Ikon Pass
$289/day
North America
Palisades Tahoe
California, United States★4.6editor's rating
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
Terrain Breakdown
Beginner 25% Intermediate 43% Advanced 32%
Mountain Stats
Base Elevation
6,200 ft
Summit Elevation
9,050 ft
Vertical Drop
2,850 ft
Skiable Area
6,000 acres
Lifts
39
Runs
288
Annual Snowfall
400"
Season
Late November – Late May
Pass
Ikon Pass
Night Skiing
No
Terrain Parks
Yes
Nearest Town
Olympic Valley, CA
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
- ✓Vibrant base village with Olympic history
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
Photo: Rennett Stowe / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
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