Palisades side frustrates intermediates — flats around Gold Coast, traverses between zones, and the best terrain skewed hard toward experts
  • −Olympic Valley lodging and dining price like a luxury resort; value means commuting from Truckee or Reno

Common Questions

How bad are the crowds really, and how do I avoid them?
Weekend storm Saturdays are genuinely rough — I-80 backs up from Sacramento, parking fills, and KT-22's line can pass an hour. The playbook: come midweek if humanly possible, arrive before 8am if not, start on Alpine Meadows' side and gondola over later, and ski the KT zone during lunch. Sunday afternoons and non-holiday Fridays ski shockingly well.
What's the deal with wind holds?
The upper mountain sits exposed on the Sierra Crest, and storms that deliver the goods also close the lifts that access them — KT, Granite Chief, and the high traverses hold regularly, sometimes all day. Locals check the lift status obsessively before driving. Storm-day strategy usually means tree skiing off lower lifts or heading to Alpine's more sheltered terrain until the wind lays down.
Palisades side or Alpine Meadows side — where should I ski?
Experts chase KT-22, Silverado, and Granite Chief on the Palisades side; it's the showcase terrain. Alpine Meadows is the locals' escape valve — real bowls off Summit, sunny Sherwood laps, fewer people, and a mellower scene. Intermediates are better served at Alpine almost categorically. On busy or windy days, the gondola makes bouncing between them the whole strategy.
When is the best time to ski Palisades Tahoe?
March is the classic answer — the Sierra's biggest storms often land late, the base is deep, and the sun between cycles is glorious. February brings peak winter but also peak crowds. For a different trip entirely, April and May spring skiing is a Palisades specialty: corn snow, pond skims, and a fraction of the winter crowd.
Is the snow really that heavy compared to Utah or Colorado?
Warm Pacific storms do produce Sierra cement — dense, wet snow that skis like a workout — but cold cycles deliver plenty of light powder too, and the density builds a base that keeps the season running into May. Bring wider, stiffer skis than you'd ride in the Rockies and the cement becomes fun, surfy skiing rather than punishment.
Visit Official Resort Site →

Sources: palisadestahoe.com, palisadestahoe.com, ikonpass.com, snowbrains.com, mountaincollective.com, onthesnow.com, en.wikipedia.org

Photo: Rennett Stowe / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

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